LOCAL MATTERS
WILSON-HOTCHKISS CASE
Review of the Judge's Action - The Doctor Threatens Libel Suits -
The Buffalo Courier and the Union Especially Singled Out.
A Lockport correspondent of the Buffalo Courier reviews the action of Judge HAIGHT in the WILSON - HOTCHKISS case and says that the HOTCHKISS poisoning sensation amounts to about as much as was expected - the creating of a big bill for the people to pay. This bill will foot up to fully $6,000, making the fun rather an expensive luxury. The age of the circumstances and the inevitable inconclusiveness of the people precluded any one's looking for any other result. The accused were peculiarly fortunate from the outset, too. Folks favored of the gods have been heard of; but when one is suspected of having indulged in a little private knife or pistol amusement, or administering a "plain" sedative, the favor of the court is more valuable; Mrs. HOTCHKISS and Dr. WILSON palpably had this throughout their difficulty. The court's kindness was first shown when they were admitted to bail, a very infrequent, proceeding, and one which is nearly without precedent in this State. During the trial, the Court was very tender, capping the climax of unusual consideration by not allowing the jury to have a word to say, one way or the other, on the subject of guilt or innocense. But it is by no means the design to cast reflection upon the action or demeanor of the Court. Doubtless had it assumed its most severe and magisterial garb from the beginning and manifested not the least leniency to the end, the issue of the trial would have been no different. No twelve men, however great might be their degree of imbecility, would have convicted on such evidence as was adduced on the part of the prosecution. Few can deny the prosecution made an awfully farcical showing, it was through no fault of the gentlemen who conducted it, though; they did the best with the material they had, only the material was of a mighty poor quality. Another thing, there is reason to think they were not able to produce certain important testimony which they counted upon before the trial. Somehow it didn't show up when it was needed. The public sentiment regarding the case was rather singular. Ordinarily the opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the parties is somewhat divided. But in this instance, strange enough, probably hardly one in a hundred felt impressed with the guiltlessness of the accused. At least the ideas universally expressed indicated --ch to be the fact. From the first, however, the belief was general that the evidence would not be of a character to secure a conviction. Speculation has all along been indulged in as to how the case came to be started, some laying it to spite, others to the fees involved, and one idiot going so far as to write that it was gotten up for political purposes. Those putting their faith on fees are no doubt the nearest right. Somebody saw a chance in raking up the matter to turn an honest or dishonest penny. The penny has been turned, too, only it reached dollars, and a good many of them, some time since. In the main, perhaps the people do not approve of money-making enterprises of this sort. Taken as a whole, it is to be regretted that the District Attorney did not enter a nolls prosequi, as was thought he intended doing, and thereby end the sensation as near its start as possible. In fact, it is understood, it was the gentleman's determination to have done so, but he was persuaded to the contrary by the Attorney General, who informed him that he deemed the prosecution had a good case, and advised its being gone through with. By the way, no small number of people appear to be a trifle excited on the score of the probability of libel suits growing out of this case. It is reported and apparently credited, that Mrs. H. and the doctor will immediately proceed to "go for" all the papers that originally detailed their trouble. The Courier and the Rochester Union are (remainder of article unreadable).
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