The Evening critic., 1882-01-09
Hyiss and Smell.

Sometimes IL has occurred tnau hau OF
a low, mean and rcvengeful spirit, who had
been, or who imagined that he had been,
injured has late in the evening sworn out
warrant and had his enemy arrested after
night that he might be detained at the
station-housc until morning. h5i the
honor and good name of human nature we
are glad to know that such cases are of rare
occurrence, and that the person who does
such an act is always looked upon with
contempt,
What must be the feelings of che people
of this nation, who pride themselves upon
the nations justice when thoy know that
men representing the Government of the
United States, and proceeding in the name
of the people, have been guilty of doing de-
liberately and after consultation what
would be considered disgraceful and con-
temptiblc in any but a mean and revenge
full man to do or Police Court shyster TO
advise.
Col George Bliss is the special attorney
of the United States TO prosecute the Star
route eases. On Friday evening, after
business hours, he had warrants issued from
the Police Court for the arrest of several
reputable and well-known citizens on the
charge "of furnishing straw bail on certain
mail contracts. Late at night citizens
having well-known residences were dragged
from home by police officers, and when
taken to Police Headquarters were refused
the privilege of giving bail.
No one pretends that any one Of the par
ties arrested had any intention of running
away--in fact none of them knew that
there was any charge against them, and
there is none except in the imagination of
some of the infamous scoundrels whom
James and MacVeagh have employed to
traduce every mail contractor owill not
submit to be blackmailed.
Why, then, should Col George Bliss (af-
ter consulting with the police judge order
these arrests made at so unusual an hour
Did be wish to put these parties, who are
presumed to be innocent, says the law un-
til after conviction, to inconvenience and
disgrace them 1t may be violent pre-
sumption to suppose that Col. Bliss knows
even the law that presumes innocence when
we recollect that his want of knowledge
of law, OF something else, lost the Govern
ment the kid glove case in New York, and
with the case eight hundred thousand dol
lars.
There can be no reason but this assigned
for the arrests being made when they were.
1t was an exhibition Of low, petty spite
an effort to degrade innocent un.
worthy decent man, and proves that
Bliss does not belong that class and i:
disgrace to his profession, fit only to be
classed with the shysters who hang around
police courts to divide their earnings will
thieves and prostitutes.
But what shall be said of the judge VIII
lends himself to such a proceeding.
Fitting language can always be found t
arraign those engaged in the ordinary ave
cations of life for any misdOing. Blu
when judge upon the bench-a man, it
true; man selected and set apart by tn
law las the Almighty selected and sc
apart those who should minister at Hi
altars) to guard the life, liberty, character
and property of the citizen, when such
one lends himself TO proceeding so vile
prostitutes himself by advising and con
senting to such a measure, and adds to hi
infamy by refusing to bail his victims,
would require the power of invective wit
which Burke was gifted to do justice to tn
subject.
What are the facts? Certain well-know
citizens of the District, each having
known residence, were accused Of crim'
not capital in its nature. The judg
(Snell) and the United States attorne
(Bliss) spend the day together consulting
and at night issue warrants for the arrest c
the parties, it being agreed before the cor
spirators separate that Smell shall refus
bail that night and thus force a night i
Jail upon all the parties.
Dickens penetrated into all the by-way
Of London, and has given vivid word pi'
lures, and it was thought he had portraye
all classes. We can find Bliss by addin
together the qualities of Quirk, Cannon
and Snap, Uriah Heep, Sampson Bras
Jingle and Quilp; but we look in vain {,
Smell, and still more vain would be I'll
search for Smell and Bliss consulting b
pether how they can manage TO keep a fe
citizens in Jail at least one night.
Nowhere can such scene be found po
trayed, except in Milton, when the dey
(Bliss), having consulted with his pee
(Cook, Gibson, Kinds g. Coz, starts out
find the earth, and at the gates of he
meets his progeny Sin (SnelD. TIL
meeting may well be taken as the ant
type of the one held by Bliss and Smell.
So great an outrage upon the priva
rights Of The citizen, SO gross violation
the common decencies of life as for ii
Judge and prosecutor to consult togeth
and concOct such plan, has no parallel
the history of this country. But the m
tiyes which aetuate Bliss can be easil
seen. He is the same scoundrel who sal
"No matter whether jury convicts or NJ
we have disgraoed the Star-route men b
fore the people," and this movement is
part Of that attempt. The plain expose
the methods Of the Information" made i
The CRITIC has shown to Bliss and his c,
adjutors that he cannot convict before
jury, and he desires to try and disgra,
these parties before the people.
Il it not time for the public TO rou
itself to the danger that threatens every on
A high official swears TO an informant,
against certain parties, when the records
his Office show his affidavit to be raj
ueriury. has these parties arrested and /