New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-22
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.

A MORAL vINDICATION IMPOSSIBLE
rvvrcr or THE DECISION ADMITTING WALSH
TrsTrMoyY-MEssRs JAMES, MAcvEAGH AND
CLAYTON TO DE CALLED TO THE STAMP.
lBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE rRIBuNE.i
WASHINGTON July 21.-The admission OF WALSH
testimony today by Judge Wylie shoWen 10" 'huch
tho case of The Government has been strengthened
by his ruling of the other day that tnere was
enough evidence Of o conspiracy to be sent to
Tho inrv 70 be weighed by them. The conspiracy
being assumed, the testimony of Walsh became
clearly competent as judge Wylie showed to-day {;
not because the confession of conspirator binds
the other conspirator, but because it is good evil
dence against that consprator and evidence against
that conspirator IL a circumstance tending 10 show
a conspiracy. Judge Wylie said. on the face of the
testimony offered, it tended very strongly to prove
a conspiracy.
The testimony of exPostmaster General James,
ex-Attorney-General McVeagh and ex-senator
Powell Clayton. to the confessions made to them
by Rerdel Dorsey's secretary, is now clearly COM
petent, the evil of the two first named was
rejected at earlier stage of the case only because
sufficient evidence of a conspiracy had not been
submitted to form foundation for 1t. Mt
James, Mr. Macveagh. and Mr.. Clayton will
probably be PINT on the stand soon as Nalsh
is dismissed.
Whether all this evidence Will nave any eneco oh
the verdict of the jury remains TO he seem but IL IL
an ugly blow to the defence, because it must put
an end to their hopes of moral vindication AT
the hands of the public. 1t NAV surprise the world
outside of Washington TO know that this Is one oil
the things that the Star Route defendants have
been conteuding for, but such is the fact :;
and if the case had broken down without going TO
the jury at ALL or had closed without the 2roduc-
ton of any direct evidence that Brady-the king
pin of ali the cOmbina;lOns-prOtted by orders
made for the benefit of contracl ors, there w0uln
have been pretrXt for claim OF moral acqul tii'
for which the defence would have been grateful.
Walsh's crediD Ity is, of course, open 10 question;
but in situations like these the evidence OF men
whose word would not always be trusted Is often
where It is supported by other ci cumsta noes, anu
ems TO be the truth Then will come statement
by the former Postmaster General that. at the time
these prosecutions beginning Rerdell.
secretary Of Dorsey got frightened, int-
mated a Willingness t. tell all he knew
and did tell that Brady received certain
peIcenta es on his orders, and how they
threatened new set of books was Prepared cover
ing up the payments. This will be confirmed by MT
MacVeagh and by ex-senator Clayton. Inc fact
that Rerdel-who has joined forces again win
Will need course To be weighed ny the jury but
the larger jury OF the public will hardly take tie
word of DOrsey's secretary against that
of Mr. James ana Mr. MacVedgh. or believe mat
these two distinguished gentlemen have entered
INTO a conspiracy 10 put statement, mo Rerd' us
month wnich he never made. he mere facts with
regard to Brady s orders, and the methods ny which
he was furnished prcteXt for making them. are
enough III themselves to furnish the strongest pre-
stump ION of fraud; the testimony OF James ana
MacVeagh. reinforced nv That OF Walsh aud Clay
ton, will, to the public at least, be convincing
proof,