davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
rRrnnsrille Courier.l

Judge Woods, in his supplemental instruc-
tons 10 the grand jury, concludes that it is not
a crime, after all, to advise others to commit
crime.
In this judicial view of the case we suppose
it would not De a crime to advise a mob to
lynch Judge Woods, just as mobs have some.
times lynched horse thieves And surely, If to
outrage the majesty and dignity Of the law by
prostituting the courts of law to the service of
a notorious political rascal, be a crime he who
is guilty of it could be better spared by society
than horse thief.
Besides, IN what respect is judge that inter
prets law according to his, or somebody else's
caprice different from Judge Lynch? Both
murder justice while pretending to admins
ter it.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
N. Y. world.l

The federal bench has become bulwark for
bribery. The law has been made shield for
corruption.
After weeks OF delay, during which dis.
closures of wholesale, organized and unblush-
ing bribery of voters IN Indiana have been
made, Judge Woods reverses his previous in
structions, and charges the grand jury, in eff
fect that Indictment to bribery ana the Orgaui-
zation and direction of corruption are not in
dictable unless il can be proved that somebody
actually yielded to the Indictment and acted
upon the instructions!
Is itany wonder that the people are losing
their respect for the law and their reverence
for judges?
When the anarchists at Chicago melted
their followers to murder and rapine were the
officers of the law obliged to wait until the ar
son and the killing were under way before ar
resting them? When a villain hires a merce-
nary TO commit crime is he not punishable
until the crime is actually accomplished? The
federal law prescribes penalties for one who
aids, counsels. procures or advise" the viola
ton of the law against bribery in elections.
The Dudley letter did all this. And yet bold
and rcprehenSible" though it was, Judge
Woods says 1t was not unlawful.
So much the worse for the law-or the Judge
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

From Jeffreys, the minion Of James II, to
Cardoza and Bernard, the tools Of Boss Tweed
there is nothing more infamous in the history
Of the worlds Jurisprudence than the action Of
William A. Woods U. :. judge for the district
OF Indiana, in baking justice to the end that
William w. Dudley might 60 unpublished Of
his crime against the manhood of the HoosieI
commonwealth.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
fJefsrsonville News.l

Judge Woods Of indianapolis certainly should
90 down 10 pOSterity as the great chamniOn OF
election bribery and as judicial INSTRUCTOR 70 a
pure ballot. How MS charge TO the L. : grand
Jury may be viewed by the lawyers in his court,
It is impossible to say. but honest people will
have nothing for Il but conLenDt.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

Mr. W. W. Dudley escapes indictment under
the ruling OF Judge Woods that the bribery
proposed in his letter, and for which the
money was held in readiness must be proved
to have been elected by the party to whom his
letter was addressed. This is equivalent 10 a
Scotch delivery Guilty, but not proven"
Judge Woods reversed himself by his ruling
and has made the business OF corrupting -oters
in Indiana a very safe proceeding.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
[coutisr Journal Hs,dline..l

Triumph Of boodle-The king OF all cleo
ton brbers viii 90 unwhipped Of Justice
somersault in enlightening the jurors, whose
duty il was to End an Indictment against
Col W W. Dudley-A reconstruction OF the
law that completely reverses first instructions.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

Judge Woods instructed the federal grand
jury at indianapolis yesterday in a manner THAI
leaves that body no alternative but 70 ignore
the Dudley case, as guilty rs he undoubtedly is
Dudley is another distinguished parsonage who
won't get justice ia Indiana and il may be re-
marked, by the way, that it IS just such techni.
cal distractions to justice as prevent his pun
ishment that have done so much to bring the
courts and the laws into contempt
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IClnreland Plnlndealer. /

Why did Judge Woods sing one song in his
charge to the grand jury at the opening OF the
court and another in his special instructions
when the case against Dudley was clearly hot?
In his charge he said that such advice or
direction as that contained in the "aoater"
letter constituted an Odense against the statutes
of the United States concerning bribery, even
if no actual bribery took place. In his special
instructions he said that to prove conspiracy it
must be shown that the receiver of the letter
fict Of directions. Was the judge talking for
b6ncombe in the first place and coming down
TO law in the second, or was he right in the
first instance and giving the implicated man
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
nlnncle Herald.l

W. W. Dudley, by the action OF Judge Woods,
escapes the penitentiary where he belongs.
Under the existing circumstances. giving all
Coy and all the balance Of the election bribers
should step to the front in the free atmosphere.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
N. Y. s.ar.l

state. Justice Woods has decided that he can
not be indicted for his celebrated ''foaters'
letter unless it can be proved that the instrue-
tons contained in it were followed by some of
the persons receiving the epistle The colonel
is now free to visit indianapolis and advise
Gen. Harrison about his cabinet.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
Ilnnisrille TimesI

Dudley escapes punishment on account Of
his open and fragrant violation Of the election
laws OF Indiana, and unless the prohibition
party succeeds in sending him 10 the peni;en-
tiary for receiving those stolen mail lists. Ben
Harrison will be at liberty 70 reward his friend
with a fat Office.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
An object of PITY.

"Say, old man, you ought TO cal on pooah
Cholly. He's laid up with soale eye t'Touble.
and the doctah saws that he has 70 weah spec
taces for the west Of has lie. Just think, With
two glasses-bah JowVe."
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
Proof.

''sliss Briggs made those slippers" remarked
the parsons wife. as she glanced over the pro
ceeds of the donation party.
How do you know, dear? asked the meek
long-sufieripg man.
Because recognize the old blue shawl she
ripped up to get the worsted."
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
Wheeling wv. Va Rsri.ts-. 7

The practical dismissal OF the Dudley letter
ease from the attention OF the grand jury al In
to pass through the eve OF a needle as for an
influential rascal to get into Jail Dudley is a
brilliant example of the Pharisees Judge
Gresham spoke OF, who 20 10 church one day
and corrupt voters the next and the decision
OF Judge Woods in bis case is another brilliant
example Of how these Pharisees always escape
and only the poor devils in blocks Of i've" ger
the punishment
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IColnmbas Heraldr

Dudley knew too much about the processes
OF the republican campaign in which Harrison
was elected and he had 70 be saved from pun
ishment. Judge Woods appreciated the situa-
ton, and loaned his judicial robes 70 shield the
guilty.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
columbus Herald. !

Why wouldn't it be a good thing for the
preachers, who have been somewhat exercised
over the Inauguration ball, to drop the danes
for one time and give the people a sermon on
the prostitution Of the judicial robes?
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IN. Y. HeraldI


Judge Woods virtually usurped the functions
OF the grand jury yesterday by telling that
body that Dudley had committed no crime and
could not be indicted. That was a question for
the grand jury to determine on the evidence
submitted to it.
The Dudley letter, says Judge Woods was
not criminal nor the writer subject 70 indict-
ment unless the directions in the letter were
carried into effect by the person receiving it
In support OF this view section 55l1 of the re-
vised statutes of the United States is cited.
Ihismakes il a crime to counsel" or lad
vise' any one to violate the election laws.
Bribery, corruption and fraudulent voting are
crimes against the elective franchise. Did the
writer OF that notorious letter counsel or advise
any one to do these things? That was a Ques-
ton OF fact for the grand jury to pass upon.
But suppose the legal point raised by Judge
Woods was a doubtful one. Then it was a
question to be decided by the courts after in
dictment, when it could be thoroughly argued,
both sides heard and an appeal taken. It was
not a question TO be disposed OF by a single
Judge before indictment in an ex parte way
and without the right OF appeal.
If such power can be legally exercised by
one man on the bench there is no check upon
or limit 70 the abuse of which it is capable.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
rChica-o Glohe.l

The denunciation OF THE SENTINEL is savage,
but, q king the matter as Il stands IN the Light
of current report, It seems 10 be entirely de-
served and just
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
rChicago Herald

The crimes of Dudley, whereby Indiana was
carried for the republicans, have not escaped
punishment without seriously compromising
the incoming administration. Through a d.
rect exerton of the influence OF the president
elect the Judge of that district has reversed his
opinion of the guilt 81 Dudley, and the grand
Jury has been instructed that il must have
proof, not only that Dudley mapped out the
campaign OF bribery. as CHARGED, but also that
persons accepting his advice 3D. counsel and
process advanced TO the co rste act and ac-
cOmpished the debauchery of an electorate
through the exploitation Of i've voters at a
time.
The organ OF the president-elect which is
edited by the private secretary of Mr.. Harri-
son, does not conceal its JOY at this outcome,
and the Chicago mouthpiece and financial
agent OF the republican committee of Indiana
echoes the song of triumph. THE fears of a
possible indictment have all disappeared
quoth the happy editors, who, at the last day.
were so in fear that Huston was short in funds
owing to the advanced views of sellers.
The Herald, from the first has maintained
that a sniveling hypocrisy would he the outer
garment OF the new regime. Under so much
sanity apparel, all the skullduggeues Of poll
tics and jobbery would hide The escape Of
Dudley is like the recent escape of Gould.
Naught but the scandalOus interference, by a
judge, with the logic of judicial procedure
would shield the object of legal inquiry.
After the failure of other expedients, that in
terventiOn went remorseesSly on record.
That the indianapolis coterie, with Gen.
Harrison al their head, did not dare to let the
law take its course, is an acceptance OF Dud-
ley's service of notice on the administration
that he Is in no mood to be patient with his
debtors. Not only must the benefciaries OF
bis bribery protect him from the ordinary con-
sequences of notorious guilt but they must
give him his share OF the pelf of Office
The president is in the hands of the
political blackmailers who ran his campaign,
aud this may be fearlessy alleged by every
citizen who had hoped to see Dudley go to
Jail.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
rChIcaso Times L. HeadlInes.

No law for Dudley-The republican cam
pagn winker likely TO escape Indictment
Judge Woods instructions TO the federal grand
jury at indianapolis let him out.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

votes unless il could be proved that the in
structons had been carried out Dudley,
therefore, gets OF through q defect in the law
and not because he isn't guilty Of the odense
charged. The Indiana legislature now in
session is likely 10 pass a state law that viii
not let offenders Of the Dudley type slip
through It's meshes so easily, but for the present
Dudley can snap his fingers at prosecution.
Evansville Couri.rl
We suppose that Judge Woods will consider
himself above the necessity Of making any ex-
PLANTATION of his astounding change Of front in
the Dudley case but his exalted position as a
federal judge will not shield him from the exc
Grafton OF every honest citizen IN the land for
such a perversion of judicial powers as has no
precedent in the history Of American courts for
audacl0us and deliberate iniamy.
50 long as the people are free from suspicion
OF their courts the general fabric of society is
safe. II wrongs are committed against ndivid-
uals or the state, there is tribunal 10 which
the humblest have the right 10 appeal, with the
assurance that the wrongs will be redressed.
For Its own benefit society is ever ready to re-
sent imputationS upon the acts OF the judge or
even differences that reflect, however slightly,
upon his conduct, and therefore the act must
be hagrant indeed, 10 justify or excuse a defn-
lite charge OF dishouor upon Judge or chal-
lenge the integrity OF his motives.
The Courier has before alluded to the fact
that JUICE Woods was an aspirant for a seat
on the supreme bench of the United States, the
highest judicial position 10 which mortal man
can aspire. II is painful TO think that he may
get II aud that this act is the price demanded
Tor the great honor. But even the dignity of a
place in that highest tribunal on earth will not
lift him from that depth Of disgrace end de-
teStatiOn into which ne has taken the plunge
by this act Of official infamy.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
lChIcaeo Inler-Oeean ~

End of the Dudley case-The fears Of pos
sible Indictment have ali isappeared-SpecIal
instructions from Judge Woods settle the mat
ter definitely. -
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IPhiladelnhia Times- ]

Dudley may go back to Indiana and do what
he pleases with his '1loaters in blocks OF five"
His U. s. grand jury recently went home to
rest for a couple os weeks and Judge Woods
spent the time in cogitating upon the law APP
plying 10 Dudley's case. When the jury re-
turned on Monday the Judge told the members
that Dudley could not be indicted for instruct
ing the ohairmeR Of county committees 70 buy
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

cincinnati Commercial Gazette (rep) Headlines
Judge Woods gives the grand jury further
instructiOns-In which the law is explicitly
defined-And is regarded as a clean and IN
qualified dismissal Of the ease.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

The action of the grand jury and Judge
Woods at Indianapolis to-day is accepted as an
e1oHerdtion OF 10. Dudley, those who know
the latter gentleman were confident would be
the result.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

The indianapolis scaiawags should know
the proprieties of freedom. If crime be COM
mitted anywhere else save in Indiana there is a
decent respect for the opinion of mankind.
And it should not be forgotten that never yet
has rascal sneered at the American people
that he did not afteTward SWIVEL. Some OF the
haughtiest, like Tweed, have died behind the
bars.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

the benefit of atechnicality in the last? In his
charge he talked OF bribery and in his instruc-
tons of conspiracy. Why the difference?
Anyway, Dudley escapes, which is what most
people expected from the first. 1t will not be
forgotten that Dudley laughed at all talk Of
republican determination TO punish frauds of
this kind n Indiana and when reference was
made to an alleged intention of Gen. Harrison
TO let no guilty man escape" or words of
similar import, he remarked that he was
loaded with dynamite" 1t appears he viii
not have TO blow the new administration 10 the
skies as an act of vengeance.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
louisville PosL.I


AS the tolls of the law were being slowly
but surely woven about Boodler Dudley, at the
very moment when Justice was about to claim
him as her prey. Judge Woods, the republican
partisan who presides over the U. S. court in
Indiana, steps in and sets the criminal free.
Judge Woods is VIGOROUSLY an offensive par
tisan, and his official ermine has never been
sufficient to prevent the bias of his partisan
ship from showing through. In this Dudley
matter he has acted with shameful disregard
for the dignity of his Office. and has at once
stamped himself as not only bitter repub-
lican, but as an unjust and unworthy judge.
The judge offers no excuse for taking back
his previous Interpretation of the law; he
offers no apology for thus meddling in the
affairs Of the grand jury. after they have gone
to work upon his own plan. There is no excuse
and there is no apology save that he is q re-
publican politician, and that he has been or
dered by the men in authority to prevent the
exposure which the trial of Dudley would de-
velop.
This, ii viii be seen at once, is an exact re-
versal of his former opinion, and at one stroke
almost places Dudley beyond the pale of in.
dictment 1t would have to be shown under
this instruction that the person to whom the
identical letter produced in court was adj
dressed did make an effort 10 bride voters be-
fore an indictment could be obtained. This is
practically impossible, and Dudley, although
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IN. Y. Times.i

The charge of Judge Woods to the grand
jury in indianapolis in the case of the Dudley
letter seems to us to contain peculiar doctrine
in regard TO the instigaton OF crime. lie
holds, in effect that il is no oense If it is not
proved that the inStigation caused the crime 10
be committed. An attempt TO bribe voters. or
to induce others to bride them, is not an
ofense unless it is proved that the attempt sue
ceeded. According to Judge Woods not only is
it necessary on trial TO prove by competent
evidence that instructions for the bribery of
voters were carried out in the specific case
charged in order TO convict person giving
such instructions, but il is necessary to pro-
duce such proof even before an Indictment can
be found. This practice of preiudging ques-
tons of evidence and of law that might be con
troverted on trial and so preventing cases from
coming 10 trial seems 70 us to be rather
perIlOus, particularly so in political cases. The
meaning of the Dudley letter was plain enough
and made perfectly clear what Dudley was try
ing to do. Ii seems to us that it was of itself
an ofiense against the law, but il it was neces.
sary to prove that he succeeded, the trial was
the place for proving it and not the grand jury
room. Judge Woods seems to have been in
duced to change his view Of this case in the last
two months, and il looks as though there were
more politics than law in his charge TO the
grand jury.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
Boston Herald.I

The failure in the prosecution of William
W. Dudley does not impress us as anything
to furnish qualification, aside from the sus-
picious circumstances in the judge reversing
his decision, referred 10 by The INDIANAPOLIS
SENTINEL, which seems to require explanation,
and the decision itself is very far from clearing
Dudley Of guilt.
There should be no rejoicing in any quarter
this year, that one who is charged with con.
spring against the purity of elections is freed
from investigation on such grounds.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
TChicago Herald.1

Use of great but plant court TO save a
criminal who stood close to the president-elect
continues to evoke comment and criticism.
The scandal has not been lessened by the open
glee with which the presidents organ has cele-
brated the escape OF a knaye from the tolls of
justice.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
columbus HERALD

Dudley has been freed by Judge Woods.
You can always count on a republican judge to
come to the rescue Of repubIican wrong-doers.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

as guilty as Satan, cannot be touched. he has
been saved by partisan judge, man who Is
paid by the taxpayers of the United States 10
be fair and honest He has been saved by a
man who is willing to eat his own words and
stultify his official position to do favor for his
political party.
N. Y. Times.l
In all the discussion of the famous Dudley
letter there has never been. at least since the
election, any attempt to deny that Dudley actu-
ally wrote the letter,and that its purpose was to
procure the bribery of voters in Indiana. These
things are practically admitted on all hands
Judge Woods, in rcscuing Dudley from the
hands of the L. ). grand jury at indianapolis
did not hint that there was any question as to
the authenticity of the letter or of the purpose
OF cts author. To be sure, that was a question
for the grand jury to decide for itself, If the
writing of a letter counseling and advising brib-
cry, was a crime. Whether it was or not was,
doubtless, question of law to be decided by
the courts, but it ought to have been
raised by demurrer to the Indictment when
it could have been properly argued and passed
upon with chance for appeal, instead OF beng
arbitrarily thrown out 10y judge in charging the
grand jury This method of preventing indct-
ments dpOn which there may be differences of
OF opinion, without chance OF argument or
appeal, is a very dangerous one aud puts it
in the power OF judge to shield from trial any
person charged with crime. Judge Woods
practically admits the charge against Dudley
when, in order to prevent his Indictment he
says that the mere sending of a letter ICON
tanning advice to tribe voters or setting forth a
scheme for such bribery, however bold and
reprehensibe, is not indictable."
The section of the revised statutes under
which the charge against Dudley was brought
enumerates a number of OieDSes, including
bribery of voters and finally declares that any
one who "aids, counsels, prOcures or advises
any such voter, person or officer to do any act
hereby made a crime" shall be punished by a
fine or imprisonment or both. 1t seems TO Us
that this clearly makes it j crime TO counsel or
advise the bribery of a voter whether the cOun-
sci or advice is followed or not. 1t order to
convict it would probably be necessary to
prove that somebody received the ad-
vice, but if it is admitted or proved
that the letter is genuine, and that
it contains such advice. that is sufficient for a
grand Jury. The discouagng feature of the
whole business is the lack Of seriousness with
which Dudley's action has been treated by all
persons OF his own party and the disposition
to shield him, not only from punishment, but
from trial. which has even affected a judge on
the bench. How many persons are likely to
believe that ii the Judge had been democrat
or if, with the same judge, the offender had
been a democrat, the same view would have
been taken of the ofense, and OF the POSSIBLE
ity OF indicting the offender?