The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-22
MALARIA
THEPEOPLE'S DEFENDER.
JUICE GRDs HAM EARNED THIS
TITLE BY ACrs ON THE BENCH.

TITLE BY ACr5 ON THE BENCH.
He Hes Been the Terror of the Wreck
ers OF Railroads and From the Bench
He Has Def1ed Even the President Of
the United States to Interfere to Pre-
vent the Doing of Strict Justice-Row
He Righted Wrong Done by Him
self to an Attorney.
From the Neto York World.
Walter Q. Gresham, who will be Secre>
tery of State under Mr. Cleveland, has
made record as just and upright Judge.
In the discharge OF his judicial duties he
has been swsyed by no considerations out
side of the straight line Of duty. By the
terrific scoring he gave to Gould, Sage,
Dillon aud Humphreys in the Wabash
decision in December. 1886, he showed that
he was friend of the people and no friend
OF monopolies; protector Of workingmen
and a respecter of the rights OF labor.
Judge Gresham has won the warm respect
of every lawyer practicing in and out of
his court. He has heard and decided many
noteworthy cases, and his decisions have
illustrated his fearlessness, impartiality and
judicial firmness.
his characteristics more fully, perhaps,
than any other.
The story of his act In wrestling from Jay
Gould and his receivers the Wabash system,
and, in the interest of its creditors, placing
those roads under the receivership of Judge
Cooley, has been told recently by the
But the Wabash case Is not a solitary in
stance of Judge Gresbam's care for the
public veal. His judgment in the 20"
strike Is another example out of many Of
his broad mindedness and his care for the
interests Of the people. He is hard works
ing judged In the practice and often holds
court until Z p. m. He wastes no time,
but expedites business. For an instance of
this, take the Chicago and Atlantic case.
The younger line had been working not
only with the Erie, but with all the other
great trunk lines. When President
King Of Erie applied for receiver, Presi-
dent Jewett OF the Atlantic fought the mo-
tion with all the skill the best New York
lawyers could muster. Judge Gresham
said pointedly: This thing must be set
Sled. don't like to appoint railr re-
celvers, but the Erie built the Chicago and
Atlantic and it is to the interest of all that
the two roads be conducted in harmony"
There was no receiver, but Jewett re-
signed the presidency Of the Atlantic, and
now there is peace.
Judge Gresham's decision in removing
VIC iOSSANoh VI buo luQLhudDOlls, O6CaLuE
and Western railroad at Indianapolis
caused sensation. The application for
receiver and Judge Woods ready appoint
ment OF his old friend, ex-Congressman
bob" Pierce Of Terre Haute. who at the
time was attorney for the road, had been
deemed strange. There were hints at job
berry. Judge Gresham, as usual, was not
slow in grasping the idea that all was not as
1t should be, and the manner in which he
nlpped all tie schemes was in keeping with
bis strict ideas of honesty and integrity.
He was ia Chicago when he learned Of what
was going on at Indianapolis. Without any
further ado he went to the United 8 ates
courtro at the capital city of Indiana
and was very much ION deck" when the ra-
ownership matter was called up.
In the early part of 1878 two young men,
sons OF influential and rich parents at In
dianapolis were arrested by United States
authorities One was Carey w. Miller,
teller OF the First National Bank there. The
other was James L. Slaughter. Miller was
accused Of making false entries and Of EN-
bezzling the funds of the bank, while
Slaughter was charged with completely.
While the cases were being investigated
John New and q number OF leading repub-
llcan politicians Of Indiana were using their
influence with President Hayes to stop the
investigation, which bade fair to cause
trouble to a number Of prominent Hoosiers
They succeeded to the extent Of having the
following telegram sent TO the then United
States district attorney at indianapolis:
WASHINGTON. D. c., Nov. 5, 1878.
To Nelson TrussIer Esq, Uaited States District
Attorney Indianapolis, Ind:
The President directs the Attorney General 10
instruct you to postpone all further action in
The case of Carey w. Miller.
5. +. PRILLiPs, Acting Attorney General
Mr.. Trussler read this telegram to the
grand jury. Gen. Haskell, the foreman,
Indny lrac han ho ind
was very much enraged at what he termed
the Presidents unwarTanted assumption OF
power H0 was hearing case In which
PRESIDENT Harrison was counsel upon one
SIDE and Gov. Hendricks upon the other.
Suspending the hearing, Judge Gresham
sent for the grand jury and repeated to it
the Information impaired to the court.
Judge Gresham then charged them that
they were bound to respect their oaths. and
that they could not, If they would, escape
The obligations of that oath by needing the
Instructions Of even the President Of the
U nited States.
The President may, if he feels so in
chned," said Judge Gresham. Interfere
even In advance of an indictment by exer-
clslnG the pardoning power. In no other
way has he the slightest authority to con-
uol your action. He has IL IN his power TO
pardon the alleged offender. and, unlees he
IS willing to take that responsibility, he has
20 more right TO control your action than
has the Car OF Russia. II you believe the
RESIDENTS instructions TO the district attor- |
usy were Intended to prevent your making
Sne fullest examination into the matter
before you, and returning an indictment
against the accused, IL the evidence should
warrant it, you should feel inspired with an
TTiiuluonal determination to do your duty.
Tue moment the executive is allowed TO
central the action of the courts in the ad-
ullnlstration Of criminal justice, then their
independence is gone"