The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-29
CAREER ON THE BENCH.
some of the Notable Cases i'm Which
Judge Woods Figured.

Woods one that attracted wide attention
and interest was the application for in
junction on behalf of the government TO
compel the directors OF the Worlds Column
bian Exposition to close the gates on Sun
day. In the hearing Of the case Circuit
Judges Woods and Jenkins and Judge
Grosscup. of the District Court, sat to-
gether. Judges Woods and jenkins de-
cided TO grant the injunction and each de-
livered an elaborate oral opinion presenting
the argument and reasons for his decisions.
The former held that there had been such a
transfer of the possession of Jackson Park
to the United States for the purposes of the
exposition as 10 vest in Congress the right
and duty of control, and that Congress
had made Sunday closing a condition upon
which IL had voted an appropriation in aid
or the exposition the government had the
right to exact compliance with the condi-
tons and for that purpose to invoke the
aid OF court Of equity.
While Judge Woods occupied the district
bench his court had more than the usual
number of political cases. The most i'm
portant and notable was the trial and con-
viction of parties indicted for conspiring
TO obtain unlawful possession of the tally
sheets containing record Of the vote in
Indianapolis at the congressional election
in 1856. Judge Woodss construction of the
statutes applicable to the case was stren-
uously contested, but was sustained by the
decision of the Supreme Court.
THE DUDLEY CASE.
The case that attracted the most atten-
ton, however, was the proceeding against
Colonel Dudley, charged with writing a
letter from New York during the campaign
of 1888 advising bribery at the polls. The
election was, perhaps. the most exciting
ever held in the State, and charges Of cor
ruption were freely made by both parties
A 'confidential'' letter, alleged TO have been
written by the chairman OF n Democratic
county committee to a subordinate, fell
into the hands of the enemy. 1t advised
that voters that could be bought
simply floats" and should be looked after
closely that no one should escape.
Another letter over the alleged signature
OF Colonel Dudley. written on a sheet bear
ing the imprint of the national Republican
committee and addressed to an unknown
person in Indiana, was intercepted In some
manner and fell into the hands of the DEM
ocratic state. committee. 1t gave full and
explicit directions concerning the election.
and contained this clause: "Divide the
fioaters into blocks OF five and put a trusted
man with necessary funds In charge or
these five and make him. responsible that
none get away and that all vote our
ticket" In his charge TO the federal grand
jury. which met Nov. IA. 1883. Judge Woods
called attention to Section 5511 OF the United
States Revised Statutes. which makes bri-
berry an offense and provides that any per-
son who aids. counsels. procures or ad-
an act whereby IL Is made crime
shall be punished by a fine of not more
than 500 or by imprisonment of OF not not more a
the costs of the prosecution.
The question of the proper construction or
the ats % %eods snasI Snd
Mcdonald. and there having developed q
difference OF opinion, Judge Woods pur-
posely omitted any construction OF the sec
ton and gave his charge TO the jury sub
stantialy in the language OF the statute, so
as 10 leave the district attorney free TO con-
duct the investigation before the grand jury
in his own way.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS.
month later, however, in response to
request OF the grand jury for more explicit
instructions. he quoted Section 55l1. OF the
statutes, and added this construction: But
In any case, besides the mere fact of the
advice or counsel, 1t must be shown that
the crime contemplated was committed,
or an attempt made to commit it," This
was followed by storm of partisan criti-
cism 1t was charged in the Democratic
press and by the senator from Indiana,
upon the floor of the United States Senate,
that this construction was inconsistent
with the first charge, and that the judge
had determined TO shield the guilty Dy
making indictment impossible under his
construction of the law. The criticism hav-
ing been repeated in words of bitter de-
nunciation in the Democratic state plat
form of 1890 Judge Woods published an
elaborate statement of facts, with corre-
spondence and data. which not only exon
Grated him from any suspicion of wrong
doing and inconsistency, but also showed
III. - H.. t.x
rect; that 1t was approved by Justice Har-
Ian. of the United States Supreme Court.
who examined the authorities carefully at
his request, and Ii appeared later that his
ruling was in exact accord with an early
decision OF United States against Mills,
No. Z Peters, 137 which seems to have been
overlooked while the discussion was going
on. The vindication was complete.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL.
But more notable and important than
any other of his services on the bench
were the issuing of the injunction in 1894
against interference with interstate COM
merce and the carrying of the mails on the
railroads running into Chicago and the
punishment by Imprisonment of the Of
ficers of the American Railway Union for
disobe6ience of the injunction. To that
injunction and the punishment of its vio-
lators is referable the expression and the
outcry against government by Injunction"
but seldom has a more notable tribute to
the law and to judge for declaring and
enforcing it been uttered than by Justice
Brewer OF the Supreme Court at that ban
quet of the Marquette Club. at Chicago.
when he said:
THE great strike, Of which this city was
the historic center, attests the wisdom of
judicial influence. The peaceful
ending of that strike is a supreme attesta-
tion of the power OF the American people
to govern themselves. That honest and
true-minded men were on both sides OF that
controversy no sensible man doubts and
that ii was settled judiciously. and not by
bayunets and bullets. is the glory of ALL
And here let say in passing that the
hero of that struggle for the domination of
the law was Circuit Judge William A.
Woods, whose name will be revered and
honored in the coming ages long after the
memories of his critics and assailants shall
have become like the body of Lazarus four
days in the grave"
Judge Woods was recognized as a jurist
of the highest integrity. He was careful
and painstaking in research. deliberate and
conservative in judgment
Judge Woods married Dec. s, 1870
10 Miss Newton, of Des Moines, Ia. Two
children were born 10 them-a daughter
Miss Alice Woods. and a son, Floyd A
Woods, both OF Indianapolis
ATTORNEY GENERAL TALKS.