The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-25

the law, or according 10 that Of the
accused A man. to gain some coveted
prize, some office or salary. may want
TO run the gauntlet Of being mistaken
Is to the Law. Ia that case is il the
duty OF judges aud jaries to staud aside
and give him free course
1t Is q maxim we'll calculated 10 SC
cure the integrity Of criminal admin
isirstIon, that Every man Of seand
mind and discreet age is conclusively
presumed TO know the law. / fail as
yet TO see anything that should, so far
Is the application of this rule is con-
cerned. remove it from the catalogue
OF ordinary cases. Capt Hill has either
violated the peoples law or he has not.
1t be has violated-if he is violatiug
their law, how can he suppose that they
VIII overlook or pardon bis act, 50 long
as De does not acknowledge that their
law Is what they in their Courts tell
him il ia, and so long ss he does not
confess himself transgressor? Law
Is honored and made honorable ia pro
portion as every man and particularly
every transgressor Is brought 10 know
andi acknowledge the law as il is.
When 8 man cordially makes that &C
acknowledgement, and puts himself under
the law where be belongs, then be is
10 position to receive all proper in
diligence. Till then he can expect
none.
Only few days ago. in a case
brought by the people of this Territory
against Capt Hill on the civil side of
this Court, it was solemnly adiudged,
upon facts conceded for all purposes of
that case, that he is unlswfully occupy
ing the office / have mentioned, and
that he be ousted therefrom. What
can l do in this new aspect Of affairs,
and in view of the circumstances at
tending the action of the former Grand
Jury and under my own convictions of
right, bat put the complaint before q
Grand Jury q second time for fearless.
unbiased action? No one of ia connected
with this Court, trust, wants to harm
Capt Hill. But il the worst comes to
the worst. trust no one of as would,
to save the man, trample on the law.
You will have the facts in evidence be-
fore you, and will take the law from me.
There is no danger, in case my view of
the law should be erroneous say
there is no danger in that case-.of
Capt II. being defrauded of his rights.
He can. with good assurance of Justice,
take bis appeal to the Supreme Court
OF the Territory. as he has done already
in the civil case. Even mp to the Su-
preme Court of the nation be can ap.
peal and have all proceedings in the
lower Court stayed meantime. Much
more serious to the people of this Ter
ritory would the consequences be,
should Grand Jury, under the idea that
the Judges view of the law was wrong,
take law as well as facts into their own
hands and bring in q finding according
to their private views of what the law
ought to be. On such a finding of
theirs the people would be powerless
to appeal. Utterly shut up to injustice
and usurpation would be their condi-
ton. Then would the saying be full
filed. Justice is fallen in the streets.
and equity cannot enter Have q care.
therefore, gentlemen. to follow in this
case, as in all cases, the law as shall
give it to you. leaving the responsible.
ity OF that law where it belongs, on the
shoulders of the Judge who gives it, and
assured that thereby you are preiudic.
ing in no degree any right of the &C.
cused. One word more is ell that
IS necessary in order to acauaint
you fully with your duty in the prem
ises. Find the facts; aud if. when they
are found. it appears that Capt Hill is
an officer on the retired list of the Uni
ted States army, and has during any
part Of one year last past. and while he
was such officer. been holding the Office
OF County Treasurer of King county,
then you will bring in an indictment
against him under section Oh of our
criminal code; otherwise you will not.
There will be, fear, gentlemen. a
strong temptation upon some OF you to
take sides and act as partisans in this
matter. against or for Capt. Hill. Hold
yourselves vigiIantly upright agains
temptation; true TO your osths, as You
are well able TO do, by the help of God.
Even q suspicion among the people that
you are swayed by personal or partisan
motives. will tend to overwhelm not
only those among you who are so un.
fortunate as to be tempted, but all of
you-nay, the entire Grand Jury sys-
tenn and the whole administration of
justice in this Court. with public scorn
and contempt; for nothing is more Of
fensive to the conscience Of the people
than forms Of justice that are q sham
and lie. When system, of which
justice was the soul, is dead, and moths
ing is left sound but the skin, il had
better be removed. Irritating beyond
all things is the stencil, and poisonous
the ettiuvia of such carcass. Garry il
out, will be the cry. and bury it deep
After warning the Grand Jury about
listening TO the words of unauthorized
persons. or taking heed TO malicious or
frivolous charges. gotten up by designs
ing parties, aod giving them other ad-
vice aud instructions, the Judge closed
as follows:
Conduct your sessions, aud arrange
your hours of meeting. so "a TO get
through with your duties 40 quickly
as lie consistent with thoroughness.
Keep the Court advised Of how You
progress. Every bill found should be
promptly returned into Court.
Duties such rs yours, gentlemen. let
me say in closing. are among the most
important and boaorable that can de-
volve upon citizens. A magnificent Cd.
portunity Is presented you of doing
publicly that which La rinhk Mnro