Daily Republican., 1882-05-12
Mr. Shar pIey's sDisngreeable Duty

Our young friend, Harry Sharpley,
Esq, is now fully realizing the truth
of the old adage that "misfortunes new
or come single" Hardly had he re-
covered from his stunning defeat by the
ring in his party, in his candidacy Tor
the Democratic nomination for Mayor,
when the Court in its wisdom saw
proper to appoint him to defend Bed
den, the negro charged with the most
bsstial act in the category Of crimes.
If there is any thing that Mr. Sharpley
prides himself in, it is in doing his
whole duty to his client, but to defend
this negro, for the terrible charge laid
against him was something he was not
fully prepared for. 1t had only been
q few months since the whole Demo
cratic party had risen en- masse and de-
nounced the jury that cleared Neal
of a similar crime and also denounced
Mr.. Higgins,th the attorney, who defended
Neal and who was instrumental in
clearing him, in unmeasured terms. and
as Mr.. Sharpley is leading Democrat,
we are not sure that he was not ap ongst
those who denounced Mr.. Higgins the
most vigorously and longest. From
Mr Bayard down to the weakest and
youngest stump orator OF the party,
the Neal case was to be rehashed over
to be made the key. note of the campaign
against the Republicans. Mr.. Bayard,
Mr.. Martin, Mr.. Wolcott and the
Democratic State Convention played
upon these notes in the campaign of
1880 before Neal was out of the clutches
of the law and Mr., Higgins, though a
leading member of the bar which he
hcpOrs, was denounced in unmeasured
terms by all the Democratic papers of
the State, because he succeeded in ar
resting the process Of law which would
have ended in the hanging of Neal, and
in giving him the full benefit of the law
rs it nae before been construed for the
benefit CT white people charged with
capital offences. MI Sharpley, in the
-Redden case, is precisely where Mr..
Higgins was, when the latter was as
signed to the Neal case. The only diff
ference at the out start is that Mr., Hig-
gins was Republican and Mr.. Sharp
ley is Democrat. 1t was naturally
expected, though there was no good
reason for it that Mr.. Higgins would
feel more interest in the Neal case than
a Democrat, and it is more naturally
expected, equally without reason that
Mr.. Sharpley should be influenced by
the old time Democratic prejudice
against Redden. If Mr.. Sharpley sue
cesds by the evidence adduCed in clear
ing Redden or by any flaw in the in-
dictment or other legal technicality in
law, in postponing the trial as Mr.. Hig-
gins did with his client, he may be ex-
pected to be read out Of the Democratic
party. If Mr.. sharpley allows Redden
TO be convicted with every effort made
for his defence, his reputation for abili.
ty and fidelity to his client will suffer
when compared with the fidelity and
ability of Mr.. Higgins.
Since the hanging of Chambers and
Collins there have teen no executions
of negroes for capital crimes in Della.
ware and to appease TIE wrath of the
Democracy some negro will have to be
hung soon. Neal escaped, Harrlgan
Vas doomed to the gallows, but he was
white man and a Democrat and his
reprieve until after the fall elections
was easily obtained. We are finding
NO fault with Harrigan's reprieve had
it been for reasonable time, but rt-
prieve until after the November eleL-
ton, discloses traces of Democratic in
fiMence and interference. 1t is negro
blood the Democrats want and as that
desire was not satiated in the banging
of Neal, it is foregone conclusion that
Redden shall not escape. We are not
surprised that Mr.. Sharpley feels that
he has q disagreeable job on hand, but
still We believe he will do his whole
duty under the circumstance, no mat
ter how the case will result.
THE GARFIELD Monument project is