The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-24


counsel, arose and said that there were press
ing matters OF public concern which de-
manded immediate attention OF the grand
Jury. He then requested the Court, IN view
of the fumors given out in the public press
and otherwise that his client, Brady, and
others were soon TO be brought before the
grand Jury on criminal charge connected
with the alleged frauds in the postal service,
to Immediately instruct the grand jury to
take notice Of this public rumor and pro-
coed to the investigation Of these charges
against his client.
A letter from Brady to his counsel was
then read as follows:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 81, 1881.
MessrS. iSheitoborger and Wilson and
Enoch 1Otten:
Gentlemen, THE following, clipped from
the Evening Star, l assume 10 be correct
statement OF the present situation and OF
the disposition OF the Government in the
matter OF the prosecution OF the alleged
unlawful practices. which many OF the news
papers OF the country have during the past
two or three months daily charged me with
committing during my recent official term
as Second Assistant Postmaster-General:
I The article quoted from the Star stated
that the star route cases would be post
poned until September for reasons set
forth.l
To this disposition OF the matter / do
most earnestly and energetically protest. II
there are any charges to be presented
again t me before legal tribunal for alleged
misconduct while in office, l desire that pro-
ceediDgs be promptly instituted, in order
that l may have an opportunity TO appear
and vindicate myself tberefrom. For many
weeks the press OF the country has been
furnished with dispatches and correspond
encc from Washington to manufacture
common rumor" 10 the effect that the
Government was fully prepared upon en-
panelling OF a new grand jury (Which was
completed today, and the jurors qualified
10 present testimony; which result is an in
dctment against me, TO be followed by a trial
before the petit jury drawn and qualified
at the same time: and my conviction
before the latter body has been assured
as certain result TO follow the presentation
OF the testimony, which has been indus.
triously circulated that the Government has
already accumulated. | come here anxious
TO meet these slanderous charges whenever
presented in a court OF justice, conscious
that the inevitable conclusion OF an impair
tiaI investigation will be to forever annihll-
ate the base iabrications against my official
conduct and nv good pane. | am informed,
and believe the fact TO be, that certain per-
sons of Gepraved character are under pay
from the Government 10 procure testimony
against me, and believe these persons Will,
to accomplish their purposes, commit per-
jury themselves and procure others TO do so.
Knowing my entire innocence OF the charges
which these disreputable persons desire me
to be suspected guilty of, | consider it my
legal right to be speedily Investigated
By a reputable and properly empan-
elIed grand jury. 1t is a hardship
approaching cruelty, and likely to
work unparalleled Injury, that the Govern
ment authorities should permit three or
four irresponsible detectives, who appear
TO the public as being intrusted with pro-
curement of the testimony needed to make
a case, to thus, through the medium OF
press dispatches and correspondence daily
sent out from the national capital TO all
quarters of the country, influence public
opinion, and thereby TO that degree unfit
the minds OF fellow-men for a fair and I'M
partial trial cf the case, il one is to be pre-
scented against me. A private individual
who would corrupt the sources OF justice
by use of the press or OF money to convict
a citizen Of an alleged crime would render
himself infamous. This, II being done by
the Government, is no less base, and
certainly more reprehensible. lnasmuch
as no person not officially connected
with the prosecution can possibly
know anything OF the measures and force
OF the testimony accumulated, IL any there
be- therefore it appears plausible, at least,
that the newspapers receive their susges-
tions as to alleged criminal conduct OF the
persons accused from those employed by
The Government TO "wOrk the case up"
With these facts in view, desire you to
urge upon the Government the justice OF
promptly placing its case against me, II II
has any. before the grand jury OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia, where IL may be ln-
uured into under methods recognized as
Legitimate by the law, and IL upon wholly
eY pdrte testimony, however procured,
an indictment follows such investigation
that | be offered an immediate opportunity
to yindicate myself from the charges therein
made. You, srs, cannot fail to discover
the reasouableness OF this request. To sub
iect me to the destructive effects IN business
and social life of an unwarraDted procrasti-
nation OF this matter is as unjust 10 me as
il IL discredtable to the Government.
therefore ask OF you to begin the trial OF
this case, il one there is 10 be. at the pre-
sent session OF the court, and dispose OF 1t,
and thus terminate this continued stream OF
scandal against me which is being daily
sent adriit through the press furnished by
the disreputable detectives employed by
the Government to work up a case"
am ready now, or at any time. SIM
DIV want an opportunity TO meet the charges
when presented In some legitimate form
and before recognized tribunal. and not
be subjected defenceiess TO the steady
stream Of detractiOn which is being poured
out daily through Government channels
from Washington into the columns OF the
press. Very respectfully,
THOMAS j. BRADY.
The notice given says: d" In view OF the
matters and things therein stated, we deem
il our duty to bring the subject to the at
tenton OF the court, and shall accordingly
do so this morning Ut the opening OF court"
After remarks by Colonel w. A. Cook,
sneciaI Government counsel In the matter,
and United States Disirict-Attorney Cork
hill In opposition to the seeming demand
for an immediate bearing, and relolnders
Inv Mcssrs. TOtten and Wilson, counsel Tor
Rrady, the Court (Judge Cox said:
IL is evident that this subject Is one OF
great delcacy and difficulty In the investi-
CATION of the proofs touching these wrong
doinps. II IS attended with great deal OF
labor, and requires special skill. IL is APP
narent that the grand jury could not make
q step in the investigation without the as
sistance OF those who have explored the
archives OF the Government; aud we are
officially informed by the gentleman who is
in charge OF that duty that he has no case
10 present before the grand jury. IL would
be wrong to instruct the grand jury ID re-
gard 10 Gen. Brady's alleged complicity 10
frauds against the Government. Wben 'ne
Government Is prepared to produce us
proof before the grand jury II viii DO So
TTho.a newsnaner reports complained OF are,