New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-11
MARSHAL L0NGSTREETs MANAGEMENT
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE by EMORY sPEhE" Dr.
roeE TIE SPRINGER COMMITTEE
tpyrEIEsRArH TO THE TRIsuSE.l


roRE TIE SPRINGER COMMITTEE
(BY TELEGRAPH TO the TRIsuSE.l
usu,xcroS Feb 1O-The testimony before the
Springer Committee last week OF Emory ope'r'
limited States Attorney for tho Northern DISTRICT
of Georgia showed in clear light the efforts made
nv Attorney General Brewster to purify the ad-
miuisfrstion of iustice IN the South. Mr.. Speer
was appointed United States Attorney in March
last and since that time has been most constantly en-
gaged in court, winning great number of verdlcts
for the Government According to his testimony
General Longstreet, the United States Marshal
is incompetent to discharge the duties OF
his Office Mr.. Speer stated that he haC received
every possible encouragement from the Attorney
General in correcting such abuses as had crept III
the service, but that in every direction nc
was thwarted b. the open dIsloyaIty
of the Marshal toward the Government Genera
Iongstreet, no said, lives at Gainesville, fifty
miles from Atlanta and never reaches his Office nm
I'll u o'clock in the day His deputies are in many
instances men OF bad character Ono was indicted
for perjury; another while drunk arrested a man
whose wife had refused to cook some eggs LOT hlm
The Marshal swOrc out warrant against the nus
band for obstructing an officer IN the discharge "t
his duty. Two other deputies are prosecuted Ior
firing Of their pistols in the passenGcf-cars OF tho
train in drunken frollc.
The cscape of prisoners from the custody OF inc
L. Finley and his son James. together with Others
were tried before q jury in the Circuit Court Tor
firing the house of Doputy-COllectoT Stewart III
Tanning County AMI destroying several ~ the out
buildings and for firing volieys OF bullets ana
buckshot into the house. wOuoding the sou OF Mt
Stewart, who had offended them by the vigilance
with which ne had enforced The law. long ana e1-
pcnsivc trial ensucd. The atteuti,n OF The Marshal
in cbarce of the prisoners was called 10 The tact
~. I'll .tf,lq INIT T. (
attempt TO disarm them. A verdict Of guilty was
rendered by the jury. The two Fnleys thereupon
drew their pistols, rushed through the jury ana
made heir way downstairs One Of them escaped
and has never been arrested.
Depnty-Marshal Crawford was indicted for pre-
son,mg false accounts for his services as United
States Marshal General Longstreet permitted
him ~ 90 fifty miles from Atlanta for the purpose
of obtaining hail, and when heIeached his home ne
easily escaped from the deputy who had hun In
charge and has not since been Tearrested Long
street on bel ng told of the prisoners escape simply
remarked: "Well, don't think he has done any
thing. anyway"
Dennty-Marshal James NJ. Robinson was indicted
for presenting false accounts 10 the Government
Henry Jackson. q well-knOWn lawyer, was EN-
ploved to defend him. and General Longstreet ana
ex-Martal FitzsimmOns agreed to become IeSPOh-
sible for his fee Before Robinson went to the peni-
Longstreet for the purpose Of paying MI Jackson
Some time ago the case of the United states against
William II. Howard, charged with rOOhihs te
mail was called for trial. Nhhe me Jury wac ~
the cnVTj-TOOm, and in the presence o, tne people
who haa gathered in great numbers, H. +; Slon"h'
withouf any attempt at COnCealncnt, lleu 10 oliuc
and corrupf the iurY. St0maI was indicted tul inns
6y the Grand jury ard bench warrant was issued
and placed in the Marshais bands. Deputy Mar
shall toaud the hiding-p!dce oil StOuah ahu oucIVu
To arrest him. ThcreupOn john LougsIe"t, son
of General Long trcet, demanded the tc'uil " ny
warrant which the deputy, OF course, slIIehdVI'u'
Not the slightest effort seems to nave beth mduo
since then TO arrest StOman. n ,,.
Other ca Is IN which the Marshal allowed prison,
er TO escape were cited by Mr.. Speer and supported
by afida.its of trustworthy persons. he INJURY
this kind in Nj. rpeer's opuion, could not DC over
estimated Such neglect OF duty IN cAecuuns VIC
proeess oi the United states courts hau cACOh0kVu
ihe criminal classes aud had Oeen a serious renee
fion ON the purity and efficiency OF the aOlhstId-
fiou OF iuStice. In report To the Attorney
General. which formed part Oh l,l7 ic9Iliuo.lg
presented t. the committee asst week, ME- HpeSI
saws: While regrettng the constant INJURY 10 the
service by the loose methods Ot the Marshal oINce
1 have rcfrained tIOm controversy VII" NeneIdl
IoupStrcrt. When a member OF congress- was
largely instrumental In promoting the appoIit'h
ofGencrli cong street and until became my nuy 10
nrosecute hisdeputes have always REGARDED MN Us
ppntifloJ IN the consideration belonging to a man
many wears my elder and with distinguished
reputation as a soldier. Since the prosecutions
GeneIai Longstreets bearing toward me ulsclo,es
the most UNIV arTantable rtScn tmeht. 1or ,thls
there is literally cause whatever. MY cohducu
of those c ses while as vigorous as knew no" W
make il. entirely professional pdt ItpSdt ~
have been careful 10 say nothing wAIcn "OtIu duu
IL .lianff Q,az al a.