The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-28
The Star Route Cases.
A MOTION TO CITE NEWSPAPER WRITER'S FOR
CONTEMPT JUDGE wYLIE's OPINION OF
HIRED sCRIBBLERS."

CONTEMPT - JUDGE wYLIE'S OPINION OF
"HIRED sCRIBBLERS."
WASHINGTON, July 27.-In the Criminal
Court this morning Mr.. Merrick rose and
said that before the beginning Of the reglI-
lar proceedings he felt bound to call the
attention OF the Court to certain circum-
stances which placed the Government I'M
der great disadvantage in the presentation
OF their evidence. He wished to move for
a rule upon A. c. Buell., editor Of the Cap
itdl Sunday paper, to show cause why he
should not be punished for contempt Of
court, as in an article published in that
paper on July 23d he had charged
Walsh with perjury and faIeshood,
and had used other abusive and
libellous language. He also desired
rules upon Buell., Helm, Ringwall, Hack,
and L. w. Brady (brother of the defend
anti, representatives and trustees OF the
Erening Critic, and upon c. Il. Harris, one
of the editors of that paper, for similar
abuse Of Walsh and OF eX-Attorney-Gene-
raj MacVeagh and eX-Postmaster-General
james. In these articles, the first part
published one day and the second upon an
other day, these gentlemen had been abused
i'm the same uncouth and vituperative Ian
euage. They were still witnesses under
the process OF the court, and had not been
discharged.
Mr.. Merrick then read some OF the head
lines from the articles, such as, MacVeagh
Gets Muddled," "Lying Tom Jones on the
Stand" and so OH. These three gentle
men. from some reason, seem to have be.
come the objects OF the most vituperative
assaults while under charge Of the court
and while giving testimony. These arti-
cles were intended to mtimidate and
brighten other witnesses from giving testi-
mOny. and place the Government ut great
disadvantage in obtaining witnesses, for
the reason that sensitive gentlemen felt
great unwillingness to appear and become
objects OF such abuse. He wished to file
the motions, serve notice upon the other
side. and call them at the proper time.
Mr.. Totten, in reply, called attention to
articles in the New York papers-great
dailles, as they were called--in which scan
dalous articles, and reflections upon the
court itself as well as upon the defend
ants. had appeared from day to day.
The Court said 1t would not do TO set OIL
one crime against another. Both parties
would be brought to punishment II the
charges were true. So far as the assaults
mon the Court were concerned, he had
never seen them. Sometimes ne received
nm ANONYMOUS article, but he threw IL In
the waste-basket without reading II. III
seemed impossible to have iair trial IN
This country anyway because OF the news
naners. There might, however, be some
advantages in free press. The Court
warns the jury against paying attention 10
newspapers. Honest and upright men
had ceased to pay attention to them, ana
nmblic opinion could not be influenced by
pewspapers bought and controlled by IN
terested parties. So far from having
ony influence upon the Court, they
would he treated with the utmost contempt.
When this trial began there seemed TO have
been a concerted attack npon the Court,
not upon the jury, for SO far they had ex-
MESSED no opinion, and not upon the VIII
pesses. for none had been summoned. AN
nninion In one direction upon one day
secmed TO have an effect upon these writer's,
and n decision in another direction upon o
later day would call forth the bitterest cen.
s,re. il the parties in interest though.
that they were going to help their case ny
these articles they were mistaken. Ihes mes.
hired scribblers were living upon 'no''
means. II was loss Of money.
The Court finally gave Merrick leave 70
file his motions, and the trial was proceeo'
ed with.