davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
JUDGE wooDss DECISION.

The decision rendered yesterday by Judge
Woods. of the United States Court, in the
case of Perkins, the contumacious witness,
acts like a moral tonic. When great questions
are at stake, involving the rights of society,
the general welfare, public policy and the
principles of good government, and the real
issue has been handicapped by the lawyers
and befogged with legal technicalities until a
grain of reason and law is almost buried be-
meath a mountain of misleading imperti-
nences then there is opportunity for judge
who knows the law and dare proclaim it to
brush aside the mass of triyialities by which
it has been obscured, and interpret it for what
it truly is, the perfection of reason When
Mr.. Samuel E. Perkins refused to testify in
the proceeding before Commissioner Van
Buren, he was, of course, acting on the advice
Of his formidable array of counsel. Consid-
ering their number, it is wonder they could
their character, it is wonder they should
agree on the one adopted. To anybody but a
lawyer whose natural intelligence was OBJ
scured by retainer, it should appear prepos-
ferrous that witness; subp9n@d to testify in
any court, should have the right to demur
to the jurisdiction of the court by refusing to
testify. This is what Mr.. Perkins's lawyers
advised him to do and what he did. The
Commissioner might, with entire propriety,
have decided the question himself, but he
waived his right in this regard, and certified
it to the United States judge. 1t did not take
Judge Woods long to decide it. He construed
the law on common sense principles, and did
not stick in the bark He was not at all
troubled by vague suspicion that in a Grim
inal proceeding before United States Com
missioner contumacious witness might deny
the jurisdiction Of the court and defeat the
ends of justice by refusing to testify. He
gave the able lawyers to understand about as
clearlyas could be put in the English language,
that the criminal laws Of the United States are
not farce and that the office of United States
commissioner was not created as a joke.
Judge Woods's decision and his judicial colo
guy with the lawyers cleared up the atmos-
phere in very rapid and delightful manner.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
THE INDlANAPoLls JOURNAL TUESDAY, DECEMBER a. 1886

which our system is founded, tie Supreme
Court has been OF immense service in defining
and establishing the principles Of constitu-
tional government. And it has rendered
equally great service in furnishing, as needed,
an authoritative exposition Of law for the
guidance and control of other courts. 1t has
never given a dangerous or oppressive inter
probation of constitutional or legal questions,
and there is no reason 70 fear it ever will.
There is no danger of our having too much
or too strict enforcement of law in this coun-
try. The danger is decidedly in the other
direction
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

the managers of such concerns are more per
tinacious in pursuit of possible legacy than ars
even hopeful cousins nephews and nieces of a
testator Since the fact became known that
Miss Wolfe could not recover her health inter
ested individuals have endeavored to ascertain
IN advance exactly what disposal was to be made
of her property. Her agent has had the ex-
tremely bad taste to crafty this curiosity and to
give the details of his employers will and tesla
ment. AS Miss Wolfe is not dead yet, it may
not be the last will, and it would be highly graf
flying to disgusted public were she to revive
sufficiently to make some changes IN the docu-
ment that would rebuke tho indecent haste with
which her intentions were made known.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

WILL Mr.. Perkins please tell the people
what right he had to take the official poll
book and tally papers, pending the canvass of
the returns? What business had he with
them? What honest purpose could he have
with them, and why did he take them out of
the room in which the canvass was being
madef Will his learned counsel say that the
people have no jurisdiction to investigate the
frauds and forgeries of election returns?
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

Mr.. W. F, A BERNHAMER was very wrathy,
and served notice on the citizens committee
that he would hold them responsible for the
damage that might accrue to himself and his
business. He asserted that there was no evil
dence to connect him with the conspiracy
Possibly the tool Of the gang, who carried out
their fraud and forgery as president of the
canvassing board has had reason to change
his mind. If he has not, let him possess his
soul in patience. He may be connected"
with the gang to his full satisfaction.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

The following advertisement is scattered
through the Washington papers of Saturday:
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
w. c. T. U.
Advertising accomplishes wonders, but it
remains to be seen whether it will prevent
Sabbath breaking. The indianapolis Liquor
League, in its unselfsh anxiety to prevent
dissertation of the holy day. will do we'll to
study the merits of this method. The col
umns of the Journal are open to the League
at regular rates in case it sees fit to adopt the
plan of the Washington ladies. The Sunday
Journal, however, is the one they should use
as the medium of communicating the injunc-
ton to the public.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THE letter writing capacity of the people of
this country may be judged from the fact that
the face value of the postage stamps printed by
the government last year $33, 000, 900. -Bos
ton Herald.
The stamp sale isn't all to be accounted for by
the fondness of the people for epistolary cor
respondence. Some of it is due to the uncer
tainty of the mails, and the fact that a great
many letters have been written to find out if
those sent at an earlier date had ever come to
hand. After the second trial the sufferers tele-
graph, and save postage.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

1T is novel plea, indeed, that no man
shall be punished for frauds and forgeries of
election returns and on tally-sheets, unless
before the election a proclamation shall be
made that elections must be honest. This is
the plea of some of tho counsel for the al
legged eonspirators now being investigated by
the United States commissioner. Who shall
make such proclamation Has any one ever
heard of precedent for such proclamation?
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

If Mr. Samuel E. Perkins, jr., has any re-
spect for the memory of Hon. Samuel E. Per-
kins, deceased, who was Chief-justice of the
Supreme Court of the State, he will Loyalty
obey the processes of the courts of justice.
The people scarcely expect the son of an hon
ored Chief-justice to make spectacle of him
self by defying the judicial authority of which
his father was so distinguished an exponent
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
COMMISSIONERS VAN BuREN,s POWER
Judge Woods Makes Plain His Authority to
Compel a Witness tn Testify.

Judge Woods Makes Plain His Authority ia
Compel Witness tn Testify.
deeply Interested and anxious group was
gathered in Judge Woodss room at the hour ap.
pointed for his consideration of the questions re-
ferrec to him. The Judge. upon taking his seat,
said: Nov. gentlemen, desire to get out in the
start as near as 1 can. what questions are to be
presented i'll this discussion. I have, of course
asyou know, from the Commissioner a certificate
showing that witness produced before him, re-
fusing to be sworn, disputes the jurisdiction Of
the Commissioners. If the counsel will state
whether that is a correct statement Of their posi-
tion and on what ground the jurisdiction is dis
puted it will enable US TO see what matters we
are to discuss"
Major Calk:ns-Mr. Smith will answer for us.
Mr.. Smith-May 1t please the court our desire is to
have such discussion before your Honor upon the
proposition as to whether the facts alleged in
this information or affidavit that filed here, are
such as to constitute any oaense against the govern
ment of the United States, that the United States
court could have any jurisdiction of the matters
charged and hence to raise the question whether the
Commissioner could proceed at ALL and whether he had
any power right to administer the oath the wit
ness and could require him to answer Now.
that is my object While we want to save
every right to Mr.. Perkins. the witness and
do not want to waive any right, we
presented If your Honor thinks that that is legal
proceeding and by that certificate this after Is pre-
ssntable before your Honor that you
der Judgment in the matter why DO
it. If on the other hand--if your Honor
thinks It is not in such form before you so
that anything you may say is fairly advisory to the
Commissioner. while do not want to wavo any
substantial right any right of the witness by sub.
hitting to that FORM willing for it to be- heard
In that manner and let the result be given in that
way What desire Is to present this question fair.
y to your Honor to get your Judgment upon tho quos
ton. That is what seek
Judge Woods-That is the obiect2
Mr. Smith-Yes, sir; that is the only question.
Judge Woods--Did not the Commissioners rule
that question at the instance of the defendants in the
casel
Mr. Snith-Yes, sir he made his ruling.
Judge WoIds-Now, that is what | want. That
brings me to the point that want first to consider
and that Is whether the Commissioner having passed
upon that question, as it must be his duty to do
when the defendants raised IT, whether Is proper
thing for witness to raise the question at all.
Mr.. smith, suppose this, your Honor-of, course
now it might not arise just exactly IN this form.
suppose if the court has jurisdicticn-absclutely
no jurisdiction
Judge Woods interrnpting-Why, you can take
your risk Of course and you can take your eonse-
quencss But. has witness right to stop proceed
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

One of the very few members of the House
who was absent when the vote was taken on
Morrison's motion to take up the tariff bill
was Mr.. Reagan, of Texas As matter of
fact. he had gone down in the basement of
the Capitol to take bath-an event Of rare
occurrence in the lives of most Texans, and it
is said of not more than semi-annual frequen
cy in that of Mr. Reagan He is candidate
for United States Senator. When he returned
to his seat and found the vote had been taken
on the Morrison bill during his absence, he
was afraid to Tell that he had been soaking in
a tub of hot water, as that might injure his
standing at home and especially among DEM
ocratic members of the Texas Legislature.
But for the benefit of Texans who may want
to compare his capacity, his devotion to duty,
and his aptness for being on hand with those
Of other candidates for United States Senator,
it was most essential that he should say some
thing. He therefore said he was detained, but
if he had been present he would have voted
for the bill. 1t is true in literal sense that
he was detained, as he could not be in the
bath and in his seat at the same time, butthis
should be a lesson to Mr.. Reagan to be more
careful about bathing in the future. AS a
Texan he should conform to their prejudices.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
------------------- ---------------------- -
AS TO PUBLIC DANGERS.

The Chicago Times prints communication
in which the writer afirms that the two great
| dangers in this country 'are the Supreme
Court of the United States and concentration
of capital in the hands of few persons and
corporations The writer is troubled with
too much statesmanship or else must have
eaten something that disagreed with him.
AS to the concentration of capital in tine
hands of few persons and corporations, we
admit it is not altogether healthy tendency,
and in its extreme development, may become
positive evil Yet it has its advantages as
well as disadvantages, and its evil tendencies
are of kind likely to cure, or at least to regu-
late, themselves There is strength in union,
and strength rightly used is productive of
good results. There are many enterprises
and undertakings which cannot be carried on
by individual effort-at least not nearly so
successfully as by concentrated or incorpor-
ated capital. 1t does not follow that because
large wealth becomes concentrated in one or
few hands it, therefore, becomes dangerous.
1t may, if used for illegitimate or purely self
ish purposes; but to assume that it necessarily
becomes dangerous is to assume that wealthy
men are always bad and dangerous. OF
course this is not true. Many of them
are liberal, charitable, public-spirited, using
their wealth to good advantage while they
live, and distributing much of it for good
purposes when they die. Not all rich men,
but many, do this In no other country in the
world do the public benefactions and chart
table requests by private individuals approach
in frequency and value those made in the
United States. The munifcence Of our pri-
vate citizens surpasses that of the titled no.
blity of any other country. In other coun-
tries churches, hospitals, institutions of
learning. schools of art, musical conserva-
tories and even the opera are supported wholly
or in part by government aid. Here every
thing depends on private enterprise and liber-
atty, yet all these institutions are richly en-
dowed and well supported. Even the rail
roads and our worst monopolies are not un-
mixed evils. All have served part and con-
tributed share in the great march of prog
ress The concentration of wealth is not dan
gerous, per Sc. 1t may become So but it may
also become great blessing. Rich men are
NOT necessarily public enemies, nor railroads
and other corporations an unmitigated evil.
Eliminate concentrated wealth from modern
society and you will have gone long step
back towards barbarism
The other 'great danger"-the twin evil of
concentrated capitals said to be the Su.
preme Court Of the United States This is
ridiculous. Whoever regards the Supreme
Court as in any sense dangerous must be OPP
posed to government in any form and to law
in any shape 1t is not an aggressive tribunal,
but, on the contrary, extremely conservative.
AS the expounder of constitutional law and
of the theory of checks aud balances between
the general government and the States on
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

and mutilations Of the tally-sheets and cleo
ton returns that were in his hands, and he
has the like opportunity to tell what he knows
Of the mutilation and forgeries of other re-
turns. What Mr.. Perkins knows would be
very interesting reading, and the Journal pro-
poses to publish what Mr.. Perkins has stated
that he knows, and what he did. A clear,
clean statement of facts will save lots of
trouble.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
The Louisville Courier-J ournal has loud
and long wall over the defeat of Morrison's

THE Louisville Courier-J ournal has loud
and long wall over the defeat of Morrison's
tariff reduction BILL concluding as follows:
'They who think that their robbery can
live forever upon jobbery. and who seem bent
upon denying to the people and the country
an enlightened, conservative and just settle
M mt of this great question, will find, when it
is too late to save the fimsy fabric of their i'll
got millions, that the mob will do what states
men had better done. Let them hug their
idols to their hearts and rejoice in their cas-
ties, whilst Labor, ill-clad and hungry, PAGES
sullenly upon the ramparts and guards the
treasure The midnight of their discomfort
is hardly yet at hand. But the morrow of
emancipation and disenchantment is as surely
coming, and, though its signals now appear in
the West, its dawn will rise upon our political
armament, where God has placed it upon His
universe, in the East. Dies irfe. dies illa"
This wild communistic talk about ''ill-go
millions" ga coming day of wrath" etc., re
calls the fine frenzy of the able editor who in
1876 proposed to march on Washington with
100000 men to seat Mr.. Tilden. The wild
eyed Goddess of Reform should put wet towel
round her head and sleep it off.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THERE are no public servants more valuable
than the reliable reporters for the daily press.
In reasonably broad sense, their eyes run to
and for through all the earth, and what they see
and hear they print The Journal reporters
were a great source of annoyance to Mr..
Christian and Mr.. Span; but they were there,
all the same, and they heard Mr.. Lorenz
Schmidt denounce the Democratic gang and
their crimes.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

ExALDEEMAN MCQUADE was yesterday
sentenced to seven years in the penitentiary
and fine of $4,000. This is severe but
righteous sentence. Justice has been sternly
administered in New York during the last
few years, and some big criminals have got
their deserts. The example is healthy one.
The country would be the better for general
revival of justice and sterner administration
of law.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

You've Mr.. Cluverius, who is to hang next
month for the murder of his cousin, Lillian
Madison, has been moved to tears by ''sing-
ing evangelist" When the Governor of Vir
ginia is informed of this display of emotion he
will, perhaps, give the young man another
respite of month or SO. Richmond people
must have something to amuse them, and the
case of Clwerias has been such a source of
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THE Sentinel and the friends of the defend
ants in the proceedings before United States
Commissioner Van Buren, are great sticklers for
precedents Will they or their learned coun-
sci please cite a precedent where witness
was excused from testifying before court be-
cause the court had no jurisdiction of the sub
ject-matter in issueq This shows to what
straits counsel and witness are driven.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

The United States judge decides that Mr..
Perkins must answer the questions put to
him, and he "advises" Commissioner Van
Buren, to exhaust his statutory power to
advises" Mr.. Perkins that he had better
answer, and answer the exact truth. 1t will
be better all around
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

POET WHITTIER celebrated his seventy ninth
birthday last Friday. On being interviewed he
is reported as saying that he enjoys very good
health, although he has been to Boston only once
this winter. Evidently the poets utterances
have been ''doctored" in the interest of the Hub.
or perhaps it is merely typographical error.
For although" substitute because
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

enjoyment that the authorities probably regret
the necessity of hanging him on this account.
1t is pity, though, that the country at large,
which takes no manner of interest in the case,
should suffer by having every detail concern
ing the murder thrust upon them.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THE executive committee of the Liquor
League show sensitive, though tardy, con-
dition of mind, respecting the attitude of the
Journal toward their defiant, law-breaking or
ganization. 1t is better late than never, how
ever Possibly they may conclude to obey
the law hereafter.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
evidence.

THE testimony may possibly yet reveal
why Honorable Simeon Coy seems to be so
remarkably familiar with the altered tally
sheets. lie handles them with the greatest
experiences. and is of much assistance to the
witnesses in pointing out the forgeries COM
mitted upon them.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THERE are some witnesses before the United
States commissioner who cannot afford to say
they will not testify because Of eliminating
themselves. There has been too much talk
already. walls have ears and so have
some good listeners. 1t will be vastly more
creditable and comfortable to tell the truth,
than to refuse and have some one else tell it.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

JUDGE WOODS seems TO be of the opinion
that the proceedings before Commissioner Van
Buren, are quite considerable in their way, and
that the Commissioners Court must be treated
with respect, even by the able lawyers who
at first seemed to think it was all huge Joke
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THE idea that such blockhead as Albert
Sahm confessed himself to be yesterday on
the witness stand, should be in charge of the
business affairs of county Of more than one
hundred thousand inhabitants, is one of the
grotesque absurdities of Marion county whisky
ring politics.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

A TRIFLE too much of what Mr.. Cleveland
would call ''ghoulish elee" is manifested by the
persons interested in the approaching demise of
Miss Catherine Sgo,fe, the New York millionaire
1t has been understood that a large portion of
the ladys wealth would be bequeathed to various
charitable institutions and, as everybody knows,
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

1T often happens that witness declines to
answer particular question because to do so
may criminate himself. Sammy Perkins re-
fuses to answer any question whatever. He
is bound to beat the law if he can.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THAT was probably an interesting converse
ton that occurred between Mr.. Lcrenz
Schmidt and John E. Sullivan, when the
former discovered that one of the tally-sheets
in his ward had been altered. 1t is pity
the conversation could not be brought out in
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

WHETHER the case before the United States
Commissioner viii stop with the prosecution
Of offenses against the ballot-box and election
returns depends upon what certain witnesses
swear. II they tell the truth, well and good;
but if they do not, their prosecution for per-
Jury will be in order.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THIS is progressive age but we have not
yet reached the point where an unwilling wit
ness can take the administration of law into
his own hands
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

IT should not be forgotten that Mr.. Joseph
Mackin, the eminent Chicago "fine worker"
is not in the penitentiary for the forgeries
committed in the election of 1884, but because
of perjury he committed in trying to save
himself and the gang Perjury will send a
man to the State prison just as we'll as forgery.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

If the able lawyers who advised Mr. Per-
kins to refuse TO testify wanted to ascertain
theviews of the United States Judge on the
question, they were successful. They have
rot his views
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21

THE police can enforce the law against the
liquor saloons if they desire to. Let them
keep up their work and drive the white
aproned sinners into dark corners, where
other law-breakers go to commit their crimes.