The Evening critic., 1882-05-13
"The bloody Assizcs."

The BtOoOy ASstxcs.
1t may not be amiss just at this time to
give a brief history of what is known rs
the "Rerdell case.r Mr.. Rerdell was one
of the men who was accused by MacVeagh
and James of conspiracy to defraud the
Government through Star Route mail con-
tracts.
Mr.. Rerdell was indicted by the Jesse
Wilson Grand Jury, through methods
which have been sufficiently described, and
the indictment was quashcd by the court.
Thereupon Bliss and his detectives imme.
diately had him rcarrested by warrant
from the Police Court. Rcrdell announced
himself ready for trial, and day was set
Rordell was in court with his counsel, but
Bliss & Co. were not ready.
They had to ask delay to procure the
attendance of Messrs. Thomas l.. James
and Wayne MacVeagh. The delay was
granted and another time fixed. Again
Rerdell was ready, but once more Bliss and
his man Merrick had to ask delay be-
cause MacVeagh and James were not pres
ent. Another day was fixed and McVeagh
and James were on hand. A business en-
gagement made previous to the setting of
the case required the absence of one of
Rerdell's counsel, and he asked for delay,
Which 'eds refused. MacVeagh and James
testified to what they did not know and
left.
Then the detective, Woodward, was put
on the stand and his examination by Bliss
man Merrclz concluded. Before his cross
examination was finished Merrick had to
ask another delay, because they had to at
tend the trial in another court. 1t was
granted, and the trial was fixed for the
10th of May.
Promptly as before on every occasion
Rerdell was in court ready to proceed.
After an hours delay Merrick was found
and brought into court. But he was not
ready to proceed.
During the lime that Rerdell was being
tried, under heavy bond, before the COM
mitting court to see whether he should be
held to answer before the Grand Jury,
Bliss & Co. had taken their witness, Wood
ward, before the Grand Jury, and were
there endeavoring to find bill against
him, and when the case was called they
had the impudence to ask, and. the Judge
granted it, for another continuance, be-
cause Woodward, the witness, was before
the Grand Jury testifying in the case
against Rerdell.
Was ever such proceeding heard ofi
A man is arrested, carried before commit
ting court and the witnesses against him
examined, to see whether he shall be bound
over to the Grand Jury. Before he can
cross examine the witnesses or introduce
any evidence to show his innocence or dis
credit the statements made against him, Q
delay is secured and the same witnesses
are carried before the Grand Jury, there tt
try and find an indictment against him or
the same evidence that is being used in tht
committing court to ascertain whether HI
| ought to be held for the action of the
| Grand Jury.
The annals of criminal jurisprudence do
| not reveal such another outrage upon th,
| rights Of the citizen.
But even this is not enough. Fearful
| that the present Grand Jury might not bs
so easily managed by Woodward and It'd
| ball as its packed predecessor was, Bliss get!
himself appointed Assistant District at.
| torney. so that he can take charge of the
| bulldozing himself. Perhaps the present
Grand Jury has refused to take Tidballl
| pamphlets home and read them, " and Bills
finds it necessary to bring other kinds o
pressure. Maybe his business is to inform
the Grand Jury, in default Of legal evi
dence, that it is :" tie policy of the Admins
tration to reindict Rerdell. That is hi
customary legal argument in the bar-roon
of the Arlington, and there is no apparen
reason why the law which passes curren
in the assembly room of the Kitchen Cabi-
net should not be considered by the mem
bels of that body good enough law for
Grand Jury-room.
Of course there is no predicting the out
come of these proceedings. There is n
standard in the history of jurisprudenc
this side of the Assizes of Lord George Je
freys or the inquisition of Hyde and Tre'
silian, by which the possibilities of til
Bliss system may be judged. CONNER
would be as useless as remonstrance. Bu
the reading public ought to be kept at
vised of the innovations that are being in
troduced into the local system of procedur
|