New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-26
THE COURTS.
THE HALLET KILBoURN CASE.
SENATOR VOORHEES, cRIrIcIsrs THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE,


SENATOR VOORHEES, cRIrcIsEs THE DEPARTMENT.
OF JUSTICE.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The case of Hallet
KiIbourn against sergeant-at-Ar John @. Thomp-
son-the famous suit for damages for the arrest and i'm
prisonment OF Mr. Klboun account Of his refusal to
produce his books and private papers the Congress
slonal committee investigating the so-oaed real estate
poocame up before Justice Cox In the Circuit Court
to-day on a motion for continuance Senator yoor-
bees and EnOch Toten appeared FOR the complainant,
and Attorney corkhill for the defendant SEN
ator voorhees, commented very sharply upon letter
from the AttorneyGenera which was the basis OF lie
application for a continuance
In this letter." said Mr. Voorhees,, the Attorney
General asks for delay. for the that he has no
money az this time hire special counsel to attend 10
the Government business This case was at one time
case full of grave legal questions is OF the SIM
pest cases that can be tried in court Of justice II
had law student In my oice twenty-one years OF ago
who could not ntegently try this case would let linn
20 10 planting for living Yethere we have the At
OF the United States asking II to be post
poned until the Treasury is repenished TO employ
special counsel. This question OF the employment OF
special counsel is attracting some attention liz this
country might attract little moro The Depart
ment Of Justice organized body OF lawyers con-
sstng OF an and seventeen assistant
Attorney Generals any OF whom order
Of tho Attorney at any moment and the pay
Generals Seventeen of them and the Acknowledgement
make eighteen legal officers in the employ of the Gov
eminent, to whom the people pay $4,000 year, and
my word for It, that there are dozen OF these dsn-
gished gentlemen this day who not LONG two full
hours work the twenty-four, any OF whom could
be detailed TO here Add to these eighteen distn-
guished gentlemen headed by the Attorney General
drawing out of the Treasury S67 600 the DistrctAtor
ney who gets SO 600, and two assistants well paid
akng payroll TO attend to this case OF twsny-ons
gentlemen drawing out OF the Treasury about SSVoooa
met objection. that this corps OF tweDtone
men cannot furnish one two OF three % me- M %
Treasury 10 be epeDished ana 70 10 drwnoh 10 epoy
special ie as MSa q a4a int is o protect
It's citizens and II is decided question, not an open one
Out thoroughly decided question y the highest s S
wronged Illegally imprisoned, oppressed ms fortunes
end health broken For seven years re mas oeen
nerpose obstacle to the course Of Justice at this ate
employ OF the Government and not money enough paid
TO get gentlemen to come forward and try the case
employed as attorney by Mr. Thompson Originally; that
IL was ascertaned In q subsequent Investigation tnAs
there had been passed by Congress providing that
cases against public officers for damages alleged TO have
been inflicted in the discharge Of their Official duty
should be uBcer the direction OF the
Mr. Thompson expected to employ Mr.. Mcsweeny and
Judge shellabarger in addition 70 Mr. CorShil upon
General letter from Mr. Thompson. requesting
that Judge sheabarger be retained IN the case as
nriaton for the employment of special counsel
trely exhausted and that under these nc
could Mr. Shellabarger that he would 90 80
with pleasure II there were any appropriation asaaolo
TO meet any fees that might become que or serves
such time either as Congress should by direct appro
priaton enable him to make sucn deslgnsLlon, ..
funds should under his control with which ne coulo
act his discretion. -,
After hearing statement OF the case Judge Cox de-
clined TO try the suit until the Government had opP0r
tunty to prepare for the trial The is therefore
postponed until October 80