Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-18
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD DISCUSSED.
Mr.. BLISS RESUMES HIS ARGUMENT,
WHAT HE SAYS OF PROOFS OF CONSPIRACY.

Mr.. BLISS RESUMES HIS ARGUMENT.
WHAT HE SAYS OF PROOFS OF CONSPIRACY.
When the Criminal Court convened at II o'clock
this morning, after disposing of some misceIlane-
Gus business Judge Wylie called attention to the
motion made last Friday, regarding
THE PRINTED RECORD OF THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL
Mr. Merrick said that the government had ma d q
a contract with stenographer to furnish copies II
the record at 25 cents per folio on condition that
he furnish copies to government counsel only
the stenographer reserving the right to furnish
copies to the defense, in which case the price
charged the government should be reduced to -
cents a folio. He understood that when steho-
grapherS furnished copies to both sides the price
was 35 cents a folio. The contract was made on
behalf of the governm mt with view of economy.
The government in making the contract acted
both with view to economy and With view to
benefting the defense He did not wish to enter
into discussion as to whether this report was
public document IN the view OF Section $685. II. s,
or not. He made the statement to show that the
government acted with wisdom and economy, ana
not With view or oppression, Shad been set forth
with SO much bOmbastic defamation on the other
side
THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT BOUND TO FURNISH
ITS NOTES
to the other side. The mere printing was baga-
telle. 1t was the cost OF the stenographer that
was material These defendants, whose delin.
quencleS had Involved the government in all the
expense, could not compel the government TO
write out its notes Fit was held that this report
was public document under the statute, the
government would stop printing the reports, and
for the 25 cents folio get three copies each day
made by typewriter.
Mr.: Wilson said he had hoped that this motion
could be discussed without having the defendants
thought
Merrick's observation was uncalled for.
Mr., Mr Merrlck said that they were no more un-
about the Attorney General
MIR. WILSON'S REMARKS
Mr. Wilson said that these 20 copies, which it was
proposed to sell the defendants We're printed at
public eXpense-printed, it appears, for private
benefit. He wanted to know whether the court
had any power in this matter, and the sooner The
better for it would enable them to take steps else
where to determine their rights. He did not
think that it was for the Department Of Justice to
step in and deprive these defendants OF their rights
On Its very face the contract was condemned. When
the copies were printed at the government Office
the defendants would claim the right to let
copies.
Opinion OF the Court.
HE GIVES THE sTENOGRAPHERS UNTIL TOMORROW
MORNING TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT FOR FUR
NIsHING THE PRINTED RECORD TO THE DEFEND
ANTS
Judge Wylie having read the section providing
for the procuring OF public documents from the
public printer, said it appeared that the Joint
printing committee Of Congress had the power 10
regulate this matter. 1t was beyond the power
OF the court to supersede that committee. The
defendants had shown no authority from that
committee. On that ground he could overru,e the
motion. But the motion had broader scope Re-
feTring to the contract with the stenographer
as explained by Mr. Merrick, he said
the compensation was what was usually
paid stenographers. At the last session of
Congress, bill was introduced to authorize this
court to appoint an Official stenographer. He
thought the amount named in the bill to be paid
was 20 cents folio. At tie last trial, the same
stenographers reported the proceedings. The Gu
ties OF the reporter during That trial continued
through period OF so days. 1t had been stated
by the defendants that their proportion Of the ex-
pense was between s., 900 and $4,000.
Mr.. Bliss stated that expense was incurred by
the defendants because they hired their own
stenographer, who acted as a middle man and
made the contract. The government, he said, had
to pay IS, ,OOO or s6,0OO
Judge Wylie said that the other side having
These stenographers had a right to their skill.
Their reports had been made with great Skill but
thelr duties were only those OF reporters, and he
Ihat, during the trial, would amount to about
TOUR times the annual salary OF the judge. He
thought the government had right to enter into
the arrangement explained by Mr.. Merritk, and
that the reporters had right to the twenty copies
10 40 with as they please. AS to a charge OF IS
cents folio, for furnishing both sides with copies
he thought that was oppressive. These men had
right TO set their own price upon their skill. He
had come to the conclusion that these gentlemen
Shall either be content with fair compensation or
they can't have place In this court room. They
would have to move outside OF the bar OF the
That was the only way the power OF the court
could reach them. The domain of the court
house was small, but within those limits the court
was don.inuS. He would give them until to-nor-
row morning to make what equitable arrangement
they could. He gave them this notice in friendly
Way. He wanted to say also that these defend
ants had not yet been convicted and were ent5tIpi
TO fair trial. and he advised counsel to go On Iust
ash the art OF printing had never been discovered
tlpued the printing of the record, not having
printed any copies pending the motion.
WOULD TRY THE CASE WITHOUT REPORTERS.
Judge Wylte remarked that this action OF the
court might cause complication. Certainly there
were other reporters who could do the work. and
If the the work could not be done at a fair price
they could try the case in the Old way without re-
porterS He regarded this difficulty as having
arisen from the mistaken view OF the reporters,
who thought they were here under the authority
or the government and could demand their own
price
MIR. Bliss Resumes His Argument.
Mr. Bliss then resumed his address to the fury,
which was interrupted by the adjournment OF the
court last Friday. He referred to the facts which
AZ " do ptOpooSN w ptotC Ny WdtSu. a con-
spiracy, he said, was thing to be proved by an
aggregation OF apparently Isolated facts. People
who entered into conspiracy did not put the fact
on record Their understanding was a secret one
and was made known only by its results They
would ask the jury to draw interences in some
cases from such facts, corroborated in other cases
by the confessions OF the Defendants He spoke of
brady, nfSt or all, because II guilty he was the
most guilty OF ala faithless and corrupt officer.
9. W. DORSEY
was Senator of the United States from Arkansas
down to the 4th OF March, 1879. These contracts
went into effect in July, 1873 Dorsey while Sena-
tor. was chairman OF the committee on post Offices
and chairman OF the subcommittee on post office
appropriations-positlon which gave him excep.
tiolal power
John w. Dorsey was a resident OF Mfddleboro
VI, whore he followed his trade as tinsmith
MT Peck, brother-fn-law of s. w. Dorsey lived
on rancho OF Dorsey's In New Mexico and was
In such bad health that he took no active part
IN THE CONSPIRACY
Miner Was friend OF Dorsey's, living at SAM
duSky, Ohio, and Rerdell. who came from Arkan