The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-06-28

IU0IaIaI@I< o<AttArt-
Messrs. Miller and Williams yesterday
pleaded guilty in the U. 5. court 10 the
indictments returned against them few
days ago growing out Of the voting Of
paupers and idiotic inmates OF the poor
farm a. the last election. In their state
menis hled with the pleas Of guilty, these
men sef forth that they acted in good
faith and under legal advice 1t the elec-
sion. and had no intention Of violating
any law. But as Judge Woods had in
structed the grand jury that their action
constituted an ofiense. and. ~ there was
NO controversy as 10 the substantial facts,
they pleaded guilty in order TO save the
trouble and expense OF . trial. Judge
Woods imposed fines Of $3.50 and costs
against Miller. aud Of $50 and costs
against Williams.
Their statements, prepared BY clever
and diplomatic lawyers. must be taken
in . strictly Pickw ickian sense. We
have no doubt that, - . matter Of fact,
the pleas OF guilty were entered because
the defendants knew perfectly we'll that,
being democrats, they could not get .
fair trial ia Judge Woods court. But,
OF course. the lawyers put their pleas on
other grounds.
With all due respect to the able co1n-
eel for the defendants. We think they
ought TO have stood their trials "like
little men, II Was . patriotic duty 10
do this. II the idiots aud paupers st the
Marion county poor farm voted illegally
A tie last election, the idiots and psuperi
~ every poor farm In Indiana, whether
under republican or democratic manage
ment. also voted illegally, and have beer
voting illegally "from time immemoriai.'
We should like 10 have had . decision
from Judge Woods TO this effect. W.
sbould like to have seen the statutes and
authorities he would have cited in sup
mort Of such decision. And then VI
should IKE to have seen the explana
tioos Mcssrs. Chambers and Cockruu
would have made Of their action II
singing out Z couple Of democrats u
this county for prosecution, for doinl
what republicans have been doing y
thjs county for years. and what repubIi
cans did in al the republican counties Q
the state Iast November. Tho indics
ments against Miller and Williams were
we understand, procured from . re
luctant grand jury by Cockrum. upo
the representation that they would brin
up the important question Of the righ
al idiots aud lunst;cs TO vote. for judicis
settlement: that il Was for this reason OF
ly that he aud Ju ige Woods wanted Ia
djcsmenis returned, and that the accuse
: would receive II most only . nomin
! ! punishment Judge Woods, howeve
|. |. did not pass upon this question 81 q
: He held the defendants guilty becsu
: they had disregsrded challenges. .
I though the statute plainly says that z
: inspector when be rejects the vote OF
person whom he knows to have the qual
!, iicaiions imposed by law (mentsl sount
! ! ness IL not one Of t1em) shall be heavil
fined and otherwise punished. Thi
too. regardless Of challenges.
or course. idiots and lunatics shou
not he permitted 90 vote. That i
proposition 10 which every reasonsb
! person will agree. But the problem b
I BEEN 70 provide some sure and safe te
= OF idiocs and lunscy. The problem VI
mot solved by the farmers Of our cons'
hltution. They did not close the doc
against the abuss OF voting these info
y snnate creatures, fearing that by 90 doi'
q they would open the way for other %
Y, greater abuses. The problem. howevs
g,.is solved by the new law. No idioss
:. r.lunatics will, or can, be voted under %
- 6ilaU