Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-08
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION.

The Star Route Thieves Attempt to Bride
Address.
WASHINGTON, Sept THE attorney
general resumed his address this morning
in the star route trial. He said he was not
going to pick up chips and shavings in the
case, but to present facts concisely- He had
listened to the vehement appeal to the jury
of one of the defendants counsel not to
allow themselves to be influenced by popu-
lar opinion. This could only be regarded
as an insult 1t had been charged that the
government was hunting down these men
from party considerations Why, said
he with energy, these men
belonged to the government party. Was
{ 1t reasonable to suppose they would be
prosecuted? What motive was there fos
| such persecution2 The motive was that
I the papers of the department showed
| wasted money in the West There were
scandalous stories in circulation of
| bribery and corruption. Should not
man in the civil service be regulated by
the same rules which influenced soldier?
He was prompt enough to demand investi-
| CATION when his honor was impugned. He
| prosecute these men! He did not know
them. He only recognized them by sight
Did Mr.. James know them
Or MacVeagh, when they started
this investigation? The defendants have
been defeated on the outposts. They had
lost their battle ON the skirmish line.
McSweeny had said when he opened the
case he knew all about it. He would pro-
duce papers and witnesses who would dis
prove all the charges. And why had this
not been done? Where were the letter
books? Where were the witnesses?
Mr.. Brewster proceeded to argue the
case at great length, and to prove the guilt
of the defendants by citations from the ev-
idence. He occupied the remainder of the
day.
After the jury had been excused for the
day, Judge Wylie said it had come to his
ears that members of the jury had been
approached in a most disgraceful way in
attempts to influence their action. He had
} first heard of it about week ago, when he
had received most direct and positive in
formation of this character. He had then
/ advised the jurymen to say nothing about
it, as he did not want to stop the
progress of the cases. Within twenty -four
hours, however, these wolves that
surrounded the jury have become fercer
and bolder, and upon hearing of one at
tempt more braZen and villainous than the
others he had felt such Indignation that he
had NEARLY advised the juror to shoot
down such man on the spot. He had
thought that, but had not advised it. He
now advised the jurymen to spurn such
men with the toe of their foot, to turn
from them with scorn. He wished tic
warn these men they were not to commit
+ such outrages without punishment. After
this trial perhaps an investigation would
q follow.
f Gen. Henkle rose and said with much
= feeling that in the interest of his clients
: he should demand an immediate investiga
ton. The court saw perhaps he woult
have it. All of the other counsel for thu
defense gave similar notice. Foreman
Dickson rose and said that when the case
" were disposed of he should lay all the in
! formation i'll his possession touching tn
e subject before the court.
2. After further argument Mr.. Brewste
l. said no wife should dwell in the vale o
II tears through his fault. If the jury en-
tertained doubt of the guilt of defend
1t ants, let them acquit them. Crimina
n courts were not places for wives. Judg
Il Butler, In Pennsylvania, had only recent
reprimanded man for bringing his wifi
IF pathies of the jury. Yesterday they ha
IS listened to an eloquent appeal
II defense of woman's duty, and man ha
ct drawn the picture of an incident tina
IS touched all humanity. But that man di
S. not believe that story. He had called
at untrue. Of what value was it as an illus
tration, if it were untrue? The attorne
general closed his address with touchin
story, illustrative of the majesty and dig
ID nifty OF the law, and an adiuration to tn
L. jury to preserve the forms of justice
their purity. Judge Wylie then called W
=, on counsel for the defense to put in the
prayers in answer to those already fled b
o. the governments counsel, and Wilson rea
as them. They rehearse salient points in tt
e Indictment and charge that upon the go
III eminent rests the responsibility of provin
y guilt.