The Evening critic., 1882-03-09
STAR ROUTE CASES.
The defendants Appear In Court
To-day Excessive Baii Demanded
A

this morning was set for tho calling OF the
parties recently Indicted In what Is termed
the star-routc and straw bond-cases to come
into court ana give bond for their appearance.
The fact had become generally known, and as
n consequence the Criminal Courtroom was
crowded with persons Interested In the pro-
ceedines. There were present all of the de-
PENDANTS excepting ex-senator $. W. Dorsey,
J. W. Dorsey,J. L. Sanderson and N. @. Rerdell,
who gave good reason for thoir non-appear-
anco.
Special Attorney George Bliss and District
Attorney Corkhill represented the prosecution,
and the counsel for the defendants were
Mcssrs. JefT. Chandler, Jere Wilson, Enoch
Totten, L. q. Hine, A. d. Williams, Charles
Pelham and A. X. Browne.
The ball was opened by Mr.. Bliss, who, in
calling attention TO the subject, said that the
cases were somewhat numerous; that some OF
the parties, owing to the engagement OF coun-
sci, as for instance that OF ex-senator Dorsey,
]. W. Dorsey, and NJ. O. Rerdell, would have to
lay over until tomorrow, and he had no objec
ton to 1t. Among the indictments thore was
one against Gen. Brady for conspiracy.
"How much bail turning to Jcro Wilson,
"are YOU willing 10 glvey'
az suppose q Thousand dollars" answered
Mr.. Wilson, ais enough for such paper as
you have there"
Bliss, TO pooh pooh this proceeding all the
way through. l shall ask for $2O,000. will
say, to make IT. plain, that the indictment
against Thomas J. Brady is for conspiracy. He
was Second Assistant Postmaster General, and
by his acts and connivance, the Government
was defrauded out of over $2,00OO00. don't
think
The Bail Asked IL Excessive.
Mr.. Chandler said that the object In Offering
and demanding bail was to secure the attend
ance Of defendant, Cen Brady had been
present in court on all occasions when wanted
and never shown any disposition not to pre-
sent himself. He thought that whom they
came TO examine this Indictment there would
be found to be very little In It, and certainly
such an amount of bonds are not required
He therefore believed the bail
ExOrbitant and Excessive,
and should not be granted.
Mr. Wilson said that they had not been fully
able to examine the Indictment, but SO far as
they had gone in the investigation It failed to
show that Gen. Brady had done anything more
than the law authorized him to do, and II the
Court would scrutinize pthe paper 1t would
see, that his suggestion as to a small
This ClRmOr was Commenced. HN
| and ever since then he has stood under
storm of abuse unfiinchingly. 1t was enough
| TO destroy a timid man. His action in remain
ing and going through this terrible TRADE was
| sufficient in itself to show that Gen. Brady had
| made up his mind as to the course he would
| pursue, and that he intended to stay here and
| be here and fight to the end this effort to
| degrade him and besmirch his reputation.
He therefore thought that $1,000 would be
| sufficient.
Mr. Bliss maintained that the Indictment
was good one and distinctly showed bad
faith In his official transactions by Gen. Brady.
| Judge Wylie thought that the defendants
understood the seriousness of the charge In
the indictments. Here was an officer of the
| Government, holding high position, and 1t
| was charged that he entered into a conspiracy
| to defraud the Government. Whether the
charge was true or not the future would show,
| but for the present the Court must treat the
| the charge as true, and 1t would be trihing to
place the bond at $1,000. He should treat 1t
wholly as true and well-founded, and under
the charge the bail was not exorbitant, and
would be fixed at $4,000.
Mr.. Wilson said that they would give 1t dur
Ing the day.
Bail in other Cases.
The case Of Mr.. John N. Minnix was then
| taken up.
Mr.. Bliss said that this person was Indicted
| for putting on the Government what Is famili-
arly known as bad bonds. He was held by
Judge Smell and since indicted by the Grand
Jury. He asked for a bond OF $1,000 In his
case. He would also say that while there were
| q number of Indictments against several of
the parties he should not ask for ball except
| ing in one.
Mr.A. X. Browne the counsel for Mr.. Mlnnix,
said that they were content with the sum, and
subsequently John E. Kendall became the
For Mr.. James ". Donohue, for perjury and
conspiracy, $1,000 was asked. His brother,
John +. Donohue, become surety.
In the case of Charles H. Dickson, for perjury
and conspiracy, bail was set at $1,000 and
will be given tomorrow.
In the case of Mr.. Alvin o. Burch, nex
called, Mr.. Bliss said that this defendant was
less likely to come here than any of the rest
and he did not think $1,000 excessive In his
1
Mr.. Charles Pelham, his attorney said there
| was no necessity for such bail. Mr.. Burch hat
been here and came all the way back from
| Florida 10 be present this morning. He would
| be here when wanted.
Mr.. Bliss said that the Government In thii
case was prepared to prove that this defend
ant distinctly knew that he was making a falls,
| oath, and knew the worthlessness Of the lant
| that he swore to be valuable.
} Mr. Pelham agreed to furnish the bono
later. a.
, In the cases of william D. Barrf,l ger and VII
liam w. jackson, for conspiracy and perjury
bail was fixed at $1,000 for each, to be giver
tomorrow.
. The case of Kate NJ. Armstrong, indicted TO
conspiracy and perjury, was then called.
Mr.. Pelham, her counsel, said that h,
: thought $500 was enough bail for the dc
; fendant. She was in the city and had been
had never been arrested and had very lltt
TO do with the matter. She was servant
: Mr.. Bliss replied that they knew that sh
was Mr.. Boone's cook and had several mai
/ routes. She was probably victim, but the
In the case Of James B. Henderson, for cor
} | spiracy, bail was fixed at $4,000.
In the case OF Samuel G.. Cabell, three In
dictments for conspiracy and one of subol
sss Of psr@ r. pan Ssd at
and perjury, the bail was set at $1,000 an
will be given tomorrow.
. For William II. Turner, indicted for cor
/ | spiracy, - 800 bail was asked and given, Di
&c Stanton becoming the bondsman.
Mr. Hine said that he appeared for Mr.
l
| name was Harry NJ. and not Henry NJ Val
: as indicted. He did not suppose, therefore
! | bail would be needed for him. Mr. Bliss, b
4 consent, had the bail fixed at $1,000. He dii
Y not know about the error but would look int
! the matter, and II correctly stated OF cours
the party woul not be required TO nle tn
O bond. In tho cases OF j. l.. Sanderson, e,
. Senator Dorsey, ]. W. Dorsey, and NJ. G. Re
4 dell they had all promised to come in to-mo
% row and nle their bonds. While the counsi
!, were all present he would like to have some
! Arrangement Made as TO Pleading,
, He desired TO get the cases, at least the col
spiracy one, ON Tor trial before summer
T. Mr.. Wilson stated that upon the return
" the indictments they began TO prepare to me-
the cases at trial II they ever came TO trial.
h was necessary that they have some time. II
q thought that n week from that day they woul
\ find them ready to plead. He thought that
4 the meantime whatoyer they might have
present to the court by plea or notion. woul
be ready, and then the court could fix a da
j. for argument.
! Mr.. Bliss expressed himself as perfectly 50
! isfied with this arrangement.
7, In the caso OF +. j. Sweet, indicted for co
u spiracy, bail was fixed at $1,000 and the pr
> ceedings closed for the day.
II AT noon Mr.. Frank NJ. Green came Ia NJ
bonded as surety for Mr.. Sweet and short
i afterward Mr.. Ezra l.. Stevens did the san
4 | thing for Mr. Dickson.