The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
TURNING THE RAscALs OUT.
Judge Woods Dismisses Cases Against Men
Who Are Clearly Guilty.
Daily Sentinel. Nav 2s.l


Who Are Clearly Guilty.
Daily Sentinel, May 2s.l
In the federal court Tuesday several of the
election cases set for trial at the last term of
court were nollied by the present prosecuting
attorney. This action is not altogether sur
prise, but the shamefulness of it deserves more
than passing mention. and indicates the sort of
justice the public may expect from the federal
| officers appointed by the present administra-
ton.
The case of the United States against Elmer
Heston was brought up on a charge OF the most
extreme and deliberate sort of intimidation and
bulldozing that could have been practiced. On
the day of the election the defendant, with two
three other persons, entered into con-
spiracy to prevent a citizen of Greene county
from voting To accomplish this they got him
into wagon, pretended to have a warrant
for his arrest upon some charge trumped
up for the OCCASION threatened him with all
sorts of violence, and among other things
with a revolver pointed at his head, stated that
if he resisted he would do SO at his peril. Thus
secured, he was taken to WOrthngton, ten
miles from his home, to the county Jail, where
| they were met by the sheriff, who demanded
| their proper papers OF commitment which
Of 9i,o course they we're unable to pro
GERS of the law and their sole purpose
was to prevent their vicdm from voting, in
! which they succeeded. Heston, the leader of
! this conspiracy, was indicted by the federal
grand Jury and the evidence of his quilts over
| whelming The indictment did not fall under
the rule established by Judge Woods for the
release of republican election scOundrels, and
why a man VIGOROUSLY guilty Heston
should be released without even the form of
hearing is a matter in which the public might
be interested in knowing.
The cases against Albert Mowrey Charles
Dunham Milton Durham two indictmentSl
Howard B. McCandless Benjamin Boyer and
David Mitchell were all for illegal voting, aud
the indictments against them were probably
nollied under the peculiar ruling of Judge
Woods although the evidence in each case was
particularly strong, and should receive prompt
attention from the grand jury now in session.
The cases against Albert c. Pearson, George
Bailey and Wesley Jarvis were for other Of
lenses against the election laws, and their sew
eral indictments were in nOwise affected. in
point of validity. by the courts decision. Their
recent dismissal by the L. 5. district attorney,
or his clerk, was an outrage upon public de-
cency and wholly without warrant in law or in
fact. The evidence against each defendant
was of a conclusive character If men COM
mitted for high crime are 10 be promptly
leased, without the slightest form of trial. SIM
ply because they have been the corrupt and
willing tools of republican ring-leaders and, on
the other hand, democrats are to be bound
over and prosecuted upon the slightest color
of guilt, as in the poor farm cases, the sooner
courts are abolished the better it will be for
society
Albert c. Pearson resides in Hartford City.
and was active in the distribution of republican
Doodle. Among others, he purchased the vote
of q very poor young man of that community
for the stipulated price OF SIS using assist
ant in the transaction an agent by the name OF
Noble, who jointly indicted with him.
Pearson and his pal, however, failed to pay
over more than nine dollars, which was the
cause of a vigorous protest on the part of the
young man, and in this way the matter became
public. These facts can be fully established by
the person whose vote was purchased and other
eorToborating witnesses.
The case against George Bailey of Morgan
county was also for bribery, and ii seldom
occurs that this charge is supported by testi-
mony so strong. As it happened, the defend
ant arranged for the purchase of two brothers
old men-whOm he took to the polls one at a
time, In his buggy, and in each instance laid
ten.dollar gold piece on the lap of the voter
before reaching the polls, which they received
and kept. They of course voted the republican
ticket, as the defendant prepared and gave it
to them. In addition to other strong testi-
mony in the case. the separate affidavits of the
two brothers, fully setting out the above fact
are on file in the district attorneys ofice-an
of which he well knew when the nolies were
entered. Under the circumstances it can hardly
be expected that a case of such plain fraud,
clearly susceptible to proof, will even be con-
sidered by the grand jury now in session.
The case against Wesley Jarvis, for double
voting is clear and positive in proof that it is
hardly possible that the defendant, If brought
to trial, would even undertake a defense. He
voted in the morning at Greenfield and again
about noon ten or twelve miles distant in
Green township. Hancock county His name
is on both poll-books, and he is clearly identi-
fed by members of both boards as having
voted at the two places named. Yet it seems
the mere fact of his having voted for Benjamin
Harrison is sufficient to cause the prompt dis
misSal of all proceedings instituted against
him, though it will be remembered that the
only person found guilty in all the hundred
and fifty indictments or more brought for vio-
lation of the election law, a young man, q
democrat who was charged with the crime of
double voting, the facts being that he voted
for Cleveland in the morning and later in the
day was made drunk by republican workers,
and for s. voted for Harrison.