The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-05
MR.. BURROWES GOES FREE
The District Attorney Finds No
Evidence Against Him.
SOME INTERESTING FEATURES OF
THIS SENSATIONAL CASE.


ening Express Attacks the Editor of
| the Portland Herald, and the Latter
Replies.
| The case against Mr.. Edward T.. Bur-
rowes, which has been the talk of the
| town for the last week, came to a sudden
end yesterday, in the United States Com
missioners Court, when, upon motion of
District Attorney Dyer, Commissioner
Rand dismissed the complaint and dis
charged Mr.. Burrowes. There was APP
plause in the court room when the de-
cison was announced, and Mr.. Bur
rowes received the hearty congratula-
lions of many friends.
Yesterdays decision made certain a
conclusion to which a large element Of
public opinion had been tending for some
time. When the case against Mr.. Bur
rowes was first spread abroad in the
newspapers, it undeniably looked dark
for him. The writing of letters under a
fictitious name, and the attempt to use
the employee of rival concern to find out
some of the trade secrets of that rival,
seemed a moral, if not a legal offense of
considerable magnitude In addition,
Mr.. Burrowes, although cheerful and
confident under charges that seemed dan
gerous, would give to the public no ex-
PLANTATION of his course. Yet strong
section of public opinion veered partially
in his favor. 1t was remembered in his
behalf that he had, by his own industry
and courage, built up quietly and unos
tentationsly but successfully, one of
those large local manufacturing indus
tries, so useful to city and about which
there has been so much public declama-
ton of late. Of course public opinion
can never be relied on for an accura tie
measure of a mans offense, and this
feeling should be allowed no weight in
determining the measure of Mr.. Bur
rowes's legal and moral offending.
AS to the extent of the offense against
the laws, we have the action Of the Uni
ted States District Attorney and the
United States Commissioner as
Full, Ample and Conclusive vindication
of Mr.. Burrowes, SO far as any evidence
is concerned that he has transgressed any
laws of the country. For the dismissal
of the case by the Commissioner means,
not only that there was not sufficient evil
dence to warrant conviction, but also
that there was not enough to warrant
hearing, of which the object would be
merely the finding of probable cause. Of
course there is possibility that the mat
ter may be brought before the graud
jury; but from the nature of he utter
collapse of yesterday that seems improb-
able.
But there is another aspect to the case.
"Mr. Burrowes has been acquitted in
the eyes of the law careful man
might say, ''but how is it in the light of
morality. Can the letters to Mr.. Cum
mings Cf written by Mr.. Burrowes as al
leged) and the effort to get the list of pa
irons of the Portland Screen Company
be as readily vindicated?'
This is a question which cannot at
present be answered entirely satisfactory
ly by Mr.. Burrowes's friends. The
gentlemen interested in the Portland
Screen Company have intimated
that this is not the last of
the case; and that it may be brought
up before the grand jury. Such being
the circumstances, Mr.. Burrowes will
continue undoubtedly, to keep his de-
fence against the day of possible trial.
But there has been considerable talk
among men of late about an explanation
which puts Mr.. Burrowes's alleged acts
in arather more favorable light, although
much is left to be desired in way of ex-
tenuation. 1t is said that both the Bur-
rowes Company and the Portland Screen
Company sell their screens to individu-
ais rather than to the trade. Mr.. Bur-
rowess friends make considerable OF
this fact, saying: eff man is building
a house he buys his screens of a travel
ling agent direct from the factory. rather
than from middleman. This being the
case, for what purpose should Mr.. Bur
rowes want the names of recent custom
ers of the Portland Screen Company?
Obviously not to get their trade, for a
man who has fitted his house up with
screens, is not likely to be purchasing
any more right away. 1t is rather differ
ent from what it would be were the Gus
toners buying all the time and by whole
sale. Mr.. Burrowes evidently wanted to
know to whom the Portland Screen Com
pany were selling screens for some other
purpose than to get the trade of the lat
ter company. What could that purpose
have been?
''There is one purpose quite generally
suggested. Mr.. BurTowes is the pioneer
in the Portland screen business. He has
advertised extensively and
Built Up Reputation
all over the country for his Portland
made screens. 1t would naturally hap
pen that, when the Portland Screen Com
pany began, there might come to them