The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-27
WASHINGTON.
News Gathered About the Capital
(itV

WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-A meeting of the
bar was held in the supreme court room to-day
death of Judge Jere Black. Senator Edmunds
was called to the chair, and Mex emmy chosen
secretary. Eulogistic addresses were delivered
by MeSsrS. NJ rrick, Emery, Ashton and W.
II. Smith, and Senators Bayard, V. nee and
Garland, and RepreSen atlye Hopkins. ReSO-
buttons expressive OF the high character and
attachments of the deceased, and the great loss
the country sustained by his death, were
adopted.
The colored national committee met this
morning and appointed delegates to the con-
vention at Richmond, Va, in July next. Each
congressional district was allowed two dele
gates, and each territory one representative.
Fred Douglass, Register OF the Treasury
Bruce, of the District of Columbia, and Col
William Murrell, OF Maryland, were elected
members of the national committee. The
Freedmen's Bank committee made their final
report, memorialiZing Congress to reimburse
the depositorS, and denounclng the former act
of Congress in creating commissioners at 5000
a year each, to settle the affairs of the inStltu-
ton, In support OF the adoption of the report,
Murrell said the Freedmen'S Bank was the
most diSgrdceful and sinful Swindle that ever
stained the ear.h or shocked high heaven. The
commissioners appointed at 5000 a year each
were like hyenaS deyOurIng carcass, then
like lion smashing its BONES and sucking the
marrow therefrOm. Furthermore, a Republ-
can Congress made this commission the pail
bearers of the same carcass. The committee
adjourned to meet in Chicago on June 2 next.
Acknowledgement Brewster left Washington
this morning for New Orleans, where he Will
appear in the Pr osecutiOn Of the lottery cases.
The grand jury came INTO the criminal court
to-day and presented indictments against Pen
sion Attorneys Nathan w. Fitzgerald, Samuel
G. Fitzgerald and Andrew B. Webb for illegal
use of the mails and deViSing scheme to de-
fraud widows of soldiers. Col. COrkhill called
the attention Of the court to the fact that
marked copies of the paper containing the as
Sault upon himself had been sent to all mem
bers OF the grand jury for the purpose of inttu-
enclng their action in the case of n. w. FltZ-
gerald. He read the article referred to, which
cod IN hn Strip Dtf md
signed n. w Fitzgerald. 1t criticised the dis
trict attorneys conduct in attempting to pros
eGte pension IN at9Eheys and appearing as at
against certain newspapers. 1T is true, your
honor" said Mr.. Corkhin, when he had fin
ished reading, that | am attorney of the
Globe-Democrat and Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, but l have a right to appear profess
siOnally in these cases"
Judge Wylie read the section providing that
persons attempting to influence the action of
grand or petlt JurteS by writing or reading let
tiers, etc, shall be punished by fine OF not
more than $1,000, or Imprisonment for not more
than six months, or both, and said: This is a
matter for investigation by the grand jury.
The particular offence here is the attempt to
interfere in the Investigations OF court OF
justice in matter pending. You have the
power of Summoning witnesses, and If, after
examining them, you ascertain who sent the
paper, and come to the conclusion that its in
tended effect was to interfere with your delib-
erationS in the matter, that party is liable to
indictment. The court gives you this matter
i'll special charge at the Instance of the attOr-
ney of the United States.
Mr.. COrkhill took out bench warrants for the
defendants returnable January.
The examination OF Capt. CIapp was cOntin-
ued by the ProteuS court to-day. In response
to a request by Gen. HaZen the witness de-
scribed in detail the neans taken to insure the
safety of the Darlington expedition and the
care taken to have the arrangements COM
plete. The mat rial and supplies were of the
best and most serviceable character. The de-
parture from Fort Greeley was according to
the instructions as contained in his letter.
ton thought the supplies should be landed on
the west coast and so stated to Clapp. Adj