The Evening critic., 1881-12-29
Trial by Jury.

A number of gentlemen Of more or less
prominence havo been for some months on
trial by newspaper. Certain brigands OF
the press--no, we should have said "scav-
engers'' of the prcss-and bar have placed
them on trial. They have been accusers,
witnesses, jurors, judges, court-criers and
all have accused, borne false witness
against, tried, condemned and executed, in
the newspapers, the parties alluded to.
OF course this could not be done without
some authority, and these scavengers had
that authority. They were not only given
the opportunity to do their dirty work,
but were actually paid by two members of
the Cabinet out Of the money of the people.
Woodward, Gibson, Kinds and Cook were
employed and paid by MacVeagh and James
to abuse Brady, Dorsey, French, Salisbury
aud other public officers and Star-route
contractors in the newspapers.
While it is an admitted fact that James,
MacVeagh and their strikers are not men
of exalted ability, it is not denied that they
have some sense and slight knowledge of
law. The small modicum Of sense and law
knowledge they possessed was sufficient to
satisfy even them that no court or jury
would listen to the vaporings Of Cook or
the vagaries Of Gibson, Woodward and
Kinds, which they called evidence" The
The veriest tyro who essayed his first effort
before a country justice Of the peace would
not have attempted to impose upon the ig-
norancc that is sometimes found occupying
such a position the evidence (?) that Cook,
Gibson g. Co. had collected. Trial by news
paper was what was desired, not trial by
jury.
This was proven when. ignoring the
grand jury that had been in session fol
weeks the scavengers entered cour
by the back door through an infor
nation which they knew would be kicked
out, but through which they could reacl
the tribunal they sought-the newspaper
To give themselves an air of decency in this
effort, James and MacVeagh employed some
lawyers of ability, and these went into thu
case with the full knowledge that the cast
which came into court at the back dool
would be thrust out of the front one, as il
was.
But there is to be a change now.
really good lawyer, who is not profes
sional reformer, is at the head of the De
partment of Justice, and genuine busi
ness man and lawyer, not mere pretender
is Postmaster. General. These two gentle
men will not try the late Second Assistant
Postmaster-General and the Star-route con
tractors in the newspapers, but will put tn
charges and the evidence. if there is any
of wrong doing before grand jury, to le
that body, which is alone competent undc
our Constitution, determine whether ther
is reason to believe that any of the partie
who have been tried and found guilty b
James and MacVeagh in the newspaper
have been guilty Of any crime that coul
and jury can take cogniZance of.
Attorney General Brewst er and Pos
master General Howe will not continue til
trial by newspaper They will 20 whel
the accused parties have sought to
carried, to a jury. OF course the dirty too
of James and MacVeagh must be kept unit
they have unloaded their budget before
jury. Otherwise Messrs. Brewster al
Howe would at once be put on trial
these scavengers of the press and bar
anxious to defeat the ends of justic
They are too astute for that. Cook, Gil
son, Woodward, Hines and Company mu
go before grand jury, and having finisht
their trial by newspaper under James al
MacVeagh must now prepare for "trial |
jury" under Brewster and Howe.
When this is done-when the vaporin
Of Cook and the vagaries Of Gibson, Woo
ward, Kinds & Co., have been submitted
this crucial test, it will be seen ho
great is the difference between the trial |
jury and by newspaper.