The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-09
THE GREENE-GAYNoR CASE.

Judge Speer. in commenting on the
failure of Benjamin d. Greene and
John F. Gaynor to appear in his court
in compliance with the terms of their
/ bonds, did not state the case too strong
/ ly when he said that their conduct was
IAN outrage upon Justice" He was no
I doubt vexed at the way his court had
been trifled with. and he had good rea-
son to be. He had been hearing with
great patience. diliatory motions bearing
upon the indictment, only to find when
he had disposed of them that the two
defendants in question had no intention
of submitting to. a trial.
And this was not the only thing CT
which Judge Speer had a right to COM
plain. The processes of his court had
not been treated by the United States
District Court for the Southern dis
trict of New York with the courtesy
and consideration to which they were
entitled. The indictment against
Greene and GaynOr was found two
years before it was possible to get
them into his court. and that was be-
cause of proceedings which were per-
mitted in the New York court-pro-
ceedings which practically amounted
to a disclosure of the entire case of
the government against the defend
ants.
In regard to these proceedings Judge
Speer, in his comments on the failure
of the principal defendants to appear
on Friday, said: when the indict-
ment and bench warrant of this court
were ignored by the officials in New
York, and the prisoners, after indict-
ment, were arrested on an affidavit and
carried before a commissioner there, 1
at once foresaw the evil of this action,
and wrote to the President, invoking
the exercise of his constitutional power
to see to it that the laws should be
enforced
There is no doubt that Judge Speer
did everything it was possible for him
to do to give the defendants a speedy
trial. 1t looks, however, as if that was
what they did not want. From the be-
ginning their efforts were in the direc-
ton of avoiding a trial. With their
large means they were able to resist for
two years the efforts to get them to
plead to the Indictment against them.
Speaking of the possibility of the prin-
cipal defendants escaping trial alto
gether. Judge Speer said: IF this la
inevitable result shall ensue the country
may be forced to the conclusion that
while criminals of less degree can
the wealthy and powerful, when in
dicted, can with safety defy the law
and with impunity laugh at the pro-
cesses of it's courts"
The government, however, will not
admit it's inability to bring the accused
parties to trial. 1t cannot afford to do
so. A failure to make the defendants
answer, at the bar of Justice, the
charges against them, would be en-
couragement to those who are CRIMINAL
ly inclined.
No doubt the government will make
every possible effort to apprehend the
fugitives. It's keen eyes can see into
the hiding places of every land and it's
long arm can reach every part of the
world.
Every community in this country is
interested in having these fugitive de-
PENDANTS brought to the bar of justice,
because in every part of it there are
men doing government work and hand
ling government money. 1t is import
ant that the impression should not get
abroad that the government can be
robbed with impunity.
There are special reasons why this
community should desire trial of the
defendants. The money alleged to
have been embezzled was appropriated
for the improvement of the harbor of
this port. If it were embezzled the
harbor improvement is far less valu-
able than it would otherwise be.
The fight of the principal defendants
will not prevent their trial, unless
death overtakes them before the eye OF
justice searches them out, though it
may delay it for months, and, it may
be, for years.