Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-13
HOW WAS 1T?
The Tales Told by Msrrick and
Dickson. ~
A Strong Suspicion That a Too Free Use
of the Root Of all Evil Had
Something to do With
That Verdict
WHO WERE THE "JURY EIXERs."

] "hN WLAL lnL s 1UhI tlNEhS,"
| WASHINGTON, September 12.-NIr. Mer-
rick was called on to-day to learn what
steps the government intended to take with
regard to Foreman Dickson assertion in
the jury room, on Friday night, that he
had been approached by a man represent
ing himself to be an agent of the govern
ment, who offered $25 900 if the jury would
bring in verdict of guilty. In answer to
question, Mr.. Merrick said: "You may
say that the government intends to proceed
actively, earnestly and vigorously in this
matter The verdict was, II my opinion,
| outrageous and utterly ut variance with the
| evidence. Those men who held out for ac-
quittal we've .,.ss,. .--,-s
Paid 60 Do So,
! and we are not through with them by any
means. These four men-Dickson, Brown,
HOlmead and Msrtin-who embarrassed
the case from the outset, were not actuated
by proper motives, and Dickson in particu-
lar acted in the jury room as if he were an
attorney for the defense. The statement
that he read to his fellows concerning the
attempted bribery was done after he had
been forbidden to do so by the court. When
he first approached Judge Wylie and laid
before him what he claimed had been at
tempted, the Judge told him that il was
preposterous and absurd; that the govern
mSnt would not be q party to such trans
action. In the face of this Dickson
Persisted In Relating the story
to the other Jurors. 1t was the first thing
that was done after the jury went out Fri
day afternoon. Dickson swore on Bible
that he was telling the truth, and said that
the name of the briber was Bowen, man
from New York who was in the employ of
the Department of Justice; that the latter
presented credentials to youch for his au-
thOrity in the matter. l wish to emphati-
cally deny that any such person is con-
nected with the Government office in this
case. The
Story Is too Gauxy.
Why should the Government attempt to
bribe q man to do his duty? Mr.. Dickson
will have to invent something else to shield
himself from responsibility for his action,
ami he may have to defend himself yet.
1T has been said" continued Mr.. Mer-
rick, that vOuched for Mr.. Dickson as
being an honest, trustworthy juror, and l
| did 50, and staked my reputation upon him.
| l am willing TO confess that have forfeited
| my pledge. You must understand that in
/ this case the Government was limited to
four challenges out of 24 names presented.
| Mr.. Dickson was objected to by my associ-
! ateS, but rs We had to husband our chal-
| lenges, he was accepted upon my assurance
| of his integrity. Ihad been intimately ac-
| ouainted with him for fifteen years, and re-
| posed the utmost confidence in him. | do
! not wish to
ShIrk the Responsibility
| for my action, but can only say that my
| trust has been betrayed, and the pledge
/ given to my brethren is forfeited. By con-
| sulting the record of the ballots taken by
| the Jury, | am forced to the conclusion
! there was combination between Dickson,
the two cOlored men, Brown and Martin,
! and Holmead TO prevent q verdict of gull
ty as to Brady or stephen and John W.
| Dorsey. You will see that | am sustained
| by the facts, as Dickson voted to convict
| the other defendants with the exception OF
The other Side.
Foreman Dickson said to day that the
| reason why Miner and Rerdell had been
/ convicted was Us follows: The overt act
in RerdelIs case was his attempt TO get up
| false petitions, especially on the route
| where Pennell the Sub-COntractor, Swore
the attempt to get up -petitions to eX-
/ tend the route 10 a fictitious poStOthce. he
! was looked upon as the agent of the combi-
| nation Of contractors, Naile, Miner and
/ John W. Dorsey. Miner also committed
! many eliminating acts, the Jury thought
! /
should Be SO Picked Ont,
! but i'm the manner the case stood before the
iurv there could have been no other result.
| %oN, the more the case OF S. Dorsey was
| talked ever the more IL appeared that he
! SimpIy assisted his relations, his brother
| and FsCk having first advised them against
| taking the mail contracts. am merely now
| giving my opinions OF course. He was forced
| to secure himself by assignment. There was
| no direct criminal act fully proven as 10 ,.
| Dorsey, either when he was contractor or
| subCUntractor. As to him the case was
| made up, in my opinion,
On CirCumstantial Evidence.
suspiciops. inferences or. in the words OF
| NcSweeny, unSubstantial shadows. There
| wss nOthingas against Brady, nor was there
| ANYTHING to prove conspiracy untlL
| Walsh'S testimony was sdmitted, ana then
| the Government commenced to make up
The Bribe offered.
| What was the nature OF the offer you say
VAS made 10 yOu?' asked the cOrreSPon-
Il am going 10 lay before the District At
| day such facts as l have as to an approach
| made mean offer of SIS, 900 made BY an
officer OF the Department of Justice.
Who was this officer?
Il do not feel at liberty to make the name
4
| letters Of appointment as speclai agent oI
that departmant, and stated that he was au-
| thorized TO act in the matter If would Vote
for the conviction of Brady and Dorsey.
The statement will be corrObOrated by wit
nesses and some facts in the way OF clrcum-
stantial evidence. In court II Judge
| Wylie had allowed me, | intended to nave
cone upon the stand and to have given
statement under oath publicly. IL wouid
have
and the Judge thought it the wiseSt course
not to do IL Ii perhaps would have put
me in false position. The offer was msde
the 23d of August. The man came to me,
and after talking awhile and showing me
his letters. said that the money would be
placed where l could get 1t in case Brady
and Dorsey were convicted. He wanted
to make an engagement with me Tor the
| next day but the next morning reported
| the facts To Judge Wylie. | asked the
Judge If should not draw the man out
but BE said that would be police business
and he would not advise it. de toLd me
! T,nt IN say ANYTHING, but wait and see If
| any more offers were made. do not De-
ieye that the Attorney-General was gull
| ~ Of that | think the man was an over
Jealous officer, who wanted to test me anu
see whether could be tampered with. L
will make him suffer for II though.
Others Approached
"Therc are others Of the jury who were
approached and from different directions;
Some were offered 500 or $500. all small
sums. One man, HOlmead, had 1t intimst'
ed TO him that if he voted for the conyic,
tion of Brady and Dorsey, that he could
have anything within the power OF the At
torney General to give. Very few o. the
iury believed Walsh's testimony. Those
yNh,, rra1.brrI the conclusion that Brady was
gujlty did so because they thought there
Could he no conspiracy of contractors with
ont Brady The others considered 1t con-
spiracy OF contractors only. II any man
but Walsh had sworn TO what be did brady
would have been convicted Some OF the
Jurors. however. believed that as WaIsn was
nncnntrsdict,d he should be believed"
Merriek's ChSrEeS-
wAsHINGroS, d. c., September z