The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-08
A BREEZE In COURT.
MR. eELFoRD's BAD BREAK.
Honotosy OF Star Route Trial Relieved by a Seen,
Before the Bsneh-Jsdss WyIlsT Ire and Bel.
ford's IudignAtiOa-A Fine ls FIas Ia
His Court, and don't you forget Il.

Belore the Beneh-Jauko hIlAt Ire hna bti'
ford's IudignAtiOn-A Fiat Is . Fias Ia
His Court, and don't you forget Il.
WASHINGTON, D. G., March ,7.-There
was quite lively scene in the Star Route
inquiry to-day. Ex.Congressman Beliord,
OF Colorado, had been on the stand, and a
controversy arose over a missing letter
which he referred to in bis examination.
Belierd insisted that the letter or a copy be
put in evidence. He did not Intend TO be
suppressed; they were going to examine
him about 1t and he wanted to read
IT. The prosecution were unable to
find the original letter and copy was
introduced instead, which tue witness was
permitted to read. II was letter peti.
tioning for an increase on one OF the Colo.
RADIO routes signed by the Chief Justice OF
the State and many prominent State off.
cials. The cross examination was confined
TO the question concerning the hand writ.
ing oi the letter that the witness said had
been written by his clerk, Delaven W. Gee,
but had been signed by himself. Beliord
was then directed to stand aside.
SOMEWHAT OF SCENE.
He appeared to be somewhat agitated,
took up his hat, walked over to the coun.
sells table, and, turning to the court, said,
with much feeling, "Your Honor, wish to
ask theindulgence Of the Courtand courtesy
OF bar to make personal statement in re-.
gard to the charge etfecting my honor"
Mr.. MerriCk was Immediately upon his
feet with an objection. II was at his sug.
gestion, he said, that the record In regard
TO Belford had been modified. II the wit.
ness had any statement 10 make TO the
country he could make il, but certainly
the proceedings OF court Of justice ought
not to be interfered with by allowing 9
witness, who happened to be member Of
the bar, to step from the witness stand TO
the counsel table and state to the jury and
to the Court what, as witness, he had not
been allowed to state on the stand. He
felt bound 10 resist 1t as matter Of justice
to counsel, to the case and to order.
"Give me the poor privilege" pleaded
Belford, "of making statement"
"This is not public meeting replied
the court I'VE are trying case judicially."
~ state before the living God" said Bel.
ford solemnly and indignantly, "that l
never saw such q check as named in the
letter." Then turning on bis heel Belford
started from the court room, but he was re-
called by the commanding voice Of the
Judge, who exclaimed angrily, "Come
here, sir; bring Mr.. Belford here"
Belford having returned the court in.
quired what he had said, and Beliord re.
peated it with emphasis.
BELroRp AROUSED. f
"This is contempt Of court" exclaimed
his honor, "and the court imposes a fine Of
one hundred dollars, and you stand com.
mitted until it is paid"
~ will pay FIVE hundred dollars, retorted
Mr.. Bedford defantly, "but no man shall
deiame my character"
This il a degree ofimpertinence and in.
science. which the court will not permit to
take place in its presence" Indignantly
exclaimed his honor"
Mr.. Carpenter inquired whether the
court had jurisdiction to impose fine
without Issuing rule to show cause.
Certainly it has," replied the Court, at
is a disorder in court which the Court can
take notice Of Immediately"
1ngersoll asked permission, in the inter.
est oi peace, to say word about Belfords
feeling on this subject. Under all the cir.
cumstances, recollecting that there was
about as much human nature in people as
there was in courts, would 1t not
be better for the Court to let
the fine 20. He did not think Judge
Belford meant any disrespect to the Court,
but he. had good deal Of feeling on this
subject There might be something par.
donable in the natural indignation OF q
man whose fair fame had been assailed,
and he thought his honor under the same
circumstances, would have gone at least as
far.
"You have no right to use the Court as
an illustration" interrupted Judge Wylie,
severely.
Ingersoll begged pardon and took him.
self as an example. Under certain cir.
cumstances he knew that he would 60
beyond the bounds Of propriety, and be
thought everybody would. He made this
suggestion, not for the purpose Of having
the court do anything which II did not be.
lieve could be done consistently, but for the
purpose oi asking the court to take all cir.
cumstances into consideration.
Merrick said that from what he had
heard at recess he was looking for some
such statement from the stand as had been
made from the bar. Notwithstanding the
limitations OF the court, he might be in
error, but It was a subject OF talk. II Bel
ford had wanted an exact and full vindica.
ton he would not be satisfied in making
the statement he did, but he would have
asked them for the book which would reply
to all that was said here. 1.-THE court went
formally into the subject he should like to
know what had passed during the recess.
1ngersoll declared that he had not seen
Belford during recess, and Davidge added
that he had not seen him until his return
TO the Court room. As to the check
book, said Dayidge, the Government
would get enough Of 1t before they were
through. What had passed between them
was simply this: Belford told him that he
had served for twenty-five years before the
bar and intended to request the Court to
allow him to make statement Davidge
appealed TO the Court to reconsider its
action and remit the fine.
THE COURT STICKS.
The court saidt hat Beliord had occupied
a place Of consequence before the country
for many years (Belford arose but the
court hastily babe him be seated, saying
he was not addressing him. The couri
proceeded to review Reerdell's testimony
upon the point in question, and
known; that the proposed expIapa
ton could not be allowed-thert
was nothing wrong in bis request but al
ter II had been refused Il was gross VIC
lation OF the authority Of the Court to per
sist in delivering himself as he had done
the court therefore declined 70 remit the
. | Rttt-- al. Z