Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-24
BRADY'S BOLD BLUSTER.
DEMANDS THAT HIS TRIAL
SHALL PROCEED.
a Well Put Bid for Public Sympa.
thy - The Governments Agents
ROundlY ScOred-Where He Made
an ErrOr-H1s Request Denied
The Government TO be Fully Pre-
pared In September.

NilnlnaI OourJ OF the Dlstrict this morning
counsel for Brady made application that
the grand jury enter at once upon an in
vestigation Of the charges against him, wi b
the view to an immediate trial. The appli-
cation was based upon letter from Brady.
This letter was argumentative, and some
what personal. 1t speaks very pertinently
of the men employed by the government to
investigate. The reference to Gibson is
strong. Brady puts In a plea that the press
has DETAINED him, and he has had no oppor-
tunity to defend himself.
Following the reading of his letter there
was an argument between counsel of either
side. The arguments were not very deep,
but abounded in repartee, especially from
Colonel Cook for the government. 1t was
evident, from the discussion, that the object
of Brady's move to day was twofold:
First. To bring out as prominently as
possible the fact that the government had
been compelled to postpone the star route
cases until next September; and,
Second. To bring Brady's sweeping denial
and plea Of injured innocence so promi-
nently to the fore that they could be printed
in all the newspapers of the country.
The replies OF the government and the
decision Of the court against Brady tended
to establish very bald headed fact. That
'oNS 70 ea"O Ot0Af 1OI du
diate consideration of his case was, to say
the least, very i'll advised. 1t had not been
stated by the government that Bradys case
was to 90 before the grand jury. The fact
was that the investigation was being held
to show who should go before that jury.
The demand that Brady's case be taken up
was, therefore, an admission that he ought
to be brought to trial, and was conscious
that his official acts had been such as to
hriOn him xUffhin tho f1ll ~ ha it1ru
The counsel for the government repeatedly
stated that it was the intention of the Presi-
dent and Attorney General to bring to trial
every man whom thorough investigation
would show TO be connected with the star
route frauds and to spare no one.
BRADY DEMANDS A TRIAL.
Upon the opening Of court Col. Totten one
of BradY's counsel, arose and said that these
were pressing matters OF public concern,
which demanded the immediate attention
of the grand jury. He then requested the
court, in view of the rumors given out in
the public press and otherwise, that bis
client, Brady, and others were soon
to be brought before the grand jury on a
criminal charge connected with alleged
frauds in the postal service, to Immediately
instruct the grand jury to take notice of
this public rumor, and proceed to an inves-
tigation of these charges against his client.
District Attorney Corkhill said that he had
received a few minutes before notice from
the attorneys Of General Brady, enclosing
the following letter from that gentleman:
"WAsHINGToN, D. c., June 81, 1881.
''MeSrS StetlGbarger and Wilson and 16tten:
"GENTLEMEN-The following, clipped
from the EUening Star, assume to be a cor
rectistatement.of.the present situation and of
the disposition of the government in the
matter Of the prosecution of the alleged un-
lawful practices, which mary of the news
papers of the country have during the past
two or three months daily charged me with
committing during my recent Off
cial term as Second Assistant Post
master General. The article quoted
would be postponed until September for
reasons iset .fortb]. Against this disposi-
tion of the ma ter [ do most earnestly and
energetically protest. II There are apy
charges to be presented against me before a
legal tribunal for alleged misconduct while
in Office, | desire that proceedings be
promptly instituted in order that l may
have an opportunity to appear and vindi-
cate myself therefrom. For many weeks
the press of the county has been furnished
with dispatches and correspondence from
Washington to manufacture CONN on
rumor TO the effect that the government was
fully prepared upon the empanelling of a
new grand jury, which was completed to-
day, and the jurors qualified, to present
testimony, which result is an indictment
against me, to be followed by trial
quail fed at the same time, and my con-
Viction before the latter body has been
assured, as a certain result to follow the
presentation OF the testimony which has
been industriouslY circulated that the gov
ernment has already accumulated. | came
here anxious TO meet these slanderous
charges whenever presented in court of
Justice, conscious that the inevitable con-
clusion of an impartial investigation will be
to forever annihilate the base fabrications
against my official conduct and my good
name. l am informed, and believe it
to be a fact, that certain persons Of
depraved character are under pay of the
government TO procure testimony against
me, and believe these persons will, to ac-
complish their purposes, commit perjury
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, cor
slider it my legal right 20 be speedily in.
vestigated by reputable and properly en-
panelled grand jury.
ut is hardship approaching cruelty, and
likely to work unparalleled injury, that
government authority should permit three
or four irresponsible detectives, who appear
to the public as being entyusted WITH the
procurement OF the testimony needed to
make a case, to thus, through the medium
of the pres, dispatches and the correspond
ence daily sent off from the national capital
to all quarters of the country to infuer ce
public opinion, and thereby, to that degree,
unfit the minds of nv fellow men for fair
and impartial trial of the case, if one is to
be presented against private individual.
he who would corrupt the sources of JUS
tice By the use of the press or of money to
convict a eitisen o. 81 ailsged crime would
render himself Infamous. That this Is Des
ing done by the government is no less
base, and certainly more reprehensible,
inssmuch as no person not officially con-
nected 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 sugges-
tions as to the alleged criminal conduct of
the persons accused from those employed
by the goyernments to .work the case up.'
"With these facts in view, desire youito
urge upon the government the justice of
promptly placing its case against me, IL it
has ahg, before the grand jury of the Dis
trict OF COLUMBIA, where 1t may be inquired
into under modes recognized as legitimate
by the law, and IL upon wholly e% parts
testimony, however procured, an indictment
follows such investigation, that | be
offered immediate opportunity to Vindieate
myse.s. from the charges therein named.
You, slrs, cannot fail to olscove. tn@ @ reason
ableness of this request. To subject me to
the destructive effects in business and
social life Of gnwerranted procrastination
In this matter is as unjust to me as it is
despicable in the government.
II therefore ask OF you to begin the trial
of this case, If one there is to be, at the
present session OF court, and dispose of it,
and thus terminate this continued stream
of scandal against me, which is being daily
sent adrift through the press, furnished
by disreputable detectives employed by
the goyernment to work up a case.'
| am ready now, or at any time. ! simply
want an opportunity to meet the charges, |
when presented In some legitimate form
and before a recognized tribunal, and not |
be subjected while defenseless TO steady |
stream OF detraction, which is being poured |
out daily through government channels |
from Washington into the columns of the |
press. Very respectfully,
"THos. j. BRADY"
Continuing, District Attorney Corkhill |
said that the grand jury would not be In
session after the 5th of July, and that he
felt it his duty at this time, first. to pay
attention to the helpless citizens incarce-
rated without bail before bringing any
great case before the grand jury.
There was nothing, he said, before |
the court that demanded an in
vestigatiQn by the grand Jury, as
spoken OF by Col. Totten, and there was |
nothing on the records OF the court that de- |
manded such action as Col. Totten sought. |
Col. Cook, special Assistant Attorney GEN |
eTal, vas present and opposed the motion. |
NJ a3ah .@4 H..