The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-06-24
AUGUST BELMONT.

A few years ago this name was
one of the most prominent in Amer.
lean politics, and right soundly has
it been s'cussed" by all republican
editors and republican statesmen OF
the country. During the past few
days the wires and the press have
many times repeated the name, but
on this occasion chiefly in connec-
ton with news item. Early last
week, John Dewey, editor of the
Irish Nation, New York, was found
guilty of Ibeling Mr.. Belmont, and
sentenced to sixty days, imprison-
ment, though the plaintiff asked the
court to deal mercifRlly with the
guilty man. Belmont did not care
to punish Dewey, merely desiring
his own vindication from foul
charge, and that he found in the
verdict of the jury. The libel
of which the telegraph has had so
much to say lately, consisted in
this: In 1866 tie Fenian head
centre bought Of Belmont s. Co.,
the agents in this country of the
Rothschilds, drafts on the latter, in
favor of George Hopper and John
O'Leary, for $4,000. The money
was part Of the diminishing fund"
Hopper and O'Leary were arrested
in England, the drafts found on
them and confscated, and the men
were tried and one of them con.
victea of high treason and sentenced
to fifteen years penal seryitude.
O'Mahony, the head-centre, de-
manded of Belmont the money paid
for the drafts, but the latter re-
fused, on the ground that the sum
had been transmitted toathe Roths-
childs. The case was in litigation
for some time and, finally, the
court ordered the money placed
into the hands Of receiver.
When the latter was after
wards called upon to pay over
the amount, it was found that he
had squandered it and was bank
rupt. The Fenians have always
thought Belmont should give them
back the money, Notwithstanding
the fact that he had once paid it as
the court directed, and have say
agely abused him. Last October
Dewey published in his paper That
Belmont was a t'trickster" and "jug-
ler," who had acted ''in fragrant VIC
lation Of the trusts reposed
in him as a banker The ar
tlcle was evidently intended
to SANDER August Belmont, and in
jure his son, Perry Belmont, who
was a candidate for reelection to
Congress, for it is said that off the
son did not share his fathers shame
he at least inherited the, fruits
of his fathers dishonesty" The
trial was an exciting one, and the
prominence of the parties gave to it
more interest than otherwise would
lhave been aroused. Devoy's at.
torneys seemed to be actuated by
1.-The same vindictiye spirit as theil
client. They took occasion when
ever it was possible to do so to in
suit Belmont; Jas for instance, 1tht
plaintiff in answering a question
said sI did all that an honest banker
could do" when the lawyer inter
rupted, leave out the honesty, i
you please" There were numerou
! passages of this character, and fin
ally the lawyers undertook to reViv
an old and vicious SANDER concern
ing Belmont's parentage, which tn
? banker resented as brave and hon
orable man that he is. Here
J, a passage from the report of tn
[ proceedings:
"whatis your manner" Mr.. Costell
asked suddenly.
: s'August Belmont" responded Il
2 witness, calmly.
!, "Where we're you bUrn?" was the ne,
j question, but Judge Oowing ruled it on
a ''He has answered that in his pIelimiI
ary examination, said the judge, "au
we have no time 70 allow you to-. Eepe
evidence"