Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-14
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
OPENING STATEMENT OF Mr.. BLISS

OPENING STATEMENT OF Mr.. BLISS
JUROR CRANE MAKES SOME REMARKS
According to the rule established yesterday, the
Criminal Court did not meet till IL o'clock this
morning. Inquiry was at once made OF the mar
shall as to the ten talesmen ordered to be sum.
moned last evening in order to I'LL the two vacan.
cies still existing on the star route jury.
THE TEN TALEsMEN.
The marshal returned the following as sum.
mOned: John McDermott, Noble D. Larner, Owen
r. Wixom, Richard L. Cropley, Edward c. Gill
Francis j. Heiberger, Conrad Becker, Charles
Klotz, Charles Rousseau and Michael Horigan.
EXCUSED.
Charles Klotz and Conrad Becker were the only
ones who did not respond when their names were
called. Physicians certificates were presented
In the case OF both gentlemen as to their inability
to serve, and they were excused. Mr.. Francis j.
Hefberger, 1r.. appeared when the name of Heiber-
ger was called, and as II appeared that the pro-
cess should have been served Francis j. Heiber-
ger, ST.. he was excused.
Mr.. Chas. Rousseau was interrcgated by Mr. In
gersoll for cause. He had heard and read about
the case and had a fixed opinion which would re-
was excused.
THE ELEVENTH JUROR
Mr. Michael Horigan, examined by Mr.. Inger-
soil, said he had heard OF the case. When asked
II he had formed an opinion he said: "No; take
no stock in it'
"What do you mean ty taking no stock In 1T"
asked Mr.. Ingersoll.
~ thought" said the Juror, s'it was lot OF men
against the United States government, and the
case was so long didn't take any stock in It."
The Juror said he thought he could give Impair
tlai consideration TO the evidence.
MT. HOrlpan was accented and
eleventh juror.
DECIDED OPINION
Owen r. Wixom was examined by Mr. Ingersoll
He had read about the case, and had a decided
opiatonv- which would. he thought, prevent him
from rendering just verdict
EDWARD C. GILL,
examined by Mr.. Ingersoll, had an opinion which
good and substantial evidence would remove. II
he heard both sides he thought he could render a
just verdict He did not think his opinion would
influence his consideration of the evidence
Judge Wylie thought Mr.. Gill was competent to
serve and Mr.. Wilson noted an exception. Some
question was raised as to Mr. CLIPS competency.
as he had been drawn from the box on the SoteldO
case, but was excused. Judge Wylle ruled that
the juror was competent, and he was accepted
JUROR GREEN'S CONSCIENTIOUS scRuPLEs
Mr. Green in his place in the jury-box stated
that he was the only one OF the 12 jurors who had
not been asked any questions.
The court said that he had received a communi-
cation from Mr. Green this morning which he read
to counsel Fhis letter said: was sworn In with
out single question being asked me- Neyerthe-
less, as my good name Is dear to me and the only
valuable heritage 1 expect to leave my child
l do not wish to leave anything undone or unsatd
which may hereafter be construed or spoken or TO
went on to say that he had an opinion which he
had expressed several times; but II the court
deemed him juror he would endeavOr to discharge
MS duties with justice and impartiality towards
all concerned.
The court remarked that the letter did credit to
the conscientiouSness OF the Juror and after inter
rOgatlng him, decided that he was competent
Mr. lngersoll, for the purpose of saving the ques-
tlon as TO ts number or peremptory challenges to
tory Challenge TO Mr.. Gill, which was overruled.
THE LAST JUROR SWORN.
Mr. Gill was then sworn as the twelfth juror.
Juror Cranes Statement.
Mr.. Crane rising In his place, remarked that this
was trial OF so much importance ana so much
was being said obout it, that he desired to say
something about it. 81 noticed" he continued.
"ln last evenings STAR an article,
headed Has the government been VICTIM
led? This goes on to say, Mr.. Crane was
accepted by the defense without objection. and
there was good deal OF talk about It, as to
whether ne came on the jury in a fair way or not
Now, II there is any way that 1 can get off the
jury, would rather get off. l must confine my
sen SELF to the truth l wish to say that haven't
spoken TO any OF the counsel in this case about the
matter. don'tkno but two or three OF them /
never exchanged one word with any OF the de-
saw them until 1 came into court.
think 1t Is very unfair to make such statement
about me In the papers before the trial ever COM
menceS
After striking me in this way, the paper goes on
10 Try 10 wash 1t out, and says something compl-
mentary TO me. Now, your honor, If there is any
way can get OIL from the jury, would be glad 10
he relieved
REMARKS OF JUDGE wYIE
ave can't" said Judge Wylie, "allow these
newspaper articles to drive jurors from the box or
the court from the bench. think it was an un-
fair article, and very unjust article, and hope no
such class OF articles Will appear In regard to this
trial. 1t was very unjust article, and similar
thing occurred In the former trial"
REMARKS BY COUNSEL.
"If the government" said Mr.. Bliss, "has been
victimized / hope it will be vfctimized more In
the same way"
''lt Is" said Mr. Ingersoll, "smply an effort to
teTrorl2e the jury at the commencement and I
don't care from what side it comes l want 1t
stopped, and OF course every man who is on the
jury may expect something OF that kind They
must expect to be attacked by newspapers In the
interest or the government, and they must expect
TO De arrested after they get through with this
trial"
''That." said the court to Mr. Ingersoll, sis the
eXuoerance OF your Imagination. l may state that
the jury need have no alarm on that subject"
"ln what the gentleman has said" said Mr. Mer-
rick. referring TO Mr. IngerSoll, 'he repeats him
Self in court the error with which he charges he
papers. II the jurors are free from being TIM
pered with they will not be arrested do sim
cerely hope that neither side will be represented
In the public press by threats or insinuations of
any KIND; for, as your honor says, Jurors cannot
be driven from the box nor judges from the bench
by newspapers, else at the last trial your honor
Woull nave been driven from the bench by the
papers that assailed your
Mr. Merrick added, in reference to Mr. Crane.
that II the government had been victimtZed ft had
been VictlmiZei by the counsel for the govern
ment, who placed the utmost confidence in MT
Crane as an honorable Juror.
FEW MORE WORDS FROM Mr. CRANE.
'There is another NATTER" said Mr.. Crane,
"aoout ths-Mr. George O. Miller, adjective, dis
charged because Of completely In these star route
cases This article goes on to state that am one
OF the personal friends OF Mr.. Miller, and am
follower OF Mr. IngersoI, or something like that
want to say one word about that haven't had