Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1889 — PARTISAN JUDGE WOODS. [ARTICLE]

PARTISAN JUDGE WOODS.

His Decision in the Dudley Case Declared to Be Scandalous and Dishonorable. The Indianapolis Sentinel prints an editorial fiercely attacking Judge Woods for his alleged change of front in affording Dudley a loophole of escape. The article concludes as follows: It is not necessary to enter into details as to the influence and motive that inspire this unprecedented and scandalous abuse of judicial power. _ They are patent to everybody. The intimate personal and political relations which William Wade Dudley occupies to the President-elect of the United States are generally known. Judge Woods, it may not be known, is also on intimate and confidential relations, personally and politically, with the Pres-ident-elect. Dudley’s' crime placed a stain upon General Harrison’s title to the Presidential office. His indietment would not only deepen that stain but it would probably involve relations that would be most embarrassing to that gentleman and to many other conspicuous members of his party. Some time since Dudley sei ved notice that his pockets were filled with “dynamite,” which would be exploded if he were prosecuted. Matthew Stanley Quay visited Indianapolis in his interest a few weeks ago, and W. W. Bateman, his business partner, was here day before yesterday on a similar errand. The strongest pressure, social, personal, and political, was exerted to save Dudley. The newspaper organ of the Pros!-

dent-elect came to his defense. All the ag» n des that could be enl.sted in his be- • half were set in motion. As the probability of his indictment developed into a practical certainty, the pressure was redoubled, and 1 i otherexpendients having failed. Judge Woods was induced to call the jury , before him tmd tell them that he had misstated the law to them, and that they had no right to indict Dudley unless certain • things, pot susceptible of proof, could I be established. The Sentinel is informed | and believes that this action was taken after ■ consultation with and upon the importunities of men as close to Benjamin Harrison as his recent law partner. The occasion is one that calls forth the plainest of plain speaking. If our bench fails us an honest and fearless public press must supply the ■ 'ieflGiepcy* so far as it is in its power, vveighingour words carefully, and fully prepared to accept all the consequences, we pronounce the course of Judge Woods in this matter a monstrous abuse of his judicial opportunities, and of flagrant, scandalous, dishonorable and utterly unprecedented perversion of the machinery of justice to the purposes of knavery, and we believe that it should lead to his impeachment instead of, as it probably will, to his promoI tion to the Supreme bench of the United | States as soon as it is in the power of Benjamin Harrison to reward him in this manner for dragging his judicial robes in the filth of Dudley.