Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-06

recorder OF deeds shall be a respectable
man. even though he be appointed by the
you suppose gentlemen Of the jury, that II
white recorder of deeds had made such
associates as Taylor has made the press Of
the District would not have charged it and
have demanded his removal? Certainly not;
and the President would have been COM
PEELED to remove him.
The article, said Mr. Langston, was but
just charge of Taylors shortcomings.
Have those shortcomings been denied ex-
cept by the recorder himself? Certainly
not" exclaimed MIR. Langston, land the
dramatic denials Of Mr.. Taylor will not
suffice. 1t is very easy to say, deny it,
but that will not do
THE government has," said Mr.. Lang
ston, attacked the character of Miss
witnesses for the defense, claiming that
they were bad women. But didn't Taylor
meet them and associate with them? Did
he not meet Laura Benseman, a bad girl,
they say, at 1913 Indiana avenue, in rooms
hired for political and other purposes?
Then. didn't he send the girl to Mrs. Gar
rett? But he claims he took possession
of the Garrett family out of the goodness
Of his heart. But. gentlemen of the jury,
do you find Taylor supporting any family
without good-lcoking girl in 1t? No, sirs,
you do not
Referring. to the friends of Mr.. Taylor,
Mr.. LangSton was particularly severe in
his remarks. saying that women and men
of bad character were sure of a cordial
reception from him. "A truly pure man.
exclaimed Mr.. Langston, has no fear of
an investigation into his personal charac-
ter, and yet Taylor, who denies all charges
Of immortality, Beggtd Mr.. Siddons to spare
his personal charaeser. Would pure man,
request? Would he, not have invited the
fullest investigauoh?"
Mr.. Langston closed his address at 30.
District Attorney Birney stating that he
would then address the jury, expecting to
occupy about an hours time. In closing
Mr.. l.argston again stated that the de-
just in publishing the alleged libel. and il
convicted. would fear nothing, believing
that he had done nothing but that which
a high-minded. honest journalist should
have done.
80 ~, After Recess.
When the trial was resumed after recess,
District Attorney Mrney. on behalf of the
prosecution, commenced the closing argu-
ment to the jury. The case. said Mr.. Bir-
ney, was remarkable In more ways than
one, and all through it was exhibited the
courage of a man whose coming here had
not been welcomed by the people of the
District. That courage, he believed, had
raised Recorder Taylor very high in the
estimation of the people here since the
trial had commenced. In challenging Chase
to do his worst. Mr.. Taylor had, said Mr.
lolTHey, won the admiration OF the people
of the District. However much the mans
appointment might have been opposed and
its wisdom questioned, he believed that
the jury, well as other District people,
would do Mr.. Taylor justice. That was all
the prosecution desired.
Much had been said by the defense said
Mr.. Birney, of the power and freedom of
the press. but while all desired it and adj
m:red it, 1t was Il mighty engine, having
the power to make or ruin men, but where
that power was prosttuted for malicious
purposes, the courts stepped in to protect
the citizen. g.
One remarkable thing in the case, stated
Mr.. Birney, was the utter failure of the
defendant to prove the truth of his charges.
1t had been claimed that Mr.. Taylor had
visited 1.-THE Division" and, on the night
can can. Yet, remarked Mr.. Birney, not
word of testimony had sustained that
charge nor word of evidence to support
the charge that Mr.. Taylor had compelled
colored men in Office to pay political as
sessments. The whole line of testimony
offered by the defense, said Mr.. Brney,
was a disgrace to court of law, false in
practically every word of it.
The case exclaimed Mr.. Brney disclosed
on its very face foul and contemplate
conspiracy to ruin stranger in the COM
munity, simply because he had the courage
to refuse to pay tribute to those who false
ly accused him.
Mr.. Birney then entered into a minute
discussion of the testimony offered on
either side, contending that if there ever
was case in which a prompt verdict of
guilty as indicted was warranted, it was
the one on trial.
Mr. Bi-ney spoke for little more than an
hour, and then Judge Cole carefully
charged the jury.