The daily gazette., 1881-04-21
THE ELECTION TRIALS.

THE TENTH WA RID CASES UNDER WAY.
The afternoon session of the United
States Courts yesterday,was occupied by
tbs arguments of counsel in the case OF
the United States VS.. James Bridgeman,
charged with assanlting james Matthew
col. and Interfering with deputy Mar
shal Jacob B. Smith. District Attorney
Patterson argued ior the government
and Messrs. Lore and L Irner for the
defense.
Mr.. Lore asked the court to charge the
jury upon the point of law that the
moment an officer steps beyond his duty
or from his authority as ali officer he he
comes a maD stripped of his badge Of
Office, ard as an aftrayer becomes subject
TO the bullets of the crowd. In turning
to the jury Mr.. Lore went on TO explain
that If Thomas Brldgrman did inter-
frre with Mr.. Smith, he did so as an
officer of the peace, Mr.. Smith having
overstepped his duly as deputy mar
shal had become breaker of the peace.
The district attorney in closing read
section 2022, United States statues,
wherein 1t was explicitly stated that il
was the duty of the deputy marshals 10
prevent disorder. In this case the police
officers were maltreating a colored man.
IhIs was oversleppiDg the duty of
peace preseTver. This was breach OF
the peace, liable TO have provoked
riot, aud such being the case the deputy
marshals would have been perfectly jus.
tifable in arresting Shields as a break
er of the peace.
At the close of Mr. Patterson's re-
marks the Court adjourned until this
morning
THIS MORNINGS SESSION.
When Court reassemoled, this morn
ing Judge Bradford charged the jury III
the above case.
lie said that the special police, the
Deputy Marshals and the Deputy Sheriffs
were al the polls as peace officers, tn
preserve order. Tue same law must be
applied to all three classes of officers.
Tie Deputy Marshals bad right TO be
at The polls, but they were entitled to no
exception from arrest If engaged in riot
ing or other unlawful acts, or in com
mlLtlng breach Of the peace. The same
law applied equally to the special police
and deputy shenfis.
The court remarked that the swearing
in this case has been very contradictory
and il there has not been fiat perjury
there was something very like 1t. There
is very little law to be given on the sub
ject, said his Honor, for your considera-
ton. You have heard the facts, and II
you can draw them out of the mud, Ii
Is more than can do, and leave the
case with you.
At 1920 o'clock the jury retired.
A jury was then empanelled to try
the case Of Charles Shields, special
policeman at the last general election,
on charge of assaulting Deputy Mar
shal Artemus Wilhelm, at the Tenth
Ward polls, and interfering with him
in the discharge of his duty.
Ariemus Wilhelm, the chief prose
cutting witness, testified that Shields
hustled James Matthews, colored
man whose vote was rejected, out OF
the crowd, and when he (witness) re
monstrated, Shields arrested him ano
started off for the police station. Al
, Front and Madison streets they had
] some words, whereupon Shields hi
him on the right cheek. Witness re
, sponded, "If you repeat that I'll let
daylight through YOU" Then Shields
drew a revolver aud pointed it at hi
} head. At the police station, witness
said, the Mayor discharged him ane
told the officers to be more discreet il
: mkaing arrests.
Wilhelm gave his testimony will
great volatility and positive ess, al
dressing himself in a comically argu
meht tive manner g. the Jury, and H.
terpolating, "Mell, gentlemen" ever.
few minutes.
, On oSs-examiDation witness strenu
ously insisted that he had not intsrfere
:. with Shiel IL while the litter was al
!. resting NJ Matthews, but SAID nothing {
!, him until AIT 81 he had given the eolore
. man M Matt no Ss into tIe charge of Off ce
Chambers. He admitted that he resls
I ed when Shields arrested. .hiB.
= The case Ia stlll on trial.