Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-23
THE STAR ROUTE AND STRAW BOND CASES.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CRIMINAL COURT
TODAY
THE CASES TO BE CONSIDERED SATURDAY,
AND BENCH WARRANTS ISSUED FOR
ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS WHO
DO NOT COME INTO COURT.

pleas or receiving motions in the cases Of Dorsey,
Brady and others indicted in the star route and
straw bond cases Shortly after Judge Wylie took
his seat In the Criminal Court quite crowd Of
spectators, including the counsel and number Of
the accused persons, appeared Mr.. Bliss with
District Attorney COrkhin represented the gov
ernment and Judge Carpenter, Mr.. Totten, Colonel
1ngersoll, L. G. Hine, A. B. Williams A K. Browne
and Charles Pelham appeared for the accused.
THE DEFENDANTS NOT READY TO PLEAD.
Mr. Bliss called the attention of the court to the
cases, and asked that the parties be called to
plead.
Mr.. Totten.-we are not ready to plead your
honor, for we are engaged in preparing prelimi-
nary motion, which we have not completed You
VIII remember that we promised to come here to-
day and report progress.
AS TO THE ABSENCE OF MR.. DORSEY.
Mr.. Bliss.-The time has come when some one
else than the defe ndants should have sly as to
what shall be done. Since they were here last
have been informed that one of the defendants has
gone to New Mexico / submit that the govern
ment Is entitled to have plea and the preliminary
questions settled and in the interests OF the gov
ernment and OF justice we now ask that something
Mr. Totten.-I don't know to whom you refer as
having gone away. None of my clients have left.
Mr.. Bl!ss.-I refer to Mr.. John w. Dorsey.
Mr.. A. B. W1lliams.-He Can be summoned here
Mr.. Totten.-We should not be expected to wade
through these "a pages of Indictment with celerity.
1t is no chids job tits not the clients fault that
we cannot proceed to-day, but the fault Qf it is
Mr.. Corkhill.-The parties should be called on to
plead.
Mr.. Totten.-Well, we do not intend to plead till
we have our motions prepared.
MI. Bliss suggested that the parties should come
THE COURT GIVES THE DEFENCE UNTIL SATURDAY.
The court said that it seemed to him that ample
time had been allowed the defence, but he would
give them till Saturday and make a peremptory
order that they shall then appear and file their
motions that day. "We will expect you to be ready
then"
MR.. MINER READY FOR TRIAL
Mr.. Hine.-The government seems to be very
anxious to try something. My client, Mr.. Miner,
is charged with perjury, and am ready to accom-
mOdate the government, for we do not wish to
have this charge hanging over us. We will file q
motion to-day and 1t could be argued on Monday,
and If Overruled the trial could proceed Tuesday.
Mr.. Bliss said that it must be obvious that the
conspiracy case was the principal one; but the per-
jury cases would not be postponed longer than
was necessary.
READY ON THE DONAHUE CASE
Mr.. A. X. BrOwne-We are ready In the Donahue
case to-day. That is one of the straw-bond cases.
The court suggested that this was small case,
but it was desirable that all should plead.
Mr.. Htne.-We are ready, and wish a trial.
Tine COurt-YOu are not in position TO try it. for
your motion has not been filed.
A BENCH WARRANT FOR JOHN ". DORSEY.
Mr.. Bliss.-We will ask for bench warrant for
John w. Dorsey.
Mr.. Ingersol remarked that when the cases were
previously called Senator Dorsey said that he
would see that his brother was here when re-
quired, and he would say he shall be Uere and give
bail before the government is ready for trial. He
(Air. Dorsey had no fears Of this Indictment, for
he was innOcent-aS innocent as Col Bliss or HIM
self: no more afraid Of it than Is hunger afraid of
mince pie. He said, under the circumstances it
would be cruel to send bench warrant and have
this man dragged here when his attendance could
be secured through counsel
SQi6 fort njrhf ha6 coed md 1,f 10
defendant had not been notified. The fact was
that these gentlemen appeared to take their own
leisure. He proposed TO ask the court to apply the
strict rules or law to all these parties.
Judge Wyle said he would defer all the mat
tiers under consideration till Saturday.
The district attorney asked about the bench
warrants.
The court said that the prosecution were entitled
Mr.. Bliss said he would ask the bench warrants
to issue. with the understanding that they should
not be served till Saturday, If the parties did not
MIR; IhgersolI asked: "what will you do with the
bench WarrantS?"
Mr.. Bliss replied, eve will keep that to our
selves"
al you would keep the warrant to yourselves"
SAID Mr. Ingersoil, laughing, II would be satfed.
LILLEY's ABSENCE.
Attention being called to the absence of defend
ant Frederick b. Liliey, Mr.. Totten said that 1t
was probably through his neglect in not having
notified Mr.. Wilson to have him here. He said tn at
Mr. Liiley would undoubtedly appear when the
The court directed that Mr. Liley's recognfzance
be forfeited. and the customary proclamation was
made by the court crter.
Mr.. Totten, rising, argued that in such in
formal and unannounced proceedings Mr.. Ltlley
should not be subjected to such q hardship. He
thought it rather harsh to call the case up under
such circumstances, and order the forfeiture Of
his recOgnZance. He thought the forfeiture should
be stricken out, and Mr. Lilley be permitted to
said it had not been the custom In this court to
require the constant attendance Of defendants un-
der recOgn1Zance.
'sIf such were the case," observed Judge Wyl1e,
ut would deprive some Of the audience of their
seats or standing room"
that II Col Totten would agree to bring MIR. Llley
with him Saturday he would not ask to have the
ceptance OF the condition, and the court directed
the clerk not to enter the forfeiture.
THE COURT SUGGESTS EARLY TRIALS OF THE CASES.
~ would say In regard to these cases" remarked
Judge Wylie," which are much spoken OF, that it
seems very important try them either this spring
or postpone them till fall. 1t viii be very incOn-
venient both to the Jurors, to the court, and to
counsel 70 take up these cases in the middle OF the
1--WE hope to get to trial, said Mr. Bliss, "by the
.Your HONOR said Mr. Totten, .the cases will
not be delayed by the Defendants"
"After we get through with the dilatory mo-
tiOns Of course, !" remarked Mr.. Bliss, "there must
them, in ONE one case M by traysing night a aay "
will require "a days to get here. 1t win probably
take us after the motions are disposed OF ten days
to get ready, as, OF course, all of the witnesses
need not be here when the trial begins"
''They will get here perhaps before the reading
OF the indictments Is finished remarked the court
drily.
"Possibly so, sir" responded Mr. Bliss.
81 don't want 1t understood" said Mr.. IngerSoIl
"that agree to any trial do not want to be
considered bound by what has been said here.
win do exactly what seems best for my client II
It is necessary to put the case forward viii do
the best can to 40 It. II it seems best to delay
the trial will do the best can to delay It. will
not be bound by what other people say"
Judge Wylie remarked that the defendants were
undoubtedly entitled to speedy trial The views
OF the government would have, OF course, to be
consulted regarding the trial
'1t Is little hard" said Mr.. IngersOll, "to un-
derstand their views from that Indictment"
1--WE want justice" said MIR. Bliss, '4and they
don't. That is the difference between u.s."
1t was then agreed that the court would give it's
time to these cases on Saturday, and the court
proceeded to other business.
RIVER AND CANAL IMPROVEMENT MEETING
Senators Allison, Logan and Mcmillan, and Repre-
sentatiyes Henderson, Guenther, Springer and
Farwell have issued an Invitation to the members
OF both houses Of Congress and numerous other
prominent gentlemen now In Washington for a
meeting to be held this evening at WillardS hail.
for consultation with reference to procuring
proper and necessary appropriations for con-
StructiuQ artificial and