The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-20
WARDER'S PLEA.
He Thinks the Committees Report Unjust,
and Pleads for Mercy.

He Thinks the Committees Report Unjust,
and Pleads for Mercy.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May I9-E. John Ellis Joseph
E. Mcdonald and Philip B. Thompson, counsel
for Luther F. Warder, Assistant Door keeper Of
the House of Representatives. who is charged
with receiving bribe in connection with an ap-
preparation for improving the levee at Jefferson
vile, and who has been recommended for dis
missai by the committee that investigated the
charges, to-day issued brief containing four
teen closely. printed pages, and placed copy in
the hands of each member of the House. The
brief is addressed to the Speaker and members
of the House of Representatives, and is in the
usual form of attorneys briefs filed in courts. 1t
begins with an appeal to members to read care
fully the testimony taken by the committee on
reform in the civil service, which is then re-
viewed. Ii recites Warders history, declaring
that he is henored and trusted at home, and
deprecates that such grave charges as perjury,
subornation of perjury, forgery and embezzle-
ment, have been filed against him by
the committees report, and for these crimes he
is to be tried by the House of Representatives.
1t is held that the charges against him are not
the committee are unwarranted, and unJustly
and cruelty severe. The argument is that War
der, under the forty third rule of the House.
under which he is to be tried, was An Original
claimant" and was not liable to punishment for
having, while an employe Of the House, worked
for the appropriation. Thus do the counsel
avoid the real issue. which is that Warder OBJ
tanned the 81. 250 by Misrepresentation and under
false pretenses. He is rather charged with
fraudulently procuring money than procuring it
for the work of lobbyist, as the counsel set
forth. A great deal of space is taken up
in the brief with an attack upon the personal
character of John M. Glass, but it alleges moth
ing against him that was not set up while he was
a witness before the committee, and which he
did not fully meet and dsprove. The brief
closes with this statement:
''The story is very simple. Warder and
Stealey were specially charged to look after
matter of great importance to their fellow-cti-
zens, Warder was authorized to employ help.
He did so, after copsultation with Stealey. He
informed his people publicly, openly, of his con-
duct. That people ratified his act, and carried
out his contracts, and publicly thanked him.
The money was sent openly, publicly, by check
and by telegraphic exchange. All was open as
day. He explained the whole matter. and ex-
hlblted his receipts to good men, who swear
they saw them TWO years ago.
Thieves and embezzlers do not move thus openly
or carry on their exchanges through banks and
telegraphs, nor do they make their deeds issues
on the hustings. And for this a man
of unblemished honor in public and in private
is condemned and branded and his dismissal in
disgrace demanded. In the name of
justice we ask the House to read the testimony
adduced, to correct the overzealous report of its
committee. and to do justice to this man. We
deem it proper to state that are not hired or
paid counsel in this case. We rejected offers of
ompensation. In this whole matter we have
been guided by motives Of justice and friendship
for the accused"
The following, printed in the form of circu-
lar, was privately issued TO- day to every member
Of the House:
"WAsHINGroN, May 1S.
ITO the Members of the House of Representatives:
81 am on trial before you. verdict of guilty
will not subject to fine or Imprisonment. but it
will deprive me of that which, as boy and man.
have tried to hold dearer than life-my repu-
tation; my honor, and that of my children. l
appeal to each and every one OF you only to read
the testimony adduced in the investigation, and
then do what your judgment and conscience ap-
proves | only ask that You read the testimony.
l know that the report of your committee has
wronged me cruelty. l only ask that each mem
ber before he votes, read the evIdenee upon
which that report is based. Respectfully.
~. F. WARDER."
Upon representations set out in these docu-
ments, Warder proposes to fight the committees
report 1t is expected that the report will come
before the House this week, and that there will
be an exciting contest over it, but that it will be
adopted by large majority.