The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-17

and connected as Mr.. Robert Z. Albertson is,
when Edward Albertson had committed crime
such as he had, would necessarily cause a re-
vulsion of feeling, for it would tend TO cast a
reflection and dscredit not simply upon the
name OF Edward Albertson but upon the family
OF Robert B. Albertson. OF course it cannot in
eliminate him, but nevertheless IL is human
nature for him to feel the shame and disgrace
OF such an act and he cannot help it. No
one regrets more than Mr.. Robert b. Albert
son that that letter WAS not preserved,
and had he been conscious of having committed
any offense against the law he would have been
the very last man to destroy a letter of that
kind, for in itself ii was a vindication. Instead
OF being circumstance against him it is cir
cumstance in his favor. My learned friend
says that Mr.. Robert b. Albertson sent an
answer to Mr.. T. B. Wallace in terms that would
indicate that he was guilty man. Let us see.
Mr.. I. b. Wallace. the president OF the bank,
telegraphs that he wants to him. Mr..
Aibertson seceives this telegram after he has
become aware that he was pursued and
Swallowed night and day by detectives. He re-
ceives that telegram alter he has known that
the agent OF Mr.. T. B. Wallace, NJ. C. Sullivan,
had come to his Office and said to him, when he,
Mr. r. B. Albertson, refused to talk 10 him,
said to him in his own Office, in the presence OF
his partner, ''lf you won t talk, We have ways
for making you talk
After the agent of Mr.. T. B. Wallace had
language to him, Mr. Robert B. Abertson, if he
had sent any other telegram than the one he did
would have given proof OF his guilt. Instead
of that answer being a confession of guilt, or
implying guilt, it was just the answer which
honest and indignant man. uniustly suspected
and shamefully hunted and pursued by these
detectives, should have made.
There was great deal of testimony in this
case to show that Mr. Altertson had made visits
TO the city of Tacoma. Why should not he He
received an appeal from the wife of Edward
Albertson who, the testimony shows, had no
knowledge of the yillainy OF her husband and
who received the first intimaton only as the
public received it, and which came to her like a
thunderbolt out of clear sky, and she appealed
to the man she knew. He was cousin or
the family. 1t was right she should do
1t, and II Robert b. Albertson had been SO base,
so selfish as to not respond to that appeal he
would not be surrounded in his trial today and
yesterday and the day before and since these
hounds have been after him q mean these de-
tectives) by the friends who stand Loyalty by
him, knowing that ne is worthy of their conf
dence; knowing that he is pure and upright
man aud innocent. He was ready TO
relieve the distressed and comfort the
afflicted and to console the abandoned
wife. Judging from the testimony
that was put in here it looked If the state in
this case desired to use out of the humanity of
the man, evidence to convict him of the crime
of felony. That is what it looked like And
they have just as much on which to base that
charge OF his concocting this stupendous rob-
oery-there is Just IS much in that expression of
human kindness they have in these other
frivolous trfiing things on which they attempt
10 build structure of crime, and indeed this
Is unparalleled in the criminal jurisprudence
of this state. Has he committed any offense?
Has he given any proof of his criminal charac.
ter by his visits TO the house of that forsaken
woman? He asked III they in of
necessities OF life, and offered money if they
were. This is brought up against him as proof
that he is criminal, felon, because touched
by the miseries OF this unfortunate woman:
because OF her unfortunate alliance
with this villain: because he offered
TO relieve her distressedness; to comfort her in
her affection; to console her when she was for
saAen; that is to lie taken as proof that this man
Is felon and n criminal. IL your honor please
there Is not in the record of Grim
fnal jurisprudence in this state a case
that can be compared TO this prosecution.
Knowing the honorable character of the learned
prosecutor, l believe today that had he known
three days ago the character of the testimony
That ne had to rely upon, based as it is upon
these fine theories of the detective, he would
not have touched the case any more than he
would have taken poison.
There Is another charge against him. My
learned friend says, when Ross came the second
time with a letter which was to go TO this
woman, instead of yielding to the impulse of
his heart-which in his statements on the stand
must be truly said in these matters he had
yielded TO the impulse of his heart rather than
To the dictates of his sound judgment-when
this man came the last time, my learned friend
says Mr.. Albertson said, ''What do you want?"
My learned friend is mistaken; If he will refer
To the reporters notes ne will find instead of
that, Albertson reproached him for having de-
celved him in regard TO these matters And
then he produced letter which was intended
for the wife, and Mr.. Albertson, feelings for
the family, that he knew TO be in distress and
affiction on account of this thing, went to Mr.
Prescott and spoke TO him of this letter. Mr.
Preston says, have nothing to do with IL. hut
want the wife TO get the letter, he said
Then mail it." And he did, or at least he
furnished an envelope to have it mailed Nv
learned friend says, Why did he not inmedi-
aIely inform upon this man2 Why did he not
report MIN TO the police? 1t is the duty
Oh good citizen under the law when
crime has been committed TO complain
10 the authorities, but never knew il to be the
outy OF an attorney. if a client came to him and
deceived him as to the true state OF facts that it
was his duty 70 deliver him up to the author
tues. III q man is appointed by q court TO de-
fend person accused of crime, and If during
the progress of the trial the attorney becomes