The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-08-02
STNl, ROUTE TRIAL.
s,,,,s, Na,ry on the stnnd-Judge Key
rallrG by the Defense.

%' called by the Defense.
w.unGroS, August LIN the Star
.,,,. p.l ibis morning Senator Maxey, OF
r,r,. testified that in 1878 and 1879 he
.,,chsirIan Of the Senate Committee on
; p.oaicrs and lost Roads. lie was asked
abe had not frequently called upon the
postmaster General and Second Assistant
B.,na.,er General, while acting as Chair
man Of that committee, with the object Of
srprinv an increase and the expedition Of
As Star routes in his State. The question
us objected to by the prosecution because
none Of ,l,e routes named in the indictment
we're in Texas. .s-rt ~
Mr. lngerso!l said it was proper to show
,b,, Era,ly had not been influenced by
re,ccuary motives, bu. rather by the ad-
vice OF the whole Administration. I'M
usd;a.e!y upon Senator Maxey leaving the
stand, he intended 10 call the then Post
master General, Judge Key, TO show what
tia, policy had been, and then they were
through with this matter, unless the prose-
cl.ion could bring home perjury to Cen
eral Brady,
The Coaf. said this Court vas established
10 try questions OF law. lie did not pro-
Lose 10 allow the defendant 10 screen him
scli by woluciNg Postmaster Generals and
Senators and Representatives to show q
t0!icy. lie had power TO establish new
routes, The policy OF the Government is
to he t0unE in It's laws. q"
The Supreme Court had declared that in
their Interpretation OF the debates in Con-
gress when they were enacted could not be
lo0ked to. II was said this policy was
adopted by the Second Assistant Postmaster
General, under advice. rs though it was
the e0rrec. policy. Suppose it was right,
what had That to DO with this case? Lord
lAc0n defended himself from tue charge OF
bribery BY sayin. his decisions had always
beea right, yet he had very properly
teen convicted Of bribery and strip
ptd Of his gown. Suppose this policy
#as correct, and yet the charge in the in-
L!ctment WAS sustained, what becomes OF
the policy? Admit the correctness OF the
policy, said the Court, and you do not bar
the prosecution in the leas, il they make
pol their charges. Suppose all members
0i the l'0s,0tiice Committees OF both Houses
oi C0HHess called upon the Second Assis-
tant lOsimastertieneral and recommended
The increase Of \ certain route. Ii the Sec
Ond Assistant had received bribe to in.
erase this route, would it help him to show
that he had acted upon the advice Of Rep
'esen,aiires? must positively rule out
ihe evidence.
An exception was noted, and the witness
allowed to step down..
Ez.Postmaster General Key was called.
1 number OF questions which related to
The seneFaI policy OF the department we're
ruled out by the Court because the witness
could not speak particularly OF any OF the
FOntes named in the indictment.
Nr. lngersol said he wished to show by
The testimony OF Mr.. Key that in reality
The Postmaster General, and not General
Brady, was responsible for the expeditions
ordered by the postmaster. The General
laid down the policy Of the expedition,
and Mr. Brady followed it. .EG
The Court, however, would not admit
The evidence. ~ ,00's,
VIM. I, Sherman, General OF the Army,
was the next witness. He recognized his
Signature upon the petition for increase
aad expedition upon route IS, ,lI3. He was
asked il he had not urged the increase gen.
enIly upon the Department, saying it
would do more than anything else to settle
Me fTtfiastIng Indian question, but objec.
n?a vas made by the prosecution and sus.
i.ned by the Court. y.jr rT 5
Sherman was then asked to detail the
hrts which influenced him in making
recommendations for an increase. He said
Personally he, knew little OF the circum
.aaces, but in his official capacity he had
heard much OF them. The Indian a.en,
nthc White River agency had been mur
dered, his family carried oil and fight had
taken place between Major Thorn burg and
the Indians. The entire country between
Rawllns and the White river agency was
over run by hostiles and it was regarded Us
ameasurc OF national Importance to keep
open every possible communication with
The rear, consequently the establishment oI
adai!y stage service in that section liad
been recommended. He was asked
what Was the effect Of : frequent
mA'ls upon the maintenance oi
peaceful relations with the Indians. He
said nothing better enables officers to keep
!tace then frequent communications with
the different sections OF the Indian coun.
ny, Al least one-iourth OF the appropria.
tons male for the support OF the army was
expended Tor courier service, and to
guard lines OF communication. The Post.
eHce Department was also pressed
70 establish and increase their ser.
VICE The quick communication OF intelli.
sence was thus secure, aud the command.
ing officers were enabled to anticipate the
movements Of the hostile Indians. He had
recommended . tri.weekly service on the
nsMaTSE and Fort keosh route in the win.
@t ol ls'S' Bismarck was then the termi.
aus OF the Northern Pacific railroad, and
Me route was intended to aud did antici.
S'e tAe construction OF railway stage
"-e WIN post houses, which constituted
su sIeclnai picket line, which was OF great
Setvlee S 10 the military forces. They would
"s!e ~, . oeen forced TO establish picket line
corass'1 oH sssaS cost, il the ground had not been
ai,ea Az. .! the stage line.
rass s'J' w. some further remarks BY the wit.
' ''Ss '"e court adjourned. ,a1:5-sy =;
---- 5tH.. q - .s
b. = o. " H