Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-30
(Commun nicated.)
hypothetical.
DEMOCRATS.

Eminent counsel in the Guieau trial placed expert
witnesses ON the stand and submitted to them hy-
pothetca cases for the purpose of enlightenng the
minds of the jurors and to assist them in arriving at
the facts, whether the prisoner at the bar was
sane or insane at the time he fired the fatal shots.
Counsel in the Cole-Harmon case attempted the
same line of defense.
Now we wish to propose a hypothetical case, and
the public to be the jurors, to decide whether it is
case ofinsanity imbecility emotional dishonesty,
whether there is any just for all this cry of
dissatisfaction or whether the parties who con-
trolled and managed these things have or have not
been characterized with that high standing of in
tegrity contided in them whether all things con-
nected with the following hypothetical has been
done in an open and straightforward manner in ac-
cordance with the laws, and on that high plain of
moral honesty, that if held up to the light of the
MONDAY sun would show no tarnished spots. Sup
pose then, we were constructing fine building and
selected from amongst our neighbors three men in
whose ability and integrity trusted and gave them
the entire control of constructing and purchasing
all furniture and fixtures to complete said building.
Then suppose those three men should call to their
assistance master mechanic architect whose duty
in detail and to superintend the construction of the
work. and to carefully that the contractors well
and faithfully performed their part of the contract
And suppose from time to time as the building pro-
gressed it would come to your notice that your
trusted servants were managing affairs in very
reckless and unbusiness like manner. And suppose
bills should come in to be paid for furnishing the
house year or more in advance of its completion,
that had to be stored away in cellars, garrets and
rented rooms, compelling you to pay interest, in
surance.and rents for long period of time before
needing or using them. And suppose, in looking
over your bills of purchases they seemed excessively
high, but still having implicit confidence in their
integrity was permitted to proceed with the work.
And suppose it should come to your knowledge that
friend of yours in a neighboring county had built
a similar building and in the purchase of the same
amount, but superior quality, OF furniture he had
bought it for one-half the amount you charged
with, or about $4,000 less, and that you had good
reason to believe that you had been charged in about
the same proportion for tme sound, light and heat
And suppose one of the men should go to another
country leaving behind nice little bank account on
interest, with large amount of money slowed away
in his house with no safe place to keep it. Now,
Srs, giving uue weight 10 al tue ldCls Inquiries anu
circumstances surrounding the case, would 1t or
would it not go far to establish the truth ofnsanity
imbecility or to put it in the mildest FORM that of
incapacity n that case parties from whom purchases
had been made shouldin justice respond.)
And if neither of the above theories are correct,
and reasonable explanation cannot be given, would
it not conclusively make up case of emotional or
constitutional dishonesty, with large swag at the
bottom? What say the people.
But in justice to the worthy contractors we must
say they have proved themselves honest and hon.
orable men, faithfully performing their part of the
contract at the same time realizing the fact that
| they were losing money on it.
But am sorry we cannot say as much of the archi-
tec as he was seldom at the building and left no one
to superintend the work inspect the material before
being used, only making hasty visits to make partial
| estimates and draw his commissions.
HAMLET,