The National tribune., 1881-11-19
4 Disgraceful Fiasco.

guilt or innocence of General Brady and his co
briefly, matter of general interest, and one will
which most of our readers are to some extent
familiar VIZ: the manner in which the proceed
ings on the part. of the Government have thus IA
been conducted.
II is matter of public nOtoriety that prior t.
the shooting OF the late President Garfield those
charged with the conduct of the Star Route cases
proclaimed through the press of the country that
they had sufficient evidence to convict the parties
charged, and that they were only awaiting the
assembling of the grand jury in order that indict-
ments might be found against the alleged Grim
inals. 1t is also part of history that the grand
jury met, sat for some time, and adjourned with
out any evidence against Brady and those said to
have been concerned with him being submitted
In fact the chiefrepresenativei in court of the Uni
ted States declared at that time that no case ex-
listed against the defendants.
Subsequently the grand Jury met and adjourned
twice, the last time to October 3d. and of all these
meetings and adiournments the Government Off
Gals having to do with the Star Route cases had
/ full and ample notice. The matter was fully dis
cusSed in the papers Of this city and in all the
Journals throughout the country, and nothing
but the most pig-headed obstinacy in their de-
/ termination to know nothing could, by any pos
sbility, have prevented Messrs. James, Gibson,
Woodward, Cook and MacVeagh knowing all
that was being done in and about the court.
But failing to read the papers, even if valid
excuse for ignorance, cannot be set up in this in
stance for Colonel Corkhill the district attorney,
who had been superseded in these particular
cases by the creatures OF the Attorney General,
notified that officer prior TO the last adjournment
about September 19of the tact that it would
be had at a certain date unless he saw proper to
take the Star Route cases before it for consdera-
ton.
So the matter rested until about the last of
September or first Of October, when the Govern
ment, by its representatives, Cook and others,
presented an information against Brady and his
alleged co-conspiratOrs, which they asked leave of
the court to file
This action took the community, and. in fact,
the entire country, by surprise. The proceeding
was such q remarkable and unheard Of one that
some even went so far as to consider it in the |
light Of an attempted joke rather than a serious
effort to bring the alleged criminals to justice
After some delay the matter came up for argu-
ment, and on Thursday last was decided, by the /
court refusing to allow the document to be put |
on record; and thus far we have not seen one sin
gle expression of disapproval on the part of the .
press of his decision. In fact, all generally con-
Cede that he followed the only course open to
him if he would respect the law Of the land,
which in substance provides that no man shall
be arraigned or tried for an infamous offense
except upon indictment.
Thus ends the first act of-shall we call il q
farce? No. 1t is too serious matter for that
The honor Of the United States is too deeply in
volved. It is more in the nature of d tragedy
The majesty Of the Government has either been
used to murder the fair regulations of some of it's
subjects, or else has by the hands of its chosen
servants, sought the destruction Of ita own good
name. If Brady and his co-defendants are inno-
,ent as they insist they are, they ought never to
nave been pilloried in the public view as they
nave been for the last six months by those en-
rusted with their prosecution for alleged crimes
If they are guilty they ought to have been
brought to justice and condign punishment by
his time, or should have been a. least placed in
situation where justice must necessarily over
axe them in due season.
AS the now stands there il great danger
# nothing further being, eflectualIy done to Sc
ure such a desirable result. And the officers of
he Government are alone to blame for the fail
Ire of the prosecution.
Dir. MacF eagb, the law officer of the United
states, who was not only charged with full au-
hOrity, but who also in reality volunteered with
lacrity TO see TO it that the guilty ones did not
scape, has, after running the chance for trial
nd conviction by wilful neglect, abandoned the
ase and virtually fled the District His conduct l
open TO the strongest censure, and there is no
aliation whatever for it. President Arthur, in I
Ill sympathy upon this point with the lamented
fairfield. desired the prosecution TO be conducted .
onestly, vigorously, persistently to the end, in !,
dor hot fr, L