Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-13
Now orleans Murder Trla, Farce.

New Orleans Murder Irial Farce
ETiy last fall there was split
amongst the Democrats of New orleans,
the better portion of them coming out
In favor Of reform measures, that would
stop the financial leak. that were a dis
grace 10 the city, and had become OPP
pressive to the tax payers. Tue reform
Democrats also favored honest elections
and naturally opposed graveyard as
easements.
Amongst the leaders of the reform
movement Was sn influential man
named Captain Murphy, having earned
the prefix OF captain by gallant services
in the Confederate army. One day, at
noon, while Murphy was sitting on a
door step in public street, Judge
Ford, of the Recorders Court, his
brother, brother-in-law and two Of his
court officers came along, and without
. word of warning opened fire on the
defenssless man. After Murphy was
dead, Ford fred two bullets in the dead
mans body. The murderers were all
arrested, but Ford being prominent
figure In the ring politics Of the State of
Louisiana, his conviction was thought
to be doubtful. When the time came
for choosing jury to try him, it was
packed in his interest, and this fact
excited general comment during the
trial. There was not the least doubt
as to the guilt of Ford. Murphy was
murdered in cold blood, his offense be-
ing that he saw proper in exercising
the rights and privileges of a citizen
: In opposing party that he believed
should be defeated in order to secure
good, honest government. He was
still Democrat, and intended to re-
main one. He offered no offense to
Ford, and was shot down UNANIMOUSLY
without warning and without any re-
sistanoe. Ford and his friends resorted
to all kinds Of expedients to save him
from conviction.
One Of the chief witnesses against
Ford was locked up to secure his at
tendance at court when the trial came
of. This witness was subjected to
hardships in the extreme, from which
he contracted disease, and he was
allowed TO die in prison without medi-
cal attendance. The Sheriff and prison
keeper and all other officers were in the
ring, and were friends of Ford The
trial came off last week, and the Jury
disagreed, standing eleven for clearing
the murderer, and only one in favor OF
conviction, the last, be it said TO his
everlasting credit, being colored man.
The papers of New Orleans are unani
nous in saying that the case was clear.
ly proven against Ford. The Picayune
says that it has never known the
community so unanimous in its iudp-
ment as to the guilt OF persons accused
of capital offense as it has been in this
instance" The States says that the
evidence Of guilt was overwhelming,
convincing and corroborative. But
the jury stood eleven to one for verdic,
OF not guilty as to Ford. The Presiding
Judge, finding that Ford had been in
communication with the jury while il
was locked up, entered the case a. a
mistrial.''
Ford is still Judge and the other,
accused are all court officers TheMayol
OF New Orleans has condescended t.
submit articles of impeachment IL
message to the Council.
Five OF the witnesses for the defence
have been arrested for perjury but it i,
very doubtful now if any harm will
come to Ford. This same Ford wa,
conspicuous last November in commit
ting five hundred colored men to prison
being arrested as Migrants, simply tc
prevent them from voting, and Will,
ll5 more colored men were in the Re-
corder's Court room watching to 80,
what would be done with their friend.
who had been arrested, the doors wer,
suddenly locked and the colored mer
present were all committed as vagrant.
and imprisoned until after the election
was over.
by such means as these Louisiauf
was carried for Cleveland, who will tax,
the Presidential chair on the fourth q
March. BY such means az these h,
carried Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
FLORIDA and South Caroline. Withou
such means as these he never conlf
have been elected President, and vet hi
Is called reform President What ,
miserable burlesque on honesty WI
a contemplate farce ON free elections
But there is another thing TO which
w ihuot diluut. is not this same New
Orleans holding or attempting to hole
worlds Exposition ? Has not tn,
United States Government loaned heI
million dollars to aid her in her am
oitlon Worse and more Of it, are no
commissioners at Washington now ask
ing Congress TO lend her a half million
more They expect to realize on thi
ny the patronage from the Norther,
states, where the people pay some re
gard to honesty in politics.
New Orleans had better demonstrat,
that the lives of Northern people woul,
DC safe IN her streets by the convictio,
OF wlliful murderers before she ask slfo
patronage To make the Exposition q
success would be to pay premium sI
crime, and the government deserves +,
loose all it has been induced by fran,
10 advance TO the concern. A peonl
VINO willfully defraud other persons on
OF their votes and have not the mora
power to convict murderer guilty. a
shootlng down an inoffensive and de
ienceiess citizen in open day, with
cloud OF witnesses looking at the mur
DEL, deserve no aid from the government
and do not deserve to succeed in IN. a,
tempt to hold great Worlds Exposj
ton.