Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-18
THE LAWS DELAYS
And the Facility They Afford Criminals
to Escape Forcibly Illustrated In
the Case OF
The Two Confidence Men-What Chief
Davis Has to Say About Some
Proceedings.

When the reporter left the Court House
yesterday on his way to the Station House,
he was informed by Mr.. Capers that he
had been informed by the Attorney-Ge fem
ersl that the cases of the two confidence
men, Walsh and Watson, would be taken
up in the Criminal Court to-day, but that
be had not entered il on the calendar, as
he had not received the order in the regu-
lar way from the Judge. The APPEAL
man made a running memoranda of the
fact that the trial would probably take
place to-day, but, when he reached the
Station-House, found the whole force in
arms, and talking matter enough to In
wind the note into quite a tale.
Chief Davis was evidently worried, and
three or four of his officers who happened
to be present were as indignant as he at
the delay in the trial of the sharpers.
"We made numerous Intellectual at
tempts to capture them" Chief Davis said,
land now that we have them shared, we're
beginning to fear they will be turned loose
to ply their rascally trade as before. Mr..
Blaydes came back here at my re-
quest and upon my assurance that
prosecute them. / went to see the Attor-
ney-Gsneral Monday, and impressed upon
him the Importance of getting through
with the case in the shortest possible time.
He said he would attend to it, sure, the
next day. Yesterday morning l went up
with Mr.. Blaydes, and was informed by
the Attorney General that Judge Douglass
was busy in the Circuit Court, but he
would fix it at noo l went up at noon
with Mr.. Blaydes and sat around the
Criminal Court for an hour or SO, but
neither Judge nor Attorney General APP
peared. 1 was
COMPLETELY DIsGUsTKD,
but not more than old man Blaydes. He ia
becoming very restless and cannot remain
much longer. He has been away from
home for some time and has important
business to transact. He is exceedingly
impatient and naturally blames me, as l
promised him he should not be unueces-
sarlly detained if he returned. I nave a
telegram here from j. I'll. Groves, who was
a witness to the attempt made upon
Blaydes. He says he will return from Hot
Springs, if necessary, but l do not ike to
bring him back here when it may be he
will be detained a month or more. The
fact Is that the entire delay is either one
of outrageous car~elsssness, or else it is for
the purpose CT giving time to the lawyer
for the defendant to get bis fee. l under
stand they have been
TELEGRAPHING FOR MONEY
for that purpose. If they get a lawyer re-
tanned then they will want a continuance
for a double purpose, to get more money
tn pay the lawyer and to gain time suf-
icient to freez9 out the prosecution. l
don't see why the case cannot be tried on
its merits. 1t is not money, but proof, that
the prisoners van l have given them
every opportunity to get that. When hey
were first arrested l offered to use the
wires freely if by that means they could
prove a good character. Finally they said
they were formerly in the restaurant bust
ness in Nashville. Here is a telegram
from Chief Ksrrigan there, who says he
cannot hear anything of them, and can
find no one who ever new them either
by name or description. In our opinion,
they are the same precious pair which
has been
WORKING H
here and between Memphis and FL Paso."
"And who is to blame for the delay ?"
Certainly / am not"
SIT is the duty of the Acknowledgement
to bring such matters to the attention of
the courts, is it mott"
81 think So"
"rhen Judge Douglass had no official
knowledge-none beyond Common re-
port?"
"Some judges would not have needed
more"
At this juncture President Hadden
poked his head in at the door and asked
how the sharpers were getting On.
Don't fail to take our mittimuses up to
court with you, chief" he said, "aGd what
ever is done with them, slap 'em on. We
must have our 500"
In answer to a question, Chief Davis said
that he had persuaded President Hadden
that it was unnecessary to placard the pris-
oners and take them 10 the depots, and
that shortly afterward Deputy-Sheiif
Powell came TO him and told him he had
an order from Judge Douglass not 10 allow
it to be done. The chief il formed him
that he had already
GIVEN UP THE IDEA,
and Mr.. Powell departed. Their pictures
we're taken, however, for the adornment
CT the rogues' gallery. One of them laid
down ON the pavement and had to be
carried forcibly along, and both of them
twisted their features into a hundred
shapes, pulled their hair down over their
eyes and made every conceivable effort to
spoil the artists camera. But the instau-
taneous process caught them at last, and
as the chief wasn't particular about pose,
and not very anxious to nave his pets ap-
pear prettier han they really are, the
trout 9 was overcome.