National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-22
Alabnmn Election CnScs.

NJ IlunlSNlllt, ALI, Ou IlS lOth III
slant, before Judge Bruce, of the United
States District Court, the fraudulent cleo
ton cases involved in the Lowe-Wheeler
contest in the House came up for trial.
Mich. Davis, esq, leading Democrat,
and one of the Democratic judges of the
election, as witness for the Government,
swore that after the polls were closed
and the election over he and the other
inspectors, all Democrats, rejected sixty
one Lowe ballots because they had figures
or numerals on them, while they counted
one hundred and twenty-five similar
ballots for Wheeler. Upon this testimony
the Government rested its case. The de-
tense put in no evidence. The case was
deliberately argued by District Attorney
Smith and Paul l.. Jones, esq, for the
Government, and by L. P. Walker, ex-
confederate secretary of war, and other
attorneys for the defense. The judge
charged the jury that under the law if
they believed the evidence (Which was
not dcnied) they must find for the Gov
eminent. But after ten minutes the jury
returned with n verdict of "not guilty"
The Judge discharged the jury for the
term for returning verdict contrary to
the charge of the court. Mr. Fletcher,
foreman of the jury, and local Demo-
cratic politician, made speech to the
court vindicating the conduct of the jury.
The Huntsville Democrat, a local Bour-
bon organ, edited by the brother of ex-
Senator G. G. Clay, has the following edi-
torial account of the matter:
Judge Bruce charged the Jury in accordance
with the views of Governments counsel, and di.
rccted the jury, If they believed the evidence to
find defendants guilty. A. s. Fletcher, foreman Of
the jury, asked the judge If they were judges Of
the facts and must apply the law to them. The
Judge replied yes, but If they believed the evil
dence They must lind the defendants guilty. Mr.
Fletcher responded: "Then We propose to take
our own counsel"
There was great popular excitement aud indlg-
nation in The court.rO and applause of General
Walkers denunclation of such ruling rs an out
rage on the rights and liberties of citizens and OF
Mr.. Fletcher's remark.
The Judge said Remember, this is not town
meeting"
The jury retired, md, in about ten minutes, on
taking the sentiment of the jury they were unan-
mous--Dcmocrats, Republicans and Greenbackers
white and black, in the verdict, mot guilty"
Whcroupon the judge discharged them for moi
conforming their verdict to his august will
This morning the minutes were read, embracing
an order dischargng the jury because they refused
to obey the instructions Of the court and orderin
a new Jury to he cmpaneled. Defendants Ia W.
yers protested against these orders, because the
court had 10 legal authority to make such an or.
der, but It was ofno avail. Mr. Fletcher, foreman
of the discharged jury, asked permission 10 II AXE
Il few remarks in behalfOf the jury. Being per
mittcd, lie said, in substance: con yesterday
asked the court If we were to render our verde
according to the law and the evidence The cour
replied yes We rendered our verdict, then, &C
curling TO our copscieuces and the oath we hHt
taken, rather than according to the mere ipse diri
If the court" The judge then said he wished L
bear no more on the subject
We are informed that the jury was
composed of eleven Democrats and one
ignorant negro, who now states that he
was intimidated and bulldozed into the
verdict. However that may be, the con.
| duet of the whole case was discreditablC
alike to the jury and to the "town meet
ing"
1t seems that General Walker, war-sec
rotary of the late confederacy, tool
occasion 10 revamp his musty old STATE
Rights heresies Of twenty-odd years ago
in order to secure the necessary unanim
ity in the Bourbon audience and jury
1t seems he undertook to be eloquent OF
the "rights of the States" to disfranChisC
negro voters and count out Radicals anC
Independents. This so wrought upoi
the feelings of the Bourbon audience Il
Huntsville, Ala, that they broke
out into enthusiastic applause worth!
of the best days Of the confederacy
And it seems that old Governor Chap
man, who was in Congress just after tn,
Revolutionary war; and has been asIeel
eyer since, was one Of the audience anC
participated in the applause, He cam,
in next day and apologized for suren
dering to his feelings
The Independent, published in Hunts
yille says that Governor Chapman sale
that "he had done very wrong in engag
ingin anything of the kind in thepresenc,