Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1889-06-12
PROPHETIC VERDICT. ,


1865, but from the prosecution of
Peter Zenger, in 1874, on the charge
OK libeling the Governor of New York
and his official friends. William Cos
by was the Governor. He was an ir-
ritabe man, who, having been sent to
the colony to mend his broken fort
une, did much to hasten colonial
emancipation. Unscrupulous and av-
aricions, he insisted on new SURVEYS
of land and new grants, ia orae" that
he might clutch ut great pcrquisises.
"Do you think mind thatPo he an
swered these who objected thst the
Governor was acting against law. Il
have great interest il England. "
The New York Weekly Journal was
established II dofend the cause Of tue
people against the arbitrary Gov
ernor, who was trying to play the
part OF a petty tyrapt. lis squibs and
satirej upon Cosby and his council
provoke the authorities to order car-
tam copies of tho Journal to b. public
ly burned by tho hangraan, and its
publisher, John Peter Aougea, 10 DO
thrown into prison.
zeEgcr wdj charged with publishing
IA 80 und a.,di,inus libels against the
Government. As tao grand jury re-
fused to find II bill against him the AT
tcrnev-General fed 81 Information.
Tic case excited intense interest, for
1t involved liberty Of spGech and of the
niess, and all tbs, central colonies re-
gardcd tho eont oversy as their own.
James Alexander, Iongers counsel
and the leading its@yer OF the colony,
took exceptions to The validity Of the
commission OF the Chief Justice, Dc
Lancey, and to tho legality of proceed
ng by infornation instead OF by in.
lictment. ia Lauoey refused 10 .e-
seivo tho exceptions.
you ahonght," eaid he 80 Nextza-
der, ''to have gained great deal OF
applause by opposing this court; bat
yon have brought it to this point, that
either we must 60 from the bench OF
you must go from the bar"
He then issued an order excluding
Alexander from any further pratice in
that court.
The .'Sons of Liberty then brought
the foremost lawyer Of the country,
Andrew Hamilton, from Philadelphia
to plead Henger's cause. When the
distinguished advocate entered the
courtroom those who were present
rose 10 their feet, waved their hats and
shouted loud huzzas. Chief-Justice De
Lancey frowned angrily and demanded
silence.
The prisoner pleaded mot guilty.
admitted tho publication of the alleged
libel and justified it by asserting its
truth.
Those were the days when tbs legal
doctrine was tnat "tha greater the
truth. the greater the libel When
Hanl.ton offered to prove that the III
lege1 libel was justified. the Chief
Justiee interrupted him, saying: ''You
can not be admitted TO give the truth
OF libel in evidence
"Then," said Hamilton, turning TO
the jury, eve appeal TO yea fer wit
nesses Of the facts. The jury have a
right to determine both the law and
the TACT, and they ought to do SO. The
question before you is not the cause OF
poor printer OF New York alone; it is
the cause Of lberty-the liberty OF
opposing arbitrary power by speaking
and wriaing truth. y
The Chief Justice charged against
the prisoner and the doctrines Of his
counsel. The jury retired, and in II
few minutes returned verdict Of
mot guilty"
The audience, shouting approval,
bore Hamilton out of the courtroom
upon their shoulders. The Common
Council OF New York gave him the
freedom OF the city in n gold box foT
his gratuitous services in f.defense OF
the lights OF mankind, and the liberty
OF the press
That verdict was prophesy TO
thoss who could read it of colonial
independence. 1t was the handwrit.
ing on aae vail. but there was no Dan.
eel, in whofa EGG and had confidence.
70 Interpret IL Y onth' y Gompapioa.
e.