Year: 1876

ST. LOUIS Feb. Y, 1870


Judge Porter who announced that he would only
speak till recess, occupied the whole day Porter's
oily, unctuous face, with its fat, smooth cheeks broad
and lofty brow sharp pointed chin, rose-tinged clean
cut nose and eyes prominent that they seem to be
bursting OF his head and his little mustache
looks very much he did during the Beecher trial,
and he read the greater part OF his speech as he did
then. His voice sounded harsh and husky and his
rate OF speaking was about fifty words per minute The
peculiar quaver in which he droned forth his
wards with almost intermnabe pauses between them,
wearicd the audience that the court room soon
eectualy cleared of its overhowing crowds The jury
looked sleepy and as II they perfect stupor
from the shower bath OF eloquence which they have
received in tho last three days


Judge Porter nourishcd his fists in alarming proxm-
ty to their noses and once frightened tho foreman
greatly who evidently in dreamland when Porter
woke him rudcly by his vehcmence, and the poor man
could not recover for minute or two from the shock to
his nerves The table in front OF him received good
many hard Knocks while Porter gared with wide
opened eyes OF his big eyeglasses, and his body
quivered With apparent fury at the damnable iniquty
of the prosecution.


SCENE


The spectators, among whom Judge Bardwell
Soate, OF the Kohosh district smiled, but rarely, at
some OF Porters grandiose fights and looked sober





himself again appeared worn. His mental condition
evidently huctuatcs violently between confidence and
anxiety. In the beginning of Porter's TRADE
the press came in Tor round share OF abuse
and while he denounced it. he turned his eyes to the
reporters table and scorched them with his glances
He explained Joyce's kilograms to Babcook by saying
that Joyce spawned kilograms everybody whose
would his purpose, and the prosecution
abused for making attacks the President Hoge,



he wanted money-came also for good dose, the
$40 600 raised by the dstillers in April 1875
the pockets OF Joyce and Mcdonald, and would
be again till the Judgment Day Babcock's secret
correspondence with Mcdonald was explained by Bab-
cocks fear that his mail might be tampered with-at
which some of the spectators smiled The signature
Sylph he limited might have originated from the fact
that Joyce called lady whom he and Babcock greatly
admired for her beauty 'sylph" while the defendant
ST. Louis but here the Judge stopped him with
the reminder that there testimony that effect
In order to head OF and break the force of Dyer's
closing argument he asked the jury TO meet his mis.
statement" &c, by their own


SUPREME RIGHT,


and then Porter slowly read long peroration. 'May
God deal with you and yours you do with this
cent man, whom wccommt TO your keeping" he
claimed, in tnrobbng He reminded the jury,
who had also to-day been the recipients of much soft
solder" that their names would be imperishaby
ISOLATED with honor dishonor in history, just
cordng to their verdict and here he dgressed and
wanted to show that Babcock was not rch but the
Court would not let him, there evidence on
that point He then painted Babcock's narrowed
feelings aud after having foengly pictured the agony
of his wife and children he assured them that their
''would be written indeliby their hearts IL
they rendered verdict of acquital and that their
verdict would rescue the common country from
during imputation Of base dishonor'


JUDGE PoRrERs ARGUMENT.


Judge Porter opened his remarks with compliment
ary references TO the attention the jury bad given
the case An intercourse OF two weeks he SAID in the
discharge OF duties, and the kindness and marked
attention with which you have listened to the evidence
make feel that we are before jury which is not
preiudced in the case We believe that had the ovi-
dence been such that you have found verdict OF
guilty, which would have blasted this young mans fu
ture, you would have done so with sorrow; but now
that the testimony enables you to pronounce him
innocent, you cannot but rejoice at such a
conclusion. Judge Porter referred to his personal
relations with General Babcock, saying that he had
known him long and intimately and appeared ms his
friend rather than mis- lawyer. He reminded the jury
that the defendant the son Of an American yeo-
aud had earned not sought the positions he had
occupied In delicate way the government counsel
compnmened for their ability; but, said the
speaker they have tried this with bitterness
toward this defendant which never saw equalled IN
State prosecution They evidently felt that every stab
ueiendant
a the President himself Why they should strike at
General Grant don't know, unless they think his
testimony stands between these two eminent gentle
men and new professional victory Judge Porter
then, In strong language, condemned tho course pur
sued by the press toward General Babcock He has
had, he said the misfortune OF prejudgment OF his
by the press. IL has been charged the papers
boldly that Tor years he was IN weekly receipt OF this


BLOOD MONEY LOUIS RING;


that he received by packages through the express,
by registered letters and by checks; that he acknowl
edged the receipt in letters ana eleerams The coun-
IA b.
cock grew suddenly rich; that he lived In luxury aud
moved about IN paatia sylei that with this money no
built whole blocks OF buildings in the city OF Washing
ton and has others In process OF construction. Every
enemy Of General Grant within and without the re-
publican party accepted these stories true, and Gen
era Baocock has been condemned unheard Passing
from what he termed the dangers OF accepting verdict
from the newspapers Judge Porter said the meanost
vagaoond in the neghborhood OF one Of you has only
TO invent OF find floating the ves scandal about you
and send II to newspaper IL viii not only be pub
lshed but COPIED far and wide by all the scandal loving
sheets in the country, and wherever you go this
calumny will rise up to meet you You may send your
denial 10 the papers, and II viii be puoshcd Dut win
IL the statement That since the first publication
further Information OF more reliable charac-
has been received. which to confirm
the truth OF the SANDER. To illustrate this point
Judge Porter referred TO the trial OF Andrew johnson,
VINO he said was tried and condemned by tho whole
press OF the country almost without exception. lie
became President without a party, and he was not
elected by the democratic organization and when right
wrong, he cut loose from his old Affiliations he
denounced traitor and surrounded by cucnies who
threatened his life and his character Articles Of i'm
parchment we're prepared against him by the House OF
Representatives. and he tried before the highest
tribunal of the land. The senators presided
by Oh lief Justice Chase There many OF them his
onemcs but dropping their characters senators they
became sworn jurors. Andrew Johnson acquitted
aud the newspaper judgment reversed The lesson
to be drawn is, let be convicted Of crime with
out legal evidence of guilt.


Judge Porter called attention TO the difference
between the the newspapers made II out ana as
District Attorney Dyer laid II down In his open
ing. These statements, drafted from newspaper
20 newspaper, dwindled down into two OF three tce-
grams IN i've years The District Attorney alleged no
act to connect General Babcock with the conspiracy
lie admitted that no money had ever been paid To the
defendant directly but lac promised TO prove that
money had been reInttcd him by mall The papers
astounded at the weakness OF the case ss the s
trct Attorney represented u, but they conso'eu
themselves with the statements OF


FAnRIcATTNG INTERVIEWER


OF a Now York paper that this was piece OF strategy