The San Francisco call., 1897-05-14

Judge deDDarQ, ne or the many ln1tlaiS
and unsavory connection with the pro-
fe ssional politicians that manipulated the
fairs of the Peoples Home Savings
Bank, has come back to earth.
His arrogance has received an ugly re-
buke, and the desperate attempt be has
made to throttle criticism of his record
and actions on the bench has come to an
inglorious end.
1t is not libel to say that he is a dis
grace to the bench. A standard by infer
ence of his merit for that high position
has been set down by the verdict of the
jury which acquitted Editor Marriott last
| night of charge of libeling him.
For weeks he has been making one of
the most des sperate attempts in the history
of the State to invoke the law of gag.
The thousands of depositors in the saw
ings bank. who charged him with being
morally responsible for the losses they
sustained, have had their vindicatlon.
The men who were bold enough during
the last campaign to fearlessly oppose his
candidacy, and whom he has since en-
deavored to send to Jail on charges of
criminal libel, have the satisfaction of
knowing that their work has not been in
vain.
A great deal OF mystery that surrounded
the affairs of the savings bank has been
dissipated. The juggIery and man1pula-
ton of the ring in control and Judges
| true connection with IL is finally known.
The ''holier than thou" toga of Julius
Caesar Bonaparte Hebbard has been pulled
aside, and after all, it is a very common
man within it-one to whom no one of
twelve men could find it in his heart to
afford the balm OF a disagreement.
The case went to the jury at half-past 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and three
hours later decision had been reached.
Judge Daingerfeld. however, was at the
| theater, and it was almost midnight be-
fore it was finally delivered to the court.
| The Hebbard push, which was out in
big mum bers. at once put on Grape.
| A big throns saw the closing scenes,
| among whom were many attorneys.
| General Barnes and other legal heavy
weights looked in TO get some pointers on
| oratory, of which there was plenty. The
| feature of the proceedings was the brill
| liant and mastery address of Mr.. Short
| ridge on behalf of free speech and the
right of voters to criticize candidates
for office. and his stinging yet dignified
! indictment of Hebbard and his friends in
| relation to the affairs of the savings bank.
The case began at 9 O'Clock and it was
before it got to the jury.
| In opening Mr.. Shortridge spoke as
| follows:
Nav it please your Honor, and trust 1t will
r,1o of fhn iuru Uoyrld
do myself and my profession an INJUSTICE if
| did not at the outset return to you my CRATE
full thanks for the patient atten ton which
| you have given to case which, from my
! point of view regard so important 10 every
citizen. Its nature and importance cannot be
overstated. 1t is not the personality of the
| gives it dignity and vital 1mportanc The
| prosecuting witness will run his course and
| be forgotten. Even the Judge upon the bench.
| In the fullness of time, will pass away
and you and l and all of us will lie
| down to sleep in the quiet grave. But
| the principles which are here at stake-the
principles OF free government, of selfgovern-
| ment, which are here attacked and which are
| here feebly, but earnestly, by me defended,
are essential and will be- enduring if jurors
are brave and fearless and true to their
| country i believe you, each and all. to be-
| Ii is not, repeat, gentlemen, a question of
| personalities. If it were so it would be a
small ana lnconsequential case. It is the
mighty cause, the great principles, which are
here at stake that gives our deliberations dig
nifty aud your decision great Importance
These principles are as alive to-day, trust, as
they were when our ancestors fought and
bled and died for them. The principles here
at stake and in peril are the same prin-
ciples Tor, which English. patriots laid
their heads upon the block and for
which Irish patriots mounted the scaf-
fold. In word, gentlemen, the principles
| at stake are these: In free country, have
the people righr to criticize their public SER
wants, or to comment upon or express their
sentiments concerning those who seek public
office? 1t is not the.case here Of private citi-
zen; 1t is the case OF your servant and mine,
because the Judge upon the bench is the ser
want OF the people-subject to their law,
amenable TO their wishes and their DEGREES,
| the same the hum blest man that to-day
works upon our streets. He is not above. but
below, and governei by the law, and you end
and every man has the right, freely, to dis
cuss his merits or his demerits freely to COM
| ment upon his official conduct-freely to ap-
prove 1t, freely to oppose it; freely, on the one
hand, to euiogize and praise him, or, on the
other. TO oppose and denounce him. No man
! shall deny us that right; and If you, or other