Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-12


they will lose no time In bringing about q
new trial.
at 1910 The star route jury entered the
court room and through their foreman
announced that they had reached
a conclusion as to four OF the
defendants, but stood as they did on
Saturday as to the others. being unable to
agree as to them. The court declined to re-
ceive the verdict, and a recess was taken
until 2 O'Clock p. m.
At 2 o'clock Judge Wylle took his seat and
sent for the star route jury. When they
appeared the foreman announced that there
had been no change In the opinion Of the
jury since the last report. The Judge then
said he had concluded tu accept their YER
dict.
The defendants were called, and all an
swered. The foreman then stated that the
jury had instructed him TO return a verdict
OF guilty as TO Miner and Rerdel, not guilty
as to Turner and Beck, and that no agree
ment was reached as to Brady, Vale and the
two Dorseys.
Nr. Merriek OF jseted, that as Peck had
not been srraigned he could not be indicted.
(He is desd).
The court concurred in this objection, and
the verdict was amended so as to omit all
mention OF Peck.
The jury was then discharged.
Mr.. Williams entered motion for arrest
OF judgment and new trial for Rerdell,
aud Mr.. Henkle made a similar one in be-
half of Miner.
Mr.. MerrIck moved that new bonds be
required Of Brady, Vale and the two Dor.
seys, and that the amounts Of the bonds be
increased.
This motion gave rise to a heated dis
cussion between Mr.. Merrick and Colonel
Ingersoll, in which considerable bad feeling
was shown by both lawyers. The court
was obliged to interfere In the Interest of
peace.
Judge Wylie announced that he would on
"Wednesday hear counsel upon a motion to
bail Miner and Rerdell.
Pending the hearing upon the motion for
a new trial, and also upon Ar. Merrick's
motion for new and increased bonds for the
defendants, as to whom no agreement was
reached. Miner and Rsrdell were sent to
jail for the present. After few words of
thanks from the foreman TO Judge Wylie
for the kindness he had shown them, to
which Judge Wylie replied in similar terms,
the court concluded as follows:
Parting with you. therefore, on these
terms of friendliness and respect, have no
suspicion, nor does the court entertain any
doubt in regard to this verdict as represent
ing the conscientious conviction OF the
jury. 1t is not such verdict as should
have been glad TO see, but 1t is your YER
dict. 1t is your work, you are responsible
for it, the court is not.
Foreman Dickson-As to another subject
At the close Of the proceedings last Thurs
day, ycur Honor made some severe criti-
cisms upon attempts which had been made
to bribe certain members of the Jury.
stated then that upon the disposition Of
tais case l would present such facts as
have to present. VIII l present them in a
sworn statement to youf
The Court-No, no, sir, not az all. Your
experience may have been different from
that of other members of the Jury. No
doubt 1t is. That is 8 matter which will
probably be investigated in another way.
1t does not belong to your verdict.
Foreman D.ckson-No relation whatever?
The Court-No. II It be true, as has been
reported to me by several members of this
jury, that efforts to bribe them have been
made, l think that no more abominable, no
more censurable depth OF crime can be
named. think that this is not the place
for the court or the jury to talk on this
subject. It is a matter which ought to be
10 the hands Of the officers of the law, and
II any scoundrel be convicted of such an
attempt I don't know whether the jury
would convict or not) we shall endeavor to
do our duty as court. Good bye, gentle
men.
Colonel Ingersoll-We have no objection
to the Jury stating who approached them.
Mr.. Merdck-Nor have we, and the gov
ernment will examine into the whole mat
ter.
Mr.. Wllson-And counsel for the defense
will have a hand ia the examination. The
government will not make the examination
by itself.
Mr.. Merrick-Pardon me-, sir, but the
government will, and put it where It be-
longs.
The Court (smiling)-I never was so
happy IN my life. Here are both sides anx-
ious to expose q crime, and we shall GER
tainly have q conviction next time.
The court then adj 5urned until Wednes-
day a. 10 a. N.
Mr.. Merrick, of the governments counsel,
tonight, speaking of the verdicts. said that
the vote OF the jury on conspiracy stood
eight for conviction and four for scquittal,
the four being Dickson, H0lmead, Brown
and Martin. 1.-THE interchange of votes"
he said, "between the reealcitrant four is
one Of the most mysterious things that ever
occurred IN the transactions OF q jury. 1t
can only be accounted for by something
that was neither in the proof nor made the
subject of argument. The government
will proceed Immediately to take such
steps as may be necessary to discover the
guilty parties in the charge OF bribery now
made apparent In this case. 1t
win also Immediately summon
its witnesses and proceed to try the parties
in regard to whom there was disagree
ment, and It may be reasonably expected
that with retrial OF this indictment, and
trial Cf the other indictments against
Brady, the Criminal Court will be occupied
until the first of February, II not longer,
though as counsel for the government are
well worn down with their labors, they are
not disposed to resume them until the first
or fifteenth of October"
The verdict ia the star route cases has
taken everybody by surprise, and shows
that not single one of the guessers at the
verdict was right. From the first ballot TO
the last there were four votes against the
proposition that conspiracy was established
as to all the defendants. These four were
Dickson, the foreman, Brown, Holmead and
Martin. These four names appear
through the twelve ballots in
teTchanged in various ways as to
different defendants and not unanimous as
to the innocence or guilt of any one OF the
four as to whom no conclusion was reached.
The seventh ballot was the turning one.
All after that were the same as the seventh,
which WIS as follows:
Guilty as to all-Cox, Damphon, McCar-
thy. McLain, McNely, Martin, Murray, Oh
colt and Tabriner.
Guilty as to Vaile-Brown.
Guilty as 10 8. w. Dorsey and Vale
Dickson.
Guilty as to BrAdy-Halmead.
summary-J. w. Dorsey, guilty 10; not
guilty2
s. w. Dorsey-Guilty 8, not guilty 3.
Vaile-GuIltv IL. not gully l.
Brady-Guilty 10, not guilty 2
In an interview tonight with Foreman
the latter made a general state.
ment In regard to the alleged attempts at
bribery, but would give no formal state
ment for publication.
He said that he would tomorrow lay be-
fore the District Attorney or his assistant
such facts as were within his knowledge.