The daily gazette., 1881-10-14
From Yssssraay's Late Edition.
The Political Prosecutions
PARTIzAN PRACTICE IN TIL
UNITED STATES COURT.
A Deliberate Attempt 20 secure .
Republican Jury.

United States District Court, which
thus far have only resulted IN entail
ing trouble upon Democratic citi-
zens and election officers and use
less expense upon the government,
took a new turn this morning in an
apparently deliberate attempt to
secure a jury composed entirely of
Republicans, In order to make sure
of at least one verdict Of conviction.
For, thus far, these trials have
panned out badly for the one-horse
politicians that instituted them, and
the government officials who
brought them before the Court.
Thanks 10 Senator Bayard's jury
law, passed In 1879, partIzan juries
in the United States Courts are al
most impossible now, and three
acqnittals by mixed juries and four
trials that resulted in disagree
ments were the reward that greeted
the efforts OF the Republican politi,
clans TO persecute those who worked
zealously for the Democratic party
at the last general election.
AT the opening Of Court this NOR
ning the prosecution made new
move, but the defense, having had
an intimatiOn of what WAS to occur
were promptly ready TO combat the
scheme that soon developed itself
The jury In Pinkham's case was
still out and 1t so happened that the
names Of only fourteen jurors were
in the box, one of whom, Mr.. Jane,
Laws, had previously been excused
leaving but thirteen to draw from
From these thirteen the following
jury was drawn TO try the case o
Charles Shilds, indicted for interfer
ing with deputy marshal at th'
Tenth Ward polls.
Chester Baum, James A. Benson
VIM. NJ. Eastburn, Henry Woodkeep
or, Robert Ii. Cummins, Isaac s. I'll
lott, VIM. A. Scott, James IL. Todd
BENZ. 8. Blark, James Armour, Elish
W. Cannon, Geo. W. Dorsey. o
these all are Republicans save Che ste
Baum, James II. Todd aud James Al
mour.
Illus far, in all these trials, ther
has been no challenges Of jurors Of
either side, but when this jury wa
drawn the government promptly chal
lenged James Ii. Todd. The last nam
in the jury box, that of Henry Morgan
a Republican, was drawn in place O
Mr.. Todd.
Following up these tactics, the gov
ernment next challenged James Ar
|
the panel. The government, by Dis
trict Attorney Patterson and Anthon
Higgins, Eco, coutended that th
United States Marshal had the righ
TO draw talismen in this emergency
but Mr.. Lore, for the defense, c. lime
that the jury law Of 1879 repealed th
Marshars right to summon talismen
and held that II additional jurors wer
drawn they would have to be draw
by the Jury Commissioners, in tn
same manner as are the regular pan
els.
For over an hour the question wa
argued, pro and con, but Judge Brad
ford said he could not render an imm.
diate decision, as tue question was on
of grave Importance, which would re
quire close examination. He settle
the matter for the present, however
by dischargiug the jury as it stooo
and ordering the adjournment of th
case until the return of the PinkheI
jury, wheo there will be full pan,
To draw from.
Had the government carried the
point, the idea was that the Marsha
would draw Republican in the pla,
of Armour, after which Baum woul
have been challenged and replaced i
like manner. thus making the jur
solidly Republican. Whether or n,
the Marshal would have aided thu
scheme by selecting Republican tails
men is a question yet TO be detel
mined.
Before adjournment Patrick Hickey
who pleaded guiltyto voting illegal
at the Second ward polls, was sen
fenced TO two months imprisonmen
and 800 fine. Deputy Marshal Ain
scow took him over to New Castl
this afternoon on the :05 train.
STILL OUT.
| At 3 o'clock this afternoon til
PInkham jury was still OUT.
1t has been intimated that in case {
continued disagreement the Coul
will refuse 10 discharge the jur
finally until tomorrow morning,