National Republican., 1883-06-12
PAUL sTRoBACH,s CASE.
After "a Long Trial tho Jury Finds ver-
diet of Not Guilty.

NiNt oN GNob
Nea York Times.
MONTGOMERY, ALA, June 10.-The trial of
Marshal Strobaoh in the United States circuit
court for the alleged offense of having as
deputy marshal made false accounts against
the government in tho spring of 1880 was
concluded late last night by verdict Of not
guilty. Tho case has occupied the entire
time of the court, beginning on the first Mon
day Of May, and has cost the government not
less than from $4,000 to $4,000. The ste
nographer alone, who was employed for five
weeks, stated In open court that his fees
would amount to from $40 TO $50 per day.
The entire accounts of Strobach amount only
TO $3.50, and tho alleged fraudulent items
therein were boiled down to about 500 during
the trial, and as TO these the charge of fraud
was conclusively and triumphantly refuted.
Tho defense took bold ground from the
start that there was not only no merit In tho
prosecution, but that il was conspiracy on
the part of Strobach's enemies to destroy him
by the prosecution, and the circumstances
brought out in the trial go far to confirm this.
Ex-Judgo Rice, special counsel, seeing that
n conviction was hopeless, bent his energies
to bring about mistrial. 10 this end he
brought twenty-four bourbon democrats,
most Of them active politicians, on the stan d
TO testify that Strobaoh's character was bad
ppNAusS W pOllVlNui apNtIutS ny Ilul III
New York in the campaign of 1879 and 1880,
and thus to prejudice the jury, which con-
sisted of nine democrats and three republi-
cans. Rice's speech to the jury was bitter
philliphic against Strobach as q slanderer of
the south. This conduct must be considered
the more infamous as coming from man who
himself claims to be republican and
who, whatever his own sentiments, repre-
sents an administration which Is in part in
debted for its existence TO he bold assertions
OF naked truth in the very speeches so Bit
terly villihed. None Of the witnesses, how
ever, could be induced to testify against
Strobachs integrity outside of the political
character that his public speeches north had
made for him among his bourbon townsmen.
To repcl this mean and contemplate artifce
of Rice, Strobach introduced an equal num-
ber of the most reputable and influential
business men of the city, including the
mayor, and several alderman, bankers,
Wholesale merchants, manufacturers &C., all
of whom testified that during Strobach's
entire residence in Montgomery his truth
and integrity in personal and business mat
ters had been exceptionally good, and that
no word had been said against it during
the most heated campaigns. The
jury retired at o'clock, and, after
partaking of supper, had but little
difficulty in arriving at its verdict but owing
to the necessity of bringing judge and the
attorneys into the court, it was not delivered
until about midnight. Notwithstanding the
late hour the news that the jury was ready
to render verdict spread like wild fire, and
the verdict of not guilty was greeted by the
audience with shouts of delight and applause,
which the court was unable to suppress.
Many congratulations were received by Stro-
bach, some of which were from democrats,
whose sense of justice oyercame their party
prejudices. Strobach has borne ~the ordeal
like man, but when the verdict was read
which restored his good name and honor un-
tarnished, and 80 signally foiled the efforts of
his enemies, he broke down, and for the first
time evinced emotion. He was supported by
his two sons and son-in-law, who during the
entire trial have remained by his side.
Several other indictments are pending
against Mr.. Strobach, but as every question
in them is decided in the case on trial further
steps will hardly be taken. One of the i'm
dictments charges PERJURY upon Strobach for
swearing TO the accounts the correctness OF
which has been determined in this case. At
any rate, 1t is proposed to press tho other in
dictments, If it willlonly beianother evidence
of a fact already established, that this perse-
cution of Marshal Strobach is simply an at
tempt to pervert the law for the accomplish
ment Of private and selfish ends.