Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-30

THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
Mr. Wilson for the Defense.
When the Criminal Court met this morning Mr.
Wilson resumed his argument for the defense In
the star route trial. Mr.. Merrick, he said, had
great deal to say about the deficiency appropria-
tiOn. The report OF the Second Assistant Post
master General on which that deficiency appro-
prlation was granted, was transmitted to Con-
gress The letter of the Postmaster General to
Congress was dated December g. 1879. The letter
OF the Postmaster General asked that unexpended
balances OF former years be reapproprated, and
suggested that the business interests of the coun-
try would be promoted by the prompt and favora-
bic action of Congress. The prosecution charged
that the Second Assistant was deceiving the Post
master General, but in the face of the charge
came the letter of the Postmaster General, in
which he said he cordially endorsed the action of
the Second Assistant. Congress adopted the idea
that 1t would not be well for the business interests
OF the country to cut of the service that had been
created. Mr.. Wilson held that the view that the
pay its own way, looked to the future growth and
prosperity OF the country. He referred to the
British subsidy system. holding that the British
treasury was more than compensated for the
money it paid out, through the increased prosper
1ty OF the country. The question the jury had to
consider was kindred one.
THE THEORY FOR WHICH HE COMMENDED
found great strength in the railroad policy of the
country Sagacious men were pushing railroads
into the waste places Of the country. The rail-
roads were the pioneers. More than 80 per cent of
the enormous revenues Of the Pacific railroads TO-
day came from the local busineSs-from country
which the impetus to settlement given by the rail-
roads themselves developed. This illustrated the
doctrine that Oftent1meS there were other things
to be considered in increasing and pushing postal
service than the mere revenues of the Service.
This case was not to be decided upon the question
OF a few men and horses too many or too few. 1t
foas t amq a. than that The
enues proved nothing against the defendants Mr..
Merrick had Insisted that prOductiveness was the
thought that Secretary Teller was not exactly
right, but was seeking popularity among the
people OF his state.
SECRETARY TELLERS TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Wilson read from Secretary Teller's testi-
mony, and said that they found distinguished
man like Secretary Teller telling them, in refer
ence to the Colorado routes, urging over and over
again the Second Assistant Postmaster General
to do the things for doing which Mr. Merrick de-
nounced Brady as a rascal. II Mr. Brady was a
rascal for doing it, Secretary Teller was a rascal
for asking to have it done. Mr.. Wilson reviewed
the testimony also OF Representative Valentine, OF
Nebraska, and Gen. Sherman. He said that the
prosecution, that wanted flood Of light thrown
upon this case, were very anxious to keep the teS
timony of these gentlemen from the Jury. He
argued that there were other circumstances
mere question OF the revenues to be derived from
the routes. Mr.. Wilson ridiculed the idea that
Mr.. Merrlck knew as much about the western
FARMERS AND THEIR NEEDS,
as the distinguished witnesses for the defence.
He said Mr.. Merrick lived out at Elcott City, Md,
where 1t took two stalks OF corn to raise one nub-
bin of corn: where quart of milk costs the dis
tinguished farmer more than bottle Of cham
pagne, and where every potato costs at least
quarter, and that farmer had to pay the expense
OF this by the practice OF law That kind OF far
mer ought to lave mail at least six times a week.
and an agricultural report sent to him In every
mail. He would like to see Mr. Merrick or the
Attorney General go to the western farmers and
say: ION, good, clever souls, now and then will do
for yOu.'
Mr.. Wilson said that it was monstrous prop
an executive officer decided right or wrong Every
act OF such an officer was presumed to be right,
court could inquire into the act TO prove the
orders, acts, or decisions of Brady was not step
the the They
with others for the purpose Of fraud. After all
THE PIVOTAL QUESTION
on this Whole controversy, so far as Brady was
concerned, was corruption. The prosecution must
prove corruption. The prosecution had attempted
to prove 1t. Mr. Bliss said in his opening that he
would place before the jury the distinct admfS-
sion by Brady; that he had received money not
only from these contractors but others. He (Mr.
WILSON,, IN his own opening, declared that If any
satisfy the jury Icy the mans own testimony that
ne was committing perjury. Before, that time
an attempt would be made. They did not know
who was to come to the stand. twas by John A.
Wash. and no nc other witness they had ATTEMPTED
ths PROOF. II this corruption is not proved by
John Walsh it is not proved by anybody. The
ease ease came down nS.r to n:smthe jury would
doubt, or they could not render verdict of guilty
walsh might be called perfunctory Walsh, he
might be called the great American book and pa
~ hon tJ,ata ho,lI
that he Kept what was called ledger He (Mr.
WILSON, had never heard OF a ledger being kept
Ihat ledger had disappeared, and not a scrap OF
paper had been produced to sustain single state
nent or Walsh's- The checks he had produced
were all drawn 10 his own Oruer The checks
could have been used in concocting story against
any one else, as well as against Mr.. Brady. The
checks moreover differed in amount, from the
loans he said he made to Brady Mr.. Merrick had
given the jury
REASONS FOR NOT BELIEVING BUELL..
One reason was that it was hard to get certain
matters out Of Buell. The same rule, If it applied
to Buell., would apply to Walsh. 1t took a long
to get out of Walsh the truth
about interviews with him which had been pub |
Ilshed: II walsh was not a frank man. One of the
pest IT, tests & OF truth is the reasonableness of
mans story. Mr.. Wilson, after reading over |
Walsh's testimony, called attention to the State
ment that Brady usually got 20 per cent Of expe
Walsh did not know that at the time of the inter-
view With Brady, 1t detracted materially from the |
OF the story, for Walsh had postal |
route winch had been expedited. Walsh had gone |
before the Congressional investigating committee;
had testified that when he took the McDonough !
contract he had made no arrangement with Brady |
about expedition. More than that, in some cases |
OF OF nnes. remlssions had been made, and If he got
an the money, the circumstances showed that The |
prosecution did not know anything about Walsh's |
stOry when the indictment was withdrawn or he |
had prior to that time told them another story for
the indictment set out as
PART OF THE MEANS OF FRAUD
0 refusal by Brady to make deductions and impose |
lines on these contractors. For Brady to refuse to
impose fines was an impossibility, and the prose-
cution had not attempted TO prove this averment
In the Indictment Walsh said that Brady told |
him that the remisslons he made were to be di-
vlded @ equally between him and the contractor.
W WIN possible single exception the testimony
showed that the remissiOnS always went to the
SUP contractor. and that the statement of Walsh
lnaI me remlSSlons were divided was absolutely
untrue. There was no pretence that any sub
contractor ever divided with Brady.