The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12

- eNAsS s'AaN B'oh AZ iitto bOth hlibWh
to the initiated that storm was brewing
in the vicinity of the Criminal Court.
Nebulous gatherings were seen and the
mutterings of distant thunder were heard,
though family. The casus belli was the
cases against x-Staton.house X seper
Charles I. Saltmarsh. The Attorney
General, thinking that he had sufficient
amount of testimony to warrant him in
bringing indictments, was anxious to do
so, and have Mr.. Saltmarsh brought to
trial, If possible. Judge DuBose thought
differently. He was cognizant of the fact,
as was Attorney-General Peters, that an
investigation into Saltmarsh's accounts
was in progress, but thinking that the in
vestigation would ultimately reveal Others
supposed to be culpable in the Saltmarsh
affair, desired to leave the net in the water
until larger haul was assured. This
difference has existed for several days.
Yesterday morning when court opened
il was evident that matters were not all
pleasant and serene. Judge DuBose
twitched uneasily in his chair, and on his
brow hung clouds OF pent-up displeasure
that the slightest friction might explode
into terrific thunderings. The Attorney.
General was not there and was overdue
several minutes. Finally he came in and
Judge DuBose eyed him with savage scru.
tiny. Being incapable OF longer contain
ing himself, goaded into evaporation as
he was by the charming carelessness and
amiable Indifference OF the Attorney.
General, he burst out with:
"You have kept this court waiting half
an-hour, sir This conduct on your part
is iniolerable!"
"My assistant was here TO represent me
il anything came up" blandly replied the
Acknowledgement, while smile. like q
twin sister OF the graces, played around
his lips.
"That don't do don't recognize your
assistant. II you cannot attend on thi'
court in person, sir, | shall appoint M
Acknowledgement pro tcm.W exclaimed
the court, becoming livid.
The Commonwealth attorney expressed
the sentiment that he did not care what
the court appointed; It was matter of in.
difference to him. Here the case wa'
thought ended aud the reporters looked AT
their notes and wondered how much the
tilt would measure up. and what sort of q
head should be put on IT, when the Attor.
ney-General, with temerity approaching
recklessness asked:
"Dil you instruct the Grand Jury not
TO find a bill OF indictment against Charles
4. SaltmarshP''
The cool audacity OF the proposition
staggered Judge Dul}ose for awhile, buI
recovering himself he replied fiercely.
81 do not want TO be catechised, sir
shall not be catechised, sirl You have
no right TO ask this questian and | shall
not answer i"
A reporter for a scorpion contemporary
leaned over aud whispered 10 another re
porter that he was going TO make a column
out OF IL.
Attorney General Peters changed hi
question: "Did you instruct the foreman
OF the Grand Jury not TO find true bill
against Charles I. Saltmarsh?'
w~'l shall not DO catcchisedl" reiterated
his honor. 81 shall not he catecnised,
say, but since YOU persist, | will say that
did not instruct the Grand Jury not tC
indict Saltmarsh, but | desired the mattel
deferred and"
"You have transcribed the metcs and
bounds OF your authority" quoth Gen
Peters. 81 propose bringing the indict
menis and | do not propose to be deferred
from so doing by the usurpation Of pOwel
upon the part Of Judge OF this Court. y
81 will not be criticised nor catochised,
sir, 10y any one in this Court ] will fine
YOU for contempt, sir Who have you fol
witnesses before the Grand Jury2 How
can you obtain reliable data until you
have the testimony Of the investigating
committee now at work.
81 have ample testimony and n sufficient
number Of witnesses. have Chief Davis
Capt. OIlayer aud Capt llackett, beside,
others, testimony 10 my mind ample and
-
"But have you seen the boolSs7 Ilav,
Won followed the investigation and do you
know all that has been found and noted
Ia this investigation Ii you have not yot
would do we'll TO exert yourself In Thu
direction. When you sec the result
did not want 10 say anything about this
but you force mo 10 it-When you see III,
result OF the investigation now in progress
il is not improbable that your witnessc
will be disqualified from tes,iiying in th'
case"
Judge DuBosc looked toward tho 70
porters and, rejecting that he had beet
betrayed into giving away hissecret 10 thu
press gang who were then voraciously dc
vouring il. became more furious than be
fore. Ills fury was aggravated by th,
Attorney-G General, who repeated his 10
marks about u usurpation Of power, an,
the Judge shouted:
Enter up a fine Of $50 against the Al
torney-Gencrall'
Tho clerk grabbed his pen noryousl
and responded, "'1'is done, sir"
Tho Acknowledgement still talked. Ill
was not the least hampered by the fine.
"Mr Sheriff, take Attorney.Gencra
Peters out aud keep him out Of this cour
until he cools OF. Take him out. sirl'
Tho attorney general strokcd his rave
curls, bowed politely TO the court aud
telling the Sheriff that ho would save hir
| the trouble Of calling upon the posse com
milatns. gracefully retired, still claimin
that Judge DulIoso had transcribed th
bounds Of his authority.
The episode created considerable con
ment on the streets Some claim that !
the pending investigation Judge DuBos
has discovered q nest Of partridge eOchi
eggs that will hatch out chicken 20 III
she'll, others opino that the Judge hl
found only mares nest. Meantime h
honor sits, grand, gloomy and poculia
wrapped In the sOmbcr mantle OF his on
originality.
,hsuneey VI. Hubbard saicides.