The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-04-12

Oeclue tuAl 10 ottttuQt ~ vVtS ltsrS"tys
TO attempt tn bribe' and TO advise bri.
bery' were neither crimes il every in
stance narrowing the field for the inves.
tigation Of such political ofienses. Asin
the matter OF quashing indictments, the
door was opened for the escape OF nu-
merous offenders. II IL said that most
OF the persons indicted were republicans.
| n they had been democrats, and IT, as
matter OF fact, . fatal formal defect had
been discovered In the indictments. is tt
likely, after the discovery Of the fact, the
work OF quashing indictments and dis
charging the indicted parties would have
gone on TO the number of near loo, In
some cases allowing offenders who live
out OF this state to depart? Is II not
more likely that the work of quashing
would have stopped and the indicted
parties been permitted or required to
stand on their recognizances until after
the grand jury might be called back 10
correct the indictments? This ia proper
practice and often done. IN state courts
III has not been usual, when indictments
are Guashed for formal defects, to dis
charge the accused. Am ! wrong 10
this? Criminal prosecutors, answer. In
Coy's case the grand jury was called
back. But II is said that 10 this case the
y mistake In the Indictment was In des-
|lcrbing . tally.sheet-a mistake in .
J matter OF fact In the election cases
1.-THE mistake, ifa mistake, was Q mistake
lin . matter OF form. Therefore, the
better reason for recalling the grand jury
ITO correct the formal mistakes. II the
: grand jury is not recalled in these cleo
4 tion cases il will be hard to relieve tho
n parties having the power and right TO
: recall the grand jury from an imputa-
hilton that some political bias has been
e| and is yet controlling and shaping 'ac-
.tl,ion' in the cases. To say this, is no re.
e enection on the integrity OF any one, and
Isis not so intended. But the effect OF
,r -uch bias il known 10 all. The preei-
1eIdentia commission was composed OF
,r great and honorable men, yet every one
in h's decision fell on the side Of his
!. party, and now, and all along, with rare
4 courts have divided and do
= divide on questions Of law involving
) politics; each judge according to his
u politics. And am sorry to say u, the
hsljudge who does not SO decide is do.
80 nounced by bis party.
~ III the district attorney does not ask
81 that the jury Be recalled. the court may
lido 50 Of its own motion. During my
n"sscame and went under the direction Of
oo"the court, without regard to my wishes,
- .Iexcept at one time when the jury were
~ permitted TO 90, on my suggestion, but
~, were Immediately ordered back by the
,elcourt, without any suggestion from me
|, !, and against my wish. There can be nc
"idexcuse for not recalling the jury. Il
- 'lcannot be supposed that sll those indict'
-, ments were found by mixed jury with
!, - out evidence to support them. There
49, ~ were not democrats sufficient to find any
m indictment without the votes Of some
rs.lrcpublican members. Let the jury b
- RECALLED and the indictments corrected
.Aa ~ las can be done in few days, at little
sn !, orexpense. Let some good republican
s;a lawyer be appointed 70 assist In th(
= - - prosecution, like William p. Fishback
hslMaj. Calkins, A. G. Harris, or otherI
- who might be mentioned, for the pur
~ "Ip pose Of giving the sanction Of the pres
~. 80 ent administration TO the prosecution. q
s"e The sanction OF Clevelsnd's ADMINISTERS
.etion was given TO the prosecution Of th(
~. ~ tally -shect cases; and promise that th'
= ,result will reveal to the public vision
~. - shocking amount Of crime against thu
-. will. under such prosecution, be pun
oelished. There is ss much call for such
(; ~ - action now as there was In the tally-shee
..hhs cases. After making all due allowanct
Ia ia for political prejudices, he who will mol
-" lend his support 10 efforts to punish euct
-. ~ s.crimes against the election franchise is I
20 Z" moral coward, and he who would, d.
~ rectly or indirectly, purposely assist eucl
y - defenders IN escaping punishment de-
49, serves only the scorn and indignation o
49, -" honorable men Of al parties"