Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-06-14
TIE CENSUS FRA UDS-ATTORNEY
CHING CONVICTED.

Joseph H. Ching, a well known attorney
and Republican politician Of Leonardtown,
Md, was the only one convicted Of the four
men tried 10 the United States District Court
at Baltimore on the charge Of conspiring to
secure fraudulent census returns from St
Mary's county. He was found guilty on the
fourth count Of the indictment, in which he
was charged with conspiring with Charles
II. Guyther, the enumerator who pleaded
guilty.
Stephen A. Abel, Daniel j Bowles and
Philip T. Graves, enumerators, who were
tried with Ching, were acquitted. The case
against Graves was abandoned by the Gov
eminent during the trial. The verdict was
rendered Saturday morning after q trial
which lasted two weeks.
There remain eight indictments against
Ching and the enumerators. Four OF these
are against Ching and one or other of the
cnumerators jointly and four are against the
enumerators individually. District Attorney
Rose will consult with Judge Morris about
fixing them for trial.
1t Ia estimated that the preparation and
trial Of the case cost the Government n the
neighborhood Of $4,000, not counting Mr..
Edgar II Cans fee Tor assisting the Gov.
ernment.
Speaking Of the tri !, the Baltimore Star
of Saturday evening has the following to
say:
The jury in the census fraud case smart
ing under the rebuke administered by Judge
Morris yesterday whun they informed His
Honor that their IRE Nncllable difference Of
opinion was based n the testimony soon
after being sent baci reached a conclusion
and handed in sealed verdict, which was
opened this morning. II pronounced Ching,
the St. Mary's county lawyer, guilty and
acquits the other deiendants-Abell and
Bowles.
This verdict must appear extraordinary in
the face OF the evidence. The latter, a. Judge
Morris pertinently observed in his remarks
to the "twelve men true and tried" when
they informed him that they found il i'm.
possible 10 come together, did not hinge
npon the statement Of one or two persons,
but included the unreluted aud mistaken
declarations OF scores OF witnesses, some OF
whom had been brought here from dis.
lance at considerable -cxptEe5 ~ 10 GOv
eminent. In addition, the prosecution was
able TO offer documents which LEFT not the
slightest doubt that wholesale frauds had
been perpetrated. So completely was the
accusation sustained 10 oil its details that
the attorneys for the accused relrained from
serious efforts TO discredit the array of
damning proof, and contented themselves
with haggling over technicAlities and en-.
deavors 10 score on points Of law.
II would, in fact, be impossible TO make
out u clearer case than was presented against
Ching. Abel and Bowles. Many OF the falsifl-
cations In the supplementary schedules were
shown 70 be In Ching's handwriting. While
the circumstance that the padding could not
have been done without the connivance Of
Abel and Bowles, enumerators 10 two Of
the districts selected for the plot TO swell
the population, sufiiced for the public 70
form its verdict. Only the most fragrant
miscarriage Of justice could enaole Ching
70 escape the charge Of being the head and |
front OF the conspiracy, and the connection
Of Ching with the other two accused was 30
clearly established that esgrant disregard Of