The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-24
WEDNESDAY. APRIL "a.
Juries Organized to Acquit.

In the trial of democrats for election
ofenses the greatest caution and care were
exercised in the formation OF the jury. a
venire was first ordered so as to exclude
all persons living within the congressional
district wherein the defendants resided.
Prompt efforts were then made by person
al inquiry, letters and other means by
WILLIAM A. WOoDs and the other prose-
cutting attorneys to learn the antecedents
of every man who was selected. When
they appeared on the day set for trial the
politics, character and partisan leanings OF
each Juror were familiar to the court and
attorney. In so far as the rules OF practice
allowed, each challenge was exhausted in
the rejection of men whose only fault was
that of being democrat. This caution
was carried to such an extreme that, In
one or more instances, Judge WOODS, In
open court, suggested certain conditions
by which democratic members of the
venire might relieve themselves from
service If so desired The Jury thus
chosen was kept under constant sur
veillance of officers and not permitted to
even read newspapers containing the
slightest reference to the case before them.
Cots were provided in the federal build
ing for their accommodation and the most
exacting rules adopted for their govern
ment during the entire proceedings. This
course was pursued by Judge WOODS
when he was straining judicial decorum
and every provision of congressional en-
actments to convict a few democrats
charged with fraud which affected the
election of county coroner and crimi-
nal Judge.
When, on the other hand, a small
army of political plunderers of the
republican stripe were charged by
q grand jury, divided in politics,
with bribery, perjury and illegal vot-
ing, for the purpose of affecting the
election Of the highest officers of these
United States, this same judge immedi-
ately set to work to accomplish their lib
Grafton. In the hands of one insensible
TO the precedents of long practice or the
plain and imperative provisions of the
law, il proved an easy task of short dura-
ton. Next followed the sickening farce
of irving a few men who had been charged
with the crime of bribery. Observe the
contrast when it came to the selection of
a jury. Did Judge WOODS evince any
anxiety? Were the jurors subjected to
two days of rigid inquiry? Did the dis
trict attorney acquaint himself with their
individual regulations for fair and equal
Justice? Did he know their party affilia-
tons and seek, so far as lay in his power,
70 exclude those from the trials which
have already taken place, whose party
feelings might deter them from returning
true verdicts? 1t is well known that no
such anxiety or precaution was felt or
taken. The juries, thus far used, have
been, in the main, composed of republi-
can party workers. They have disre-
garded proofs of guilt with the same
readiness that Judge WOoDs has trampled
upon the law and reversed his own rul-
ings. Juries have been accepted almost
without question, and at no time has it
taken over five or ten minutes to complete
a panel.
The course, thus far pursued in these
election cases has been a disgrace
TO the state. and will justly bring the
judiciary of Indiana into lasting con-
tempt.