The Evening critic., 1883-06-15
mot Guilty"
N. Y. Herald to-day.

Twelve "good men and true" sworn to de-
evidence, yesterday declared the star.Roate
defendants ''not guilty" OF the charges
brought against them by the Government,
which accusation was conspiracy to defraud
the Government"
In the flrst place We notice already dispo-
eition TO blame and to vilify the jury. 1t ought
10 se sala iSr % cnese 5erymep VINO are tor ne
fend themselves, that the prosecution were
well satisfied with them when they were i'm
and long that the
no complaint, at least for months after the
trial began, thai the jury they had accepted
were either drunkards, or too Ignorant to dis
charge their duty or corruptible. 1t is not
proper now, when they have rendered their
verdict, TO attack their characters or qualih.
cations. AS to corrupting them, the prosecu-
tlon possessed and used all the means It re-
quired to have the jury watched and improper
approaches made impossible, and there Is no
reason to believe that any turyman was i'm
properly approached or influenced.
Nor fs II allowable to say, as we see 1t sug-
gested, that the verdict contradicts the evil
dence. The jury was the final Judge of that;
and the Jury, having read the charges, lis
tened to all the evidence which the Govern
ment was able TO produce, TO minute and
almost interminable explanations by the Gov
ernment lawyers OF the bearings of that evi.
dence and 10 the charge of the judge, unani-
mously brought In verdict of not guilty.
That seems to us final. The verdict must be
held to show conclusively that the Govern
mont was unable TO prove a conspiracy 10
defraud It between the defendants. II, with
an Attorney. General whose friends boast OF
him as the ablest and most astute of lawyers;
with counsel engaged to assist him literally
without regard to expense; with witnesses
brought at enormous cost from all the ends OF
the country; with all the documentary evil
dence of the Postofice Department at COM
mand, and with detectives ad libitum thrown
ia. the Government was not able to produce
appears, even go near to convince, jury that
the accusation deliberately brought was true
or founded on fact, then IT is not for the public
to blame the jury. II blame there be, 1t must
General and the helpers he selected, who
searched the evidence, framed the Indictment
and tried the case.
That, in view Of the verdict, they deserve
the severest blame and censure we certainly
hold. They had no need to bring the charge,
and they delieerately did that. i was not
to the anxiety and the very great cost of stand
Ing not one, but two tedious trials. They
chose to DO this, and IN doing 1t they assumed
responsibilities which cannot now be showed
on on the jury or on anybody else. AS they
were counsel for the Government, that is
responsible for their lack of Judgment and of
capacity; and It seems to us that the govern
ment which chose to trust Itself 10 such agents
is equitably bound to at least reimburse the
defendants tho money 1t has compelled them
10 expend on tho defense which 1t twice forced
them to make.
It is one OF the highest duties of the press
toexpose and force on public attention waste
and maladministration In public offices. That
duty, in this case. the press did fearlessly and
Zeelously. II ie, then, tho duty OF the law ofti-
GERS Of the Government to ascertain whether
laws have been violated. and, If so, to bring the
wrong.doers to trial. 1t may be that wrong
has been done, but no law has been broken.
In that case tho Attorney General may
expose the, wrong.doing and ask that
ineffectiye laws be amended. The At
torney.General and those he selects to
help him are responsible, not only that there
shall be no failure OF Justice, but that men
shall not be brought 10 trial on charges which
cannot be substantiated; for there Is as great
wrong In the one case as in the other. The
verdict OF the Jury has not merely acquitted
the defendants: II condemns the Attorney
General and his helpers. 1t declares on the
oaths OF twelve men that the Government
brought false charges against these defend
ants. That is serious matter; II Is an injury
for which these men ought 10 have redress
from the Government.