The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26
A DISGRACEFUL RECORD.
Hoous Pocus IN WOODS COURT.
How the Grand Jury s'Reviewed' i16 Cases
-Wltnesses Only Recalled IN Thirty
Four-Sone of the Most Fiagrant
Ignored-Crime Protected.

From the day that Judge Woods reversed his
construction of criminal statute to save Dud-
ley, and violated recognized legal principles to
protect hundred more election seoundrels,
who had acted under the instructions of this
arch eonspirator, THE SENTINEL has persist
emily claimed that, under the present regime,
there would be no honest effort TO punish men
guilty OF election frauds, however fragrant, if
com mitted in the interest of the republican
party.
Al the columns of this paper bear ample tes-
timoHy, it has vigorously urged every reform
possible in elections. Crime against the elect
i've franchise, when committed by democrats,
has met With eensure as promptly and heartily
as though perpetrated by republicans. THE
SENTINEL continues to occupy the same atti
tude toward III offenders. 1t was in this spirit
that it protested so strongly against the prosti-
tuition of judicial power in the interest OF men
charged with crimes than which none are more
serious or dangerous TO American institutions.
The IouraaI has joined with certain federal
officials in maintaining the opposite view. It
has at al times been ready TO defend every act,
however culpable. that would result, in whole
or in part, in preventing en- honest and
thorough Investigation Of the ballot
box debauchery which characterized the
late contest To a considerable extent the
same msy be said of the indianapolis Ne1cs,
and. while il has not been 50 radical and reck-
less in its utterances 1t has probably done more
70 prevent republican rascality from being
punished than has the INSPIRED organ" itself.
The powers that be had determined that no
steps should he talaen that would reveal to the
public aught which would discredit the meager
plurality BY which Gen Harrison secured the
electoral vote Of indiana or cast cloud upon
his title TO the presidency. Keep down IN
vesdzation and let no para worker Of impor-
lance become involved" WAS the word early
given. II win be remembered that some week.
or ten days prior to the election zen. harrison
became alarmed: was dissatisfied with certain
internal jealousies, and concluded that the
only salvation possible through bonn
teous supply Of money, properly distr outed-
on the block-of-fve" plan. About THAI time
Russell (Prince) Harrison, Partner Mlller
and Atty.-Gen. Kitchener were sent to Pits
burg and Chicago-in the former city
10 meet Dudley with funds from the repub-
lean national committee, and in the latter 10
secure q large sum from corporation magnates,
bankers, etc. As result Of these efforts an
immense amount of money vsriously estimated
at from two hundred TO three hundred and
Div Thousand dollars. was secured on the eve
Of the election 20 be distributed in Indiana
When the news reached Dudley, the king of
boodlers that there was danger OF his being IN
dicted BY the federal grand jury in this district
for election bnberies, he IS SAID TO have ex-
claimed: II am not afraid, for ] have both
pockets loaded with dynamite" The Harrison
household. suddenly realizing its intimate re-
latioDs with the money manipuatlons o. the
campaign. began to appreciate the necessity of
doing something. Next followed the infamous
second charge to the {. ;. grand jury by Judge
Woods, IN which he reversed his former ruling
and proved 70 his own satisfaction that u was
no ohense % advise bribery" 1t Is known
that Partner Miller and suspected that ten.
Harrison assisted in the preparation of this re-
narkable collaborating opinion Following
this and IN perfect cOnsOnsnce with 1t
came another decision OF Judge Woods,
quite outrageous this by
which nearly one hundred and fifty
men, charged with frauds most fragrant, were
turned loose on the public without the pretense
OF a hearing. This outrage on society was put
upon the ground that some purely technical
allegation had been omitted IN the indictments.
Yet the very form adopted was one which had
always prevailed IN that court; word for
word" the same as those written by Dir. Sellers
and upon which men had frequently been i'm
prisOneG. To do this thing Judge Woods was
compelled TO reverse his own rulings, as well
Is those of the I. ). supreme court. All OF
which, in the light Of more recent history, is
not ali surprising.
To detract public attention from this crown
ing piece OF judicial infamy. q persistent at
tempt has been made 10 create the impression
that the indictment Of these election cOrrup-
tionists vas uuwarranted aud irregular. The
grand jury was drawn by [. :. Clerk Butler and
Judge a. :. Ayres In the usual manner. The
selections were made from the representative
citizens Of Indiana, and II pOIn. Of intelligence,
integrity and good judgment doubtless would
compare favorably with the best iurics which
have been called TO serve IN this
district Politically they stood nine
democrats, one prohibitiOnist and seven
republicans. IN the cases brought before them
they personally examined the Witnesses and
there IL no Toou to doubt but that their ind
Iugs were couscientiousy made. An exam
ination OF the original grand jury notes made
by Mr.. Sedgwick. the secretary and republi-
can, vii disclose the fact that. il a vast ma
1oTity OF bills ordered. the conclusion was
reached, practically, by a unanimous vote.
That the jury was not under a partisan demo
cratic influence Is demonstrated by the fact
that ii refused to indict Dudley. This circum-
stance seems 70 have been forgotten when the
Nelcs and Journal howl about the BARLEY
grand jury" And while that officer performed
his duty ally, fearlessly and In the light of his
oath, these organs forget that Judge Claypool,
Who, not many months since, was the subject
Of praise by the Aescs and Journal, passed
upon and advised every step taken in the [. ;.
attorneys department.
Following a summary and indiscriminate dis
position OF nearly all the indictments returned
by the grand jury Of the November term, the
judge and L. = attorney were strongly urged
10 reconvene the Jury. which had heard the
testimony OF witnesses, that, without further
expense or uncertainty, they might correct the
flaw 10 suit Woods notion of the law.
The B2TDe step had been taken in COys case
By peremptory order of the same court. But
this was not done. On the other hand, the I.
s attorneys office was persistently aided by
the republican and Independent press in the
attempt TO create public impression that the
bills were returned without merit ard in an
. irregular manner. Among other thiaas il was
charged that the indictments not signed
By the foreman in the presence OF the jury,
yet they failed 70 point out in a single instance
where any indicted whose case had
not been fully investigated and the bill ordered
by the jury. They also failed 70 state that the
same custom was followed that had always ex-
listed that Mr. Coffin, the foreman of the grand
jury which indicted and others, appeared
IN the district attorneys office and there signed
the Coy and all other indictments ordered by
that body, and not in the presence of the
grand jury; that the indictments were never
read to them, but having been presented as or
dered. we're Endorsed in the usual manner and
returned into open court. The custom was
good enough for the journal and Ners but
nov II is a terrible breach OF propriety and
should "discredit all the work done by the
grand jury at the November term.
Again. IL has been recently asserted by the
lNeacs and Journal that the quashed and
nOlied By the dozen had been reviewed by the