New-York tribune., 1891-05-17

one of the greatest drawbacks to washington is the
Jury system It is almost impossible to obtain jury
hero which viii be both intelligent and honest Every
body Of any consequence responsibility seems TO be
exempt and justice is left with little no material
except such be found among the coored people
and the white rfraG. the latter being Infinitely the
worst OF ALL There have been within the last year
two acqulttals OF indicted mucderers which have
shocked the moral Of the community and alarmed
lovers OF law and order 1t is easy enough to get
verdict against rich corporations individuals In any
case where the facts be tortured into an appeal
to class peiudice, but let gentleman try to have
justice done him as against of the "boys' and he
will realize the vanity of life at Washington, in
fact as weak in the machinery for the punishment
Of criminals II is in the agencies for their detection
and arrest. stupid regulation, adopted twenty-five
years ago. almost limits the Commissioners TO dis
charged soldiers and in their choice OF police
men. while the Jury law exempts from service nearly
everybody in the District who be depended on to
act with intelligence and integrity in the box. The
latest ut OF this unfortunate condition OF things ap
peared in verdict rendered three four days ago In
a suit for damages by Lieutenant Lawrence BoggS,
T. S. NJ against livery stable keeper named Downey
Some time in 1888 Mrs. Boggs hired team from
Downey and went for a drive. The horse ran away,
smashed the vehiclc and inflicted upon Mrs Boggs ter
rble injuries which It at first thought would result
I'm her DEATH For months confined to her bed by
an almost total paralysis OF the limbs, and even now,
although her general health has somewhat improved she
is cripple and her physician says, viii be so foc life
II was not Lieutenant Boggs's original intention TO
bring suit against the lveryman. He accepted his
great aiicton as OF the vicissudes OF life and
faced 1t patiently and bravely. But he subsequently
made the discovery that the horse which had caused
him such habltual runaway. that the
nveryman knew IT, and that he had deliberately sent
the brute for Mrs. Boggs TO use, perfectly that
her life 10 be imperlled thereby On satisfying
himself Of this fact Lieutenant Boggs brought suit
and, l have said the verdict rendered three or
four days ago-a verdict for $500 damages against
Downey. 1t shown during the trial that DOwncy
knew the horse 10 be a confirmed runaway lie had
taken him for livery bill, the former having
abandoned him on discovering the runaway habit and
he had regularly hired him out ever since It was
brought out also that, upon the institution Of the suit
Downey had called meeting of lverymen which was
largely attended, and had proposed organization for
mutual defence against the public. 1t was there
agreed that they should make common cause and even
character Of tho testimony TO be given defined
and stipulated All this elected. The plaintiff
showed deliberate act on the part OF Downcy send
ing TO lady for driving purposes confirmed and
notoriOusly dangerous runaway; he showed also the
existence Of combination to defeat the ends of Justice
and yet this typical Washington Jury lot of the offender
with verdict of $500. | understand that Lieutenant
Boggs intends 10 push the matter further with any
view TO getting additional damages. but because he is
determined TO punish far as possible a man who
ruthlessly endangered his wfes life and as II s has
permanently destroyed her health and happiness
Really, 1t would that something ought to be done
10 elevate and purify the material of Washington
iuries.
/ am not surprised at the recall of Mr. Pasouale
COrte the Italian Consul at NewOrleans II has been
known to me for some time that his course WAS nm
| satisfactory TO the Legation here, though on what
ground / coud not ascertain. OF course neither The
Charge d'Afaires nor any Of the attaches would dis
such a matter In detail with outsider but they
are only human after all and il was not difficult 10
see that they strongly dsapproved Of Corte from the
first He has been entirely too ofnclous and has NOT
helped his counrys thereby. Even IL there were
other reason he would perhaps have been called in
on account Of his letter to the NcwO Orleans
| Grand Jury 1t a silly production. full OF In
accuraoles and unfounded aspersions individuals
and IL was above ALL letter which Mr. Corte had no
sort OF right 10 send The chances that II he had
remained In Neworleans he would have been In.
volved in some personal difficulty which would have
seriously complicated the situation. The duello has
somewhat fallen into desuetude I'm the Crescent City
but IL is still the acknowledged arblter in a certain
class Of cases, and Mr.. COre has given quite enough
provocatlon 10 warrant resort to il. happen ia
know three four Of the famous Committee OF Fifty
| who coud take Mr.. Corte in hand very scientifically
and who would do so without moments hesitation II
sufficiently annoyed by him. Upon the whole II Is
well all accounts that he has TO 90. My only
regret is that he Is not 10 be replaced by Count sera
who Consul there two three years ago and who
made himself extremely popular with all classes.
Sierra, however. is In Boston, believe. attending TO
dignity and ability and IN his