The Evening critic., 1882-12-12
PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY. -
The Government Raises the Hand of
Authority Mt the Throat of Honesty
I'm 1IIla nialricd-

Special Dispatch to the New York World
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11,--Reccnt dispatches
in tho World concerning tho case were to-day
made part OF tho court record, obviously with
the view OF discounting reports OF Mr.. Dor.
sey's condition.
AS there was an account of only one inter.
View between correspondent OF tho World
and Mr.. Dorsey printed in the World, aud as
that interview was very short and so described
In the account, and as Mr.. Dorsey did not
write word OF that Interview, which was held
In room so dark that Mr.. Dorsey's form could
scarcely be distinguished by the correspond
ent, this method Of attacking MFR. Dorsey by
the prosecution soems to give much color ID
Mr.. Dorsey's theory OF the prosecution.
Mr.. Merrick promised to submit an aflidavlt
showing that MIR. Dorsey had prepared and
sent TO the World tho dispatch published yes
tcrday. II he should be able to prove this to
the satisfaction of the Court, It will be nothing
more extraordinary than other accomplish
ceeded in terrorizing a community by course
OF action without parallel in crimi-
nal procedure. and they .are os.
tabllshlng precedents in court which, as a
hand OF authority at tho throat OF honesty.
"Assume these defendants TO BIO guilty." he
said, "and deserving Of conviction, yet the
which In the future 1t may suit political or
selfish purposes TO convict honest and limo
cent men. Now, whenever any rascality is to
be perpetrated through the courts, this case
will be cited 90 Justify It,"
People away from here, who have read little
In the newspapers about these cases for two
years, excepting In the nature OF wholesale
denunciatiOn OF Brady and Dorsey, can have
no conception OF the effect here OF what Bliss
and Brewster have been doing lately. Brew
sters letter 10 tho President, upon which tho
pretext was made for tho recent removals Just
before the second trial, for offenses committed,
known and reported upon six months ago, the
trial at this significant time Of 1urymen
whom the agents of the Department of Justice
could not bribe or intimidate AT the last trial
are conspiring facts which make honest citi-
zens dread being summoned to the 1ury-box,
aud which must operate, according to tholr
design. In reducing TO minimum the chances
for fair trial. Comment Is much less con-
ccrned with the fate OF the present defendants
than with the danger that overhangs the con-
stl,utional guaranty OF trial by an impartial
jury.
Tho last removal from office by order OF the
prosecution did not attract much notice be-
cause only a small clerkship was affected, but
the man Norton, who held the clerkship, had
beena witness Mt the last trial, aud, instead
of testIiying as the prosecution wished, that
the AUDITORS office, with which he was con-
nected, audited accounts instead of blIndly
computing them, he was sacrificed. Then no
came out with card saying he could not dis
cover, upon careful revision OF his testimony,
that he had in any respect favored
tho defendants, but tho prosecution
the defense aid and comfort, and
bis removal was plainly meant to warn any
wise than with tho prosecution. The indict-
ments charge misdemeanors committed In or
through the Postoffice Department. Clerks
are there now who were there under Brady,
but they dare not furnish the defense with n
word, except under penalty of removal,
and the Government Will not call them
ns witnesses. The clerks in tho Department OF
Justice arc similarly suppressed, and several
removals and transfers have been made under
circumstances that have excited suspicion
Tho effect In both instances has been 10
force the open opinions OF the clerks OF both
Departments into avowed harmony with the
prosecution. The political disclosures al
ready outlined in the World, designed to show
the animus of the prosecution as viewed by
the defense, promise early fruitlon. Every
day adds to the evidence that may shortly be
clinehed, showing that Garfield dlsapproyed
pecially toward Dorsey. No one Will dispute
that Dorsey opposed the appointment OF
james and Macveagh. Ho wrote to Gar.
field that 1t would be piece of political
idiocy TO appoint either OF them, and his letter
was shown by Garfield to gentlemen now
residing here. The letter TO Garfield, which
Dorsey mentions in his recent card, was
mainly devoted to an explanation of his con.
nection with Star-Routes, similar to that In
the card. GARFIELD showed this letter 10 Mac
Yeagh and James, and instructed them to lay
consistent with Dorsey's statement. Garfield
waited for their facts, and then looked into the
cases himself, the result being thai
eral persons now resident here thai
the Government had nothing against Dorsey
and that Macveagh and James were at game
which he understood and intended to stop
| That discovery ana Macyeagh's retention OF
| Gibson after Garfield had informed MacVeagl
| that Gibson had traduced hts character and
WINS his enemy, determined Garfield TO remove
| MacVeagh, but he waited too long. All this
| IL now ripening for speedy and specific dis
closure.
The decision of Judge wylle to-day that tho
| defendants may be allowed but four challenges
altogether was not unexpected. Ho allowed
| them four challenges each Mt the last trial
quoting tho law In his support, but tho Othol
| day his mind became suddenly unbiased
upon this matter and every one know what &c
expect Now he takes pieces of both laws
| gives the Government three and all the de
| fondants four-that is no gives four challenge
| PENDANTS one under tho general law or tn
| amendment OF 1872. He gives the Govern
| ment three undor the general law, while un
| der the District law they are entitled to none