The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-01-13
"WHAT A FARCE Is JUSTICE"
IN CINCINNATI,

AN OAANNAAN~
Two cases of malpractice in Office are
before the courts in Cincinnati. One is
that of Thomas Ambrose, a Republican,
who, as Clerk of the U, S. Court, has
amassed riches, and the other is SiIas
w. Hoffman, City Auditor for eight
years, who has not got rich. The En-
quirer thus relates;
Ambrose has enjoyed the favor OF the
Court charged with the duty of trying
him. In his case the way was made
plain. In the face of delays at every
point in the Court, it was demonstrated
beyond question that Ambrose had
abundantly lined his pockets with monN
ey and decorated himself with diamonds
at the expense of litigants in the U. S.
Court. 1t was shown from the official
records that Ambrose had grossly abus-
ed his public trust; that he had played
the rascal under the Courts nose; that
he had appropriated fees to very large
amounts, to which he was not entitled
under even the loosest construction OF
the law. He was convicted in public
opinion, and his official behavior was so
odious that his office became no longer
tenable to him, though he enjoyed the
favor and protection, to the last degree,
of the power which should have been
swift as thought to deal Justly with the
public as with the public enemy. The
machinery Of the Court was clogged for
the benefit of Ambrose, and though
many months have passed, and many
opportunities have passed, he has not
been brought to trial. He stands under
the shadow of dominant political par
ty, and under social protection, which
makes him feel safe. The means that
should be used to hurry him to punish>
ment are employed to save him. 1t is
scarcely hazardous to wager that should
he ever be brought to trial, the trial will
be farce, and he will be acquitted in
the face of overwhelming evidence
against him.
How is it with Hoffman? He does
not enjoy the favor of the Courts, or OF
those who stand behind him--indiffer-
emily hidden in the case-and manipu,
late the Courts. That Ambrose stole
large amounts is certain. If any of the
public funds stuck to Hoffman's fingers,
the amount was small, Eleven men out
of twelve, who have patiently heard all
the evidence, say Hoffman took noth>
ing. This is the almost unanimous YER
dict of a Jury which influential parties
sought, by brazen appliances, 70 pack in
favor OF the prosecution. 7 .e eleven
men who vote that Hoffman IS honest
are certainly as good and TIE as the
one who votes nay.
Rarely in this or any other co 'ntry has
such a state of things been see as was
developed recently in the Hcffm N trial
The developments indicated anything
but desire to promote the ends of jus,
tice. The contamination of the Judge
himself is freely and openly canvassed.
at appeared from the statement of the
Prosecuting Attorney that man high
in social posiion-a patron Of art and a
"reformer" "a man Of enough conse~
quence to be able to give $4,000 to an
Art Museum-exhibited his most artistic
qualities when he turned his attention
to organizing Court and jury to con-
vict'
The Ambrose case has been hanging
for about year, and everything done
10 procure acquittal; while in the Hof-
man case everything was done to insure
conviction. Such is Republican justice
in Cincinnati these days.