The morning call., 1891-10-23
THE KEY TO THE BooDLERs' CAMP.

In the Indictment OF Elwood Bruner for
perjury, the Grand Jury has foundithe key
to the boodlers' camp. The only trouble
about getting evidence is the difficulty OF
getting witnesses to tell the truth. When
called to the stand the bondlers usually
swear that they have forgotten all about
events that no man could forget If they nap
pened while lie was in sane state OF mlnu'
Bruner went little farther and swore he
did not do a thing which the Grand jury
claims to have evidence that he did do.
Wien a witness declares that he does not
remember it may be difficult to prove that
he does remember; but when witness de-
clares that he did not do a certain thing, II
it can be proved that he did do that certain
thing, proof is furnished that he committed
perjury. Bo0dler viii esses have been rely
ing upon the suppOsitiOn that laws against
perjury cannot be enforced. They had too
much ground for the SuppOSition. Perjury
has been so seldom punished that witnesses
come off tie stand ard jest at the inability
of the courts to get the truth out OF them.
They seem to forget that when they say
they do not remember they commit perjury
If they do remember. man has lalien
into deplorable mental condition when he
can look his fellow man in the face and
laugh at his adroitness in committing so
deteslable a crime as perjury. Men have
Iisked their lives in combat TO wipe out the
stain of an accusation of simple 1alsehood.
In fact, nothing will take off The average
mans coat so quickly as the words, " on
He' Simple falsehood is bad enough, but
perjury is infinitely worse. The Ierjurer
may not have much consideration for the
religious element in an oath to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the trnth,
but no sane man can be indifferent to the
personal attitude he assumes to the public
when he solemnly declares on his honor as
a man that what he says is true, know
ing that it is not true. The indict-
ment Of Bruner Will be note
of warning to other bOodlrrs not to attempt
to swear out Of the grip that holds them.
They do not know and cannot know what
testimony the Grand Jury possesses. When
they step down from the stand on which
they have perjuTed themselves they may be
arrested for perjury On evidence already in
the Grand Jury's possession. 1t is becoming
more and more apparent that The lot Of the
booder is not happy one. There IS only
now and then one whose opportunities have
enabled him to live abroad in comfort.
Most of them have gathered in a few
hundred or a few thousand dollars. as the
case may be, and have still their living to
earn in this or some other community. They
have to mingle in the world and ask the
confidence Of their fellow men with the
taint Of Doodle upon them. But the Grand
Jury cannot permit personal consideration
to interfere with their work. There must
be no 1avortism, either of persons or OF
parties. II Bruner was bribed somebody
brbed him. If there is any number of
Senators or members of the Assembly who
received. as is corTuptly reported, 5000 for
a vote for United States Senator, some
Senatorial asprant or some parties that ex-
pected to profit by tie election of some one
Senatorial aspirant must have furnished the
money. Rolls of greenbacks have been
known to be found in the bureau-drawer
of members of legislative bodies, but no one
supposes that such rolls got there without
human agency. The briber is as bad as the
bribed. The rich rascal who looks for
profit by the control of R legislative vote is
as clearly an enemy of the public as the
obscure and impeeunous member to whom
a bribe of a thousand dollars seemed for the
moment TO be an Independent fortune.