New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-02
MR. WELLMAN'S SPLENDID SEETICE.

MR. UELLW3N'N NPLLNDID NEHJ -
Perhaps no more important series Of criminal
trials was ever conducted in this city than that
IN which Assistant DiSlrict-Attorncy Wellnan
has thus far achieved clear record Of cOnvc-
tons. The people of NewYork. knowing well
that they had been shamcfuly sWindicd az the
polls for years, and with even more than Gus
tomary cfrontcry at the last election, had
! nevertheless good reason 10 fear thar the Tam
many offenders who had been indicted through
the efforts Of pubc-Spritcd citizens would not
| be faithfully prosecuted by the Tammany Dis
/ trict Attorney II was exclusively the fault OF
Colonel Fellows that This apprehension existed.
! for during his preceding term of office he had
+ lamenaby and ignomniouSly failed 10 do his
! duty. Furthermore. the delay in bringing cleo
I ton thieves To trial. though il may have been
! convenient and even necessary. suggested n sliS-
! picion that he was rcSuming his familiar course
Of negligence and incfiicicncy. And, therefore,
when at last the cases were called, the com
munty was agrccably surprised and encouraged
10 learn that he had put his ablcst and most
rcSolute assistant in control Of them Moreover,
It should be frankly acknowledged that he has
shown no desire 20 impede the prosecution.
1t is, however, chiefly 10 Mr.. Wcman that the
credit and the thanks are due 1t WAS believed
mat the cases WOulu De thoroughly urea III lneY
were put without restriction in his charge and
he has brilliantly fulfilled that expectation. SO
much rs this is Obvious from the results. The
public has had abundant opportunity TO observe
the completeness Of his preparation, his skill
in arraying the facts. his answering and
tenacious purpose But it is within our knowl-
edge that he has earned the admiration and con
fidcncc of honest citizens in a far higher degree
Al. T.
the proceedings in court the course Of prosccu
tion has appeared TO run smoothly to successive
verdicts. The fact is that it has been obstructeI
by many serious Obstacles Mr. Wellman has
been subjected to an immense pressure. Friends
Of the accused and adhcrents Of the Tammany
organization have besegcd him with arguments
which would have caused many man in his
position TO faltcr. SO far as possible he has
avoided such opportunities by keeping ont Of
the way. But he has nevertheless been forced
TO confront and resist them in great number
And not only that. Influence cxertod through
others has threatened to hinder him. Wit
ncsscs whom he wanted were rcportcd as not
found. and he was compelled to adopt unusual
means TO get hold of them Indeed he was
forced to demand that he should have an unro.
strctcd choice of processScrvers, in order that
he might not be put at the mercy Of individuals
upon whom he could not implicitly rely. Fur.
thermOrc witnesses have been made 10 under.
stand that they were mourning peril and he has
had TO fOrtfy their courage. Thus In WAYS not
open 10 common observation he has been stead.
lily and adrOitly surrounded by mpcdimcnts
which it has required constant watchfuinrss
and determination TO surmounl
knowing these facts in addition 10 those
which everybody who has followed the trials
knows, we have no hesitation in saying that Mr..
Wellman is dscharging Il service Of great diff.
Guilty and Of the highest importance with ex-
traorlnary and altogether admirable fidelity
In a score Of cases. through conviction or con-
fession. the guilt of the accused has been legally