Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-09
ss'gbe Latitude of yyashingtOn.,,

The order granted by the court for the arrest OF
the indicted star route coIspira tors, which includes
Brady. Dorsey and the CHIEF members OF the ring,
shows substantial progress IN the prosecution.
Bnt, though the cases appear to- have been pre-
pared with great care, the line Of defence indicated
by the arTdi<nsd persons warns the public not TO
BE- too cOnfide ut OF their conviction and punish
ment. The tight viii begin on alleged irregulari-
ties before the grand jury, and WI continue on
every technical point that the ingenuity OF Skillful
and experienced lawyers can discover or invent.
III Attorney General Brewster, Col. Bliss and their
associates shall succeed in actually getting the
thieves before jury, and securing the verdict OF
twelve honest men upon their deeds, it Will be a
notable legal triu.nph-for the latitude of Wash
inCtOn. OF course, the tactics Of the defence are
a virtual confession OF guilt; but If the members
or the ring can Keep out OF jail and hang on TO
their ll-GOtteD gains, they viii DOT pcayune
for the proofs OF moral guilt Boston Herald.
Why notable legal triumph '.for the latitude OF
Washington? We are surprised to see paper
usually so fair and well informed as the Boston
HernId indulgirg in this prevalent fashion OF de-
predatory comment upon the moral tone OF the
people and courts OF this District Washington
has It's fast Congressman occasionally one comes
from MasSaChuSett5l and more or less unwhOle-
some government officials, but they form no part
II the real citizenship OF the place. The people
II Washington, from whom the iurieS In question
IRE drawn, are as moral and upright a community
as exists in the country. Not even in the latitude
OF Boston Can more orderly. law-abiding COM
munity be fOund,-one where the Sabbath is bet
ter observed, where there is less drunkenness less
scandal OF immortality, fewer breaches of business
faith more regard for the obligation OF oath,
more conscientious discharge OF duty on the bench
or In the jury box.
When the Guiteau case came up, there was the
same grOundleSs talk about the danger that he
would escape justice ut the hands of a Washing
son judge and jury; both of whom were suspec ted
of being cr0tche,y on the insanity issue Yet Judge
CON'S rulings are now conceded to have been the
best ever made upon the insanity responsibility
slightest ground for the doubts expressed in re-
OF it, on the same point.
So, too, of the grand jury that has had charge of
the investigation OF the star route frauds. Doubt
was expressed all over the country as to the in
tegrity OF grand jury lin the latitude of Wash
ington8 where, it was argued. the ramilcations OF
the star route gang extended through so many
cireleS,-business, social official, and POLITICAL
and the star route organs had Initiated public
sentiment that the jury room itself had been cor
rupted- Yet this suspected jury was untiring in
its labors. and unanimous In its action Ia indct-
Ing the thieves and perjurers of that gang.
Now. again, fears are expressed whether ain
the latitude OF Washington jury will be found
fncorruptible enough to convict the indicted par
ties We submit, in view of the past, that these
continued inputitiOnS upon our courts and iurieS
are outrageCusly unjust The present jury lists
OF the District, made up by commission headed
Dy the late George W. Riggs, are composed OF the
best material in the community, and there can be
no doubt that the jury iinpannelled to try the
star route cases. or all others. viii do their whole
duty without fear or favor