Year: 1879

The Verdict in the Breyard County Cases.


The following remarks by Judge Settle, of
the Fifth (Florida) United States District
Court, upon the request of counsel for clemency
Of the court in the cases of the Brevard County
canvassers, who have lately been convicted of
making fraudulent returns in the last election,
sets at rest the cry that they were convicted
by a jury composed entirely of partisan Repub-
licans. Judge Settle said "As l remarked
yesterday to the Jury, the verdict was a proper
one, and the only one thought the jury could
render from tho evidence before them. The
court is satisfied that Lee was fully aware of
the entire fraud that had been committed
when he certified to the result.


"He was thoroughly familiar with the entire
plan, and l am also we'll satisfied of the fact
that Wright and Johns were cognizant of the
fraud, which they were endorsing and attempt-
ing to palm off on the country. 1 have listen
ed with interest to tho remarks of counsel in
behalf of the prisoners, but cannot lose sight of
the fact that they have been guilty of very
grave ofiense. In governments where all the
officers, from the President down, are elected,
excepta few judges, the ballot-boX constitutes
the corler stone upon which governments rest,
and unless frauds upon Free open, and fair
election can be prevented, the foundation is
undermined and tho whole suporstructure
must fall


There must be an end to this thing other
wise the moral atmosphere will become cor
rupted, just as the physical atmosphere be-
comes corrupted when a plague afilcts q
locality. 1t is the duty of grand jurors in
all courts, Federal aud State, to be diligent in
ferreting out crimes of this character, for no
right thinking man would consent to go into
a community, where crime of this character is
countenanced by the community, and consent
to raise his children among them. Florida is
Just entering upon an era of prosperity; but let
it be known that these things can be carried
on here, and all prosperity will be destroyed.


This trial speaks we'll for Florida and is a
healthy indication, giving promise that these
crimes can be ferreted out and punished. 1t
is due to the precinct inspectors of election in
Brevard County, though three-fourths Of them
have said in court that they belonged to the
party to be benefited by the fraud, to say that
they have come forward and testified in an
honest straightforward manner, without at
tempting to palate TO hide or excuse the
fraud which was committed and it is also
proper for me to say that since the verdict has
been rendered l have learned that the jury
who tried this case was composed of most
worthy and intelligent citizens of both politi.
cal parties.
Courts should always impose the least pen
atty commensurate with the. case but it Is
due to society that an example should be made
OF criminals, not only for their own correc-
tion, but for the benefit of society and thepro-
lection Of the Government. There is no ex-
cuse in the case of Lee, VINO is at present State
Senator and clerk of the Circuit Court, and de-
liberatcly entered into plan to prevent the
fair expression of the people at the ballot-box,
and to palm off in its stead gross fraud. l
sympathize with the remarks that have fallen
| from the lips of counsel in behalf Of Wright
and Johns, but l cannot forget the duty which
| L a SplintV ID
I'm view of all the circumstances the defend
ant, Lee will be sentenced to imprisonment in
the pententiary at Albany for three years. and
the defendants Wright and Johns for two years
each"


Testimony aftcrward introduced proved to
tho satisfaction of the Court that Wright was
suffering from lung trouble, and that he and
Johns were ignorant men, easily led by others.
The sentence in their cases was, therefore,
changed to one year each.