The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20
JUDGE CLAYOOL SPEAKS.
Dudley Probably WOuid Have Been In
dicted Had Not Woods Interfered.

ufcteO hau NOT WOODS lnterIereu.
After the adjournment of the grand jury,
Judge Claypool was asked his views of the
jury's work. Replying to an interrOgatOry he
said:
My connection with the grand jury is at an end
and my semi-Otfcial connection with the court will
very soon be over, and therefore am now not un-
willing to talk about election cases The grand jury
has returned very numerous indictments for oenses
against the election laws. What will be the outcome
OF these cases cannot say In such cases there Is
always much OF political bias, and in the present
there is likely 10 be much than usual, as
they result from very heated political contest Ny
impression is that in every contested case however
strong the evidence, il will be difficult 10 get jury
TO agree on verdict, unless political bias some
what be eliminated from tho trial. This be done
only by the incoming administration giving the
same cooperation to the prosecution of
these election cases that Atty. Gen Garland and
President Cleveland's administration gave TO the
prosecution of Coy and others. Nothing that did
or could have done or anybody could have done
would have brought conviction in those cases but
for the fact that Nh. Clevelands administration by
its conduct said to the country and to the jury. if
these men are guilty do not let them escape because
they democrats" If a republican district attor-
ney assisted by republican, appointed / in
the against Coy and Others for its moral effect
could stand before july with the same moral sup
port the end would be better for the people and
worse for the offenders. The prosecution of the
taysheet cases against Coy and Others had the sup
port of the better class OF democrats in the city and
elsewhere.
Is there any doubt that numerous serious crimes
have been recently committed against the election
laWSE ana IS IL true netter class repuD-
lcans and others have been giving their cooperation
and sympathy to the prosecution of such cases.
Where is the committee OF one hundred2 Against
which would say nothing OF IL was one. Is it
dead asleep, or saving and gathering thunder for
some other Coy and Bernhamer? Dead indignation
or accommodating thunder? Which?
l have daily and some days received two or
three letters calling attention to election cases.
Many have not been submitted 10 the jury at all.
The jury might have gone on for weeks yet ii has
been, but I have felt and vet feel that there are
enough Of indictments against the victims of chief
criminals Two or three OF the latter are more than
all others The judge instructed the jury that 30 at
tempt TO vote illegally aud to attempt bride
we're not ofenses against the United States. But
for this instruction il can be reasonably concluded
that very many more indictments would have been
returned Persons who offered brides and who
did not accept them are always willing to tell.
On the other hand rarely and with great difficulty
the truth be gotten from those who have accepted
brides To illustrate, il might be mentioned that
there one where four witnesses each denied
all knowledge Of bribery, in the most earnest and
sincere manner, but key to the truth was found,
and in the end, being again called each confessed
the truth and testified to bribery. Enough has been
said TO give general view OF the situation in rela-
tion 90 crimes against the election laws.
Look at the picture. IL l. picture OF shame
against the state II others have been indulging in
the crimes and 70 the extent, ii is to be
hoped that the next distriet-attorney will bring
their crimes 60 light and that a sentiment in favor
of the exchange of prisoners, il is sometimes
called will take possession of the public mind
On the subject OF the Judges instruction that IL
not an ofianca affantrf 10 Vota ilpualiv
bride voters. ] submit that ii either is criminal
both for the question of the eriminalty of both
depends upon the same provisions OF the statute.
That TO attempt 10 vote illegally Is q crime is clear
beyond every doubt as will appear by reference to
or, FOB and 5,5i4 Of the L. 5 revised
utes il being borne in mind that these sections and
secs ssh and 55i2 are parts OF the same acts-an
of May 80 1870 and of Feb 2s, 1871 and that all
these sections must be construed together. The
latter act amended a section OF the former act and
added supplemental sections. That advising bribery
is not a crime is no less untenable