Litchfield enquirer., 1880-11-25
ItHTITH 80 |-iI'I-I-Il-T n 7lII-I.IIIT I-'Il1 u
WHOLE NO. 1895,

In considering this QUESTION of handwriting,
the statute of 1880 Chapter SO Of the Laws Of
looO) brings in new element Of evidence.
Comparison of disputed writings with those
shown to be genuine are under this act to be
submitted to the court and jury as evidence
OF the genuineness, or otherwise, of the writ.
ing 10 dispute" Awaiting myself of this rule,
and fully considering all the evidence bearing
upon the question, my mind has reached
| clear conviction that the so called Morey let
ter in body, signature, and all its parts, is not
In the handwriting of Gen. Garfield, but is al
together forgery, perpetrated by some per-
son, or body OF persons, for the purpose of
deceiving the people and defrauding them and
General Garfield of their votes. It Is not at
all necessary that 1t should be determined on
THIS investigation whether Kenward Philip 10
the actual and guilty forger of the letter. As
already stated, the offence of criminal libel is
made out against him, when il is ascertained
that the Morey letter is in fact a forgery, and
that he wrote and published the article which
charges Gen. Garfield with lying in denounc-
ing it. lff,uls Hla
The evidence bearing upon his guilt or in
nocence of the forgery is voluminous and
would demand a careful analysis Taken in
connection with other evidence in the case it
tends to establish grave conspiracy to ac-
complish national crime. The conspiracy
points to men in other quarters and of far
higher positions, of whom he may have been
an accsmplice, or only the dupe and tool 1t
is better, therefore, that the question of the
actual guilt of the forgery be left to the con-
sideratiOn of jury, before whom additional
and perhaps more decisive evidence may be
brought 1t must be the wish of all honora-
BILE minds that this case will lead not only to
the discovery and exposure of the guilty, but
to the enactment of laws which will prevent
or severely punish offenses of this character
Whoever be the guilty in this case, right
thinking men everywhere must look upon the
act as an appalling crime, wholly at war with
the safety and sanctitY Of popular govern
ment. Fortunately, no committee and no
body of men hold in their hands the con-
science Of the people. and no party fealty IS
strong enough to intercept the sentence of
condemnation which honest men of all parties
must pronounce upon such guilt. The men
most criminal in this case may not be reached
by the hand of justice, but they will find no
party willing to bear and share with them the
just measure of infany and scOrn that awaits
them. AS they have failed in their guilty
purpose, so will they fail 10 securing the ap-
prov8l even of them for whose success they
have done the guilty work. 1t will be small
consolation to know that they have gained by
the forgery few useless Electoral votes, in
cited an infuriated mob to the murder of q
few unoffending human beings, and caused
few of their own agents to suffer for perjuries
and misdemeanors.
The defendant is held to answer upon the
charge of criminal libel, and must be COM
mitted or give bail for his appearance to an
swer any indictment that may be found
againet him.