Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
"a MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. "
The AcQuittal Of the Men Charged with
Robbing Paymaster wham.

uARP ollIIcmn OF rHl yulY N TN Pnoss-
OUTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Yxayu1r III
MORMON wITxHssks-rHl ooHruxrrr upso-
The Attorney General has received from
United States District Attorney Jeffords of
Arisona . detailed report Of the trial Of the
men charged with the robbery Of Major whaza,
paymaster in the United States army,
which resulted in . general acquittal.
He says: 1.-THE evidence pointed conclu-
sively to the guilt Of most Of the de-
fendxnts, and, in our Judgment there
was evidence sufficient to have convicted them
| all. Every man who was indicted and placed
on trial in this case was personally identified by
one or more Of the witnesses who had been en-
gagged in the battle where the robbery took
place.
STRENGTH or THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THE 40
cusED.
After sketching the evidence Of Identification
he continues: 1T would seem that this per-
| sonal Identification OF the defendants should
have been enough to secure conviction, but,
added to the fact that all Of the parties de-
PENDANT were personally recognized by Wit
nesses who testified TO that fact. we had
this further proof against them" The proof
personal property at the place Of the robbery,
which was shown to have belonged to the de-
PENDANTS. ''This was the direct proof Of the
governments case. The defense then at
tempted to meet this proof by
AN ALIBI
for each Of the defendants, which to the aver
age mind in every instance, bore unmista kable
evidence of having been fabricated. These
alibis were controversial and in many instances
were entirely overthrow by the evidence for
the government, which was unimpeached. The
verdict Of the jury finding these defendants
not guilty was q great surprise to the counsel
for the government, and was received with
amazement by the community generally. II
was reached in such brief period Of time rs
to forbid the conclusion that it was the result
OF elaboration verdict having been reached
within one hour after the case had been sub
mitted to the jury, it in the meantime having
devoted part Of this time to its MONDAY meal
AN OUTRAGED COMMUNITY.
The community here generally is outraged
at this verdict The efforts Of the investigat-
ing officers Of the government have been such
as to receive the appreciation Of all the people
in this country in favor of law and order These
officers in their Investigations encountered a
combination of men sustained and largely sup
ported by the fruits Of this great crime. The
witnesses for the defense were almost entirely
OF the worst class Of Mormons, many of them
relatives Of the defendants, and perjury, open,
fragrant and defiant, was committed at every
stage of the defense.
VIGOROUS STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN
to bring to justice these persons who did testify
falsely and corruptly for the purpose Of secur-
ing the acquittal Of these undoubted robbers,
to the end that justice may not be prostituted
by the suborning of witnesses in every case
where the government is concerned"
The report is signed by Harry L. Jeffords,
United States attorney; s. NJ. Franklin, special
assistant, and VIM. Herring, special assistant.
To the report is appended numerous clip
newspapers Of that vicinity expressing horror
at what is generally termed "A miscarriage of
Justice"