National Republican., 1880-11-15
THAT CHINESE LETTER.
Judge Davis Decision BeaChCs Others
Than Philip and Hart.
stinging Robulte Co Those who Hoped to
Pront by Its Pubiicaton-Mr. A.
$. uewltps share.
philp Hold for Tria, by a Jury.

NEW YORK. Nov 1S.--Judgo Davis this morning
rendered an elaborate decision In the case OF Ken
ward Philip charged with criminal libel upon
General Garfield. The accused, his honor says, is
charged with two ohenscs First that he wrote
the so-cnlcd Morey letter. counterfeiting tho sig
nature Of General Garfield thereto and, second,
that after General Garfield made public denial
OF having written the letter the accused wrote an
editorial headed Lying and Sticking TO It," and
asserted that General Garfield was liar In deny
Ing the authorship Of 1t. 1t is apparent his honor
says, that no such person as Henry L. Morey exist.
ed atLynn, Mass. Tho letter. he also holds, is un-
questlonably forgery, and not in the handwriting
of General Garfield The question OF the guilt or
innocence of Mr.. Philip must be loft to jury to
determine. The defendant is held to answer the
charge Of criminal libel, and must be committed
or give bail.
In his decision Judge Davis dwelt on the cues.
ton Of the genuinepess of the Alorey letter rs of
great Importance in considering the case. He de-
cided that the accused should be held to answer
unless he could show that General Garfield wrote
the letter, and In fact was held to be liar whom
he denied Its authorship But the evidence as re.
viewed he said, showed the letter to be q forgery
and showed the non-existenco of such person as
Henry l.. Moroy.
HEWITT, BARNUM AND RANDALL
In his decision Judge Davis is very severe on
Mr., Hewitt. He says: Mr. Hcwitts connection
with the letter and transactions that have grown
out OF II are, TO say the least Of most extraordi
nary character According to the testimony ofMr
Hart when he received the letter the very singular
manner IN which itreached him aroused his sus.
picions. He saw Its importance, If genuine, MS
weapon of deadly power in the hands of General
dnrfeld's political foes. lie was not satisfied to
publish it upon the examination which his edi.
toral staff could make, and he therefore took The
envelope to the democratic national copmmttoc
for inspection. lie there saw Messrs. Hewitt, Bar
showed them the papers md said, in substance,
that he did not want TO publish the letter If 1t was
other paper 10 get ahead Of him in E its pubiicSton
He says II was examined by all tho persons he
named, but Mr.. Hewitt made the closest and most
careful examination, and spent fully half an hour
in IFS examination, and then pronounced the let
ter, both body and signature, to be in the hand
writing of General Garfield Photographs were
then taken for the use of the national committee
and Mr.. Hart returned with the letter to his office
But his mind was not fully satisfied and late in
again and was again assured that he tHewitD
had examined large number of General Garfelds
and this was clnchcd by impressng Mr. Harts
mind with the idea that he would have made IL
u out forgery e he could; i is not very sur.
Of newspaper publishers 10 be ahead OF their
neighbors, should have published the letter
without further inquiry but it is astounding
rience in business and in public affairs, and
who, is supposed to have decent respect for
IN writing, with all The suspicious circumstances
thGt attended the reception of the letter, with the
ehYelnpe ana lls eiasures before hi with the city
postoffice and station stamp on lis back, with the
letter marked personal and conhdenlial' and ad-
dressed 10 some person whom he certainly did not
know-wlth the letter before him, the contents OF
which, iftrue, would bo greatly injurious, and II
false would do wrong 10 his intimate friends as
base and wicked as an assassin's stab-Should have
thought II Just 10 lress and cause It's publication
without first removing all doubts as TO Its charac.
ter.
A LARGE SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY ON
HEWITT.
However much equitable division may leave for
others, upon Mr.. Hewitt must rest larger share OF
responsibility for the first publication of the base
and shameful forgery, and his subsequent rca.
tions to the forgery do not lift single shadow
from his conduct. lie was member of the ma
tional committee lie doubtless knew the extent
and purposes TO and for which IL was taken and
used by that committee, and that 1t went forth TO
the country with the sanction of his Endorsement.
He knew beyond question that 1t met speedily
with the indignant denial of General Garfield, who
denounced the letter as q base and stupid forgery
and its sentiments as brutal.
The judge also says: My mind has reached
the clear conviction that the so.cullcd Morey let
ter In BODY, signature and allits parts Is not In the
handwriting Of General Garfield, but is altogether
O forgery, pcrpctTaled by some person or body OF
persons for the purpose OF deCeyng the people and
defrnudng them and General Garfield Of their
votes The evidence bearing upon Philips guilt OF
ipnocencc of the forgery is youminous aGd would
demand careful analysis, Taken In connection
with other evidence In the case II tends to cstab
lish grave conspiracy to accomplish Il national
and of far higher positions, Of whom lie may have
been an accomplce or only dupe and tool. 1t 4;
better, therefore, that tho question Of the actual
guilt Of forgery be left to the consideration of 4
Jury, before whom additional aud perhaps more
decisive evidence may be brought"