Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-16

/ banner of Burke. but Ii has completely
suuelched and snuffed out all attempts
to Introduce Tildenism into its ranks.
! In the courts, too. Mr.. Burke has
been triumphant.
Through his able counsel he has, one
after another. knocked the props from
under every case set up against him.
And while we are on this point. The
Eagle cannot avoid expressing its
amusement ut the curious deductions
drawn 10y our esteemed contemporary,
the Daily News. from the able conduct
of Mr.. BurkeS case in court by the
Hon. A. $. 1I'ude.
In discussing this situation the other
day. the chief editorial writer of our
contemporary seems to think that the
position of Mr. Burke and his counsel
in pleading innocence of any infraction
of the law and at the same time taking
advantage of the provisions of that
same law to quash the indictments un.
der which 1t Is sought to drag him into
court and place him on trial before n
jury. is Inconsistent and an inferential
confession of guilt.
This is about the most curious argu.
ment or rather conclusion we have ever
known to be arrived at from a given set
of facts.
Our contemporary asks. "Why should
Mr. Burke seek to avoid trial by jury
II he be innocentY'
We answer with another question
Why shouldn't he?
Our contemporary argues In effect
that he was indicted by "A Grand Jury,
and IL therefore becomes incumbent
upon him to stand trial.
We answer that Mr.. Burke. through
his counsel. has shown that he has
been illegally and wrongfully indicted
and that therefore 1t should not be
necessary for him to stand trial before
a petit jury.
We answer further and say these in.
been brought about by public clamOr,
and the fact that this Is so constitutes
an additional reason why even an limo.
cent man should not court arraignment
for an alleged crime before any kind of
a jury-grand or petit-at time when
public clamor through the press and
otherwise IL being raised to influence
the minds Of talesmen and Jurors.
Would the able editorial writer. II
charged with being a witch or wiz.
ard according to GENDER. by some
blue-nosed puritan Of New England
hundred years ago. be willing to un.
dergo the fire or ducking-stOOl test.
even though perfectly conscious Of In.
nOcence of the charge!
The Eagle thinks not
It rather imagines that the editorial
writer would not only refuse to vOlun.
teer to waive all technicalities and
stand forth for the trial. but would, on
the contrary. Immediately appeal to
any old law that would save his or her
shlns from the faggot or hide from the
ducking pond.
II the incumbent Of the chief edi
torial tripod Of the ID. n. should
kindly ponder over these few sugges
lions. he or she, rs the case may be
will perhaps arrive ut more reason
| uUle VOuCtuSloh iu tuS pbShsSVS "h'
also mt clearer understanding Of tn
justice Of Mr.. Burke's attitude In thi
case.
Further. this newspaper writer ma
perhaps be enabled to cOmprehen
why 1t Is that IN innocent man doe
not necessarily plead guilty to trumI
ed.up charge because he takes advaI
tage Of the safeguards which the In,
places around innocent men for tn
purpose Of protecting them from tn
malice Of unscrupulous scOundrels. VIII
would make Of the law an instrumen
!. to aid them In attaining their ends.
Our contemporary scribe will also
perhaps. be enabled to UNDERSTAND
why 1t Is that citizen IL not obliged I
prove his innocence of any charge tim
may be brought against him, but tim
his accusers are compelled to prov
their accusation.
Finally that such being, than
heaven. the condition Of the law In thl
heightened State and age u man who's
liberty Is threatened and good name n
tackled has u right to Judge Of the nj
ture ana motives Of the accusation
and the accusers, and to determine III
on his line of defense accordingly.
So much for the adverse edltori'
press comment upon Mr.. Burke's line
defense. The reply to the criticisms
the Daily News, apply with equal fore
to similar utterances Of other member
Of the daily press.
The Eagle, however, has noticed r
Gently certain little fiurries created /
carefully circulated and published r
ports that Robert Il. Burke Ii
|. anxious to come for trial In the Grim
nal Court that he Is willing to waive b
motion to quash the indictment,
witness the following excerpt from q
article published In one OF our dai
IS contemporaries quite recently:
It "A report brought to States Attornt
Is Deneen to-day that former City OIL
If spector Robert T.. Burke was williI
and anxious to be placed on trial
g. once, waving his motion to quash Il
al indictment, caused the prosecutor
Id declare that Mr.. Burke could have h
IN trial at any time, in day or two
O. To this States Attorney Deneen
ne quoted as replying blandly as follow
Al