Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-22
New Series, Vol. 20, No. 12.

/ L
Extracts from his argument in the Tally-Sheet Case
This is the most singular case l have
ever met with. You are sworn to try
the issues joined between the State of
Ohio and the defendant Robert B. Mont
gomery-that, and that alone. If, how
ever, stranger had come into this court
room during the past six or seven weeks
he would have been impressed with the
| belief that this is some remarkable i'm
parchment trial, rather than the simple
case of the State rs. Montgomery. \ for
eigner would ask himself, What kind
of people are these Americans? Do thev
| try their cases upon the evidence, or upon
matters entirely outside of the record?"
Suppose he had come in during Mr.. Con-
verses dramatic representation of wit
ness effort at PRAYER which, he claimed,
took place in the Park Hotel in this cityl
There was no such testimony in the case
Equally ulfwarranted was his assumption
that $4,000 was raised by the Citizens
Committee. Not word of evidence of
that sort was adduced at this trial Who
are the men composing that committee?
Reputable men. Why should they be
denounced? What has the Prosecutor
done to draw upon him the vengeance
of counsel for the defense? He is a sworn
officer, and as such must prosecute those
charged with the commission of crime.
Yet he has been abused and traduced.
Gentlemen, it is a sorrowful spectacle
The General Assembly can appropriate
money for the purpose of ferreting out
crime; but it seems to be an unpardOna-
able offense for citizens to contribute to
that end. The object is to distract your
attention from the real issues involved
in this case. If there is no testimony
against Robert B. Montgomery, why in
Gods name do these gentlemen go out of
their way to attack counsel for the State
and the Citizens Committee? Why take
that immense labor on their shoulders, if,
as has been frequently asserted, there is
nothing in the evidence which points to
the defendants guilt? If his innocence
is 50 plain to them that she who runs
may read" why has so much time been
taken up by these gentlemen in attack
ing some of the best people in this city?
If they felt that secure they would 90 to
bed and sleep the sleep of the just. But
actions speak louder than words.
Mr.. Myers says he was pledged to vote
for me for United States Senator. 1t is
not claimed that he ever said so to me,
but l have no doubt that he so declared
himself on the stump. Allen 0. Myers
wanted to be reelected to the Legislature,
and he thought it wiser to proclaim him
self for me in this county rather than for
John r. Mclean. He wanted votes, but
when it came to the pinch, do not doubt
that he would have thrown me overheard
and voted for Mclean. l understand
both him and his master.
Another question is, who had a motive
for committing this crime? | am at a
loss to understand Mr.. COnverse's state
ment that Republicans were as likely to
do this thing as Democrats. Does any
body believe that Republicans would add
three hundred tallies to the Democratic
vote? Such theory is far-fetched and
silly. It is general public history, shown
by the records of the Legislature, that
ten men were sent to the House and four
to the Senate from Hamilton county on
forged tally sheets, and the Republicans
came near losing the General Assembly
The crime in this county did not origi-
nate here. 1t was copied from the Gin
cinnati methods, hence it was that COgan,
Blackburn, and others came here. They
were experts. Who perpetrated this for
Tr do. .fnl- 70
that Mr.. Huling had as much interest in
doing it as Mr.. Montgomery. That is
ridiculous. Who had the opportunity to
do it? Mr.. Converse says that Joyce and
Beck could have done it, yet in the same
breath he tells you that he doesn't believe
they did do it.
If crime like this can be committed
in the Capital of the State the law is at
a standstill. If men can sit here for over
seven weeks without finding out who did
it, will begin to think that the science
of law is a sham.
So far as l am concerned, l can not
bear malice The fact is that l don't re-
member to have seen this defendant to
know him until the commencement of
this trial. 1t is the crime itself which |
earnestly and emphatically condemn. 1t
is ridiculous to say that the Democratic
party did it. Mr.. Converse well said that
there are bad men in both parties. But
a party becomes responsible when a crime
is committed by somebody in it, and an
effort is made by that party to shield the
guilty from punishment. 1 want the
party to which have had the honor to
belong for sixty years-which has its
faults, and which, like every other party,
has sometimes done wrong g-to be re
spected, and to be worthy of respect at
the hands of mankind.