Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-12
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
THE EXTRA SESSION OF the GRAND JURY.
JUDGE wYL1Es ADDRESS TO raE JURORS.


HEARING OF TESTIMONY CONTINUED.
When the Criminal Court assembled this morn
| ing the members Of the grand jury were present,
| pursuant to adjournment last Monday, and the
first duty attended to by the court was to perfect
the organization OF the grand jury Mr.. George
B. Fields, OF the regular panel, and Mr. John Mar
krlter, talesman, were excused On physicians
certificates. The following six talesmen were re-
ceved to complete the panel: w. b. Brooks, II. A.
Willard, W. j. Stephenson, JAS. B. johnson, Elias
S. Hutchinson, and Wm- s Roose. Judge Wyle
| addressed the grand jury, read the statutes pre-
scribing the qualifications OF grand jurors, and
then appointed Mr. Elias s. Hutchinson as fore
man, and the usual oath was administered to the
members OF the jury.
Judge Wylie's Address to the Grand
Jery.
Judge Wylie then, addressing the Jurors, read
the application made to the court on the 9Th inst
by the district attorney, I'd convene the grand 1ury
| on account of eXfgencies which had arisen the
request being made On Information received
from Messrs. Bliss, Merrck and Ker as to matters
which had come to their knowledge respecting the
star route cases In obedience to the order OF the
court the grand jury was now assembled. "What
matter or matters are to- be brought to your atten
ton" said Judge Wylte, ''the court has no knowl-
| edge. The special attorney Of the United States
crimes against the United States, and he has
thought necessary that there should be this extra
| session. He viii lay such business before you as
he thinks requires immediate consideration It
was not the purpose of the court In calling you
together to open up the whole business iof
| might be called and your Investigations directed
10 certain matters requiring immediate and spe-
care clal to ana hope you win contne your
prehenson or thought that the prosecuting ofr.cer
OF the government will desire to call your atten-
tion to anything except these special matters
referred to in the paper 1 have read. I hope,
therefore. your session will be BRIEF and have no
doubt you will prosecute your inquiries with dill
gence, reach speedy conclusion, SO that you may
be respfted again."
Judge Wylle then instructed the grand Jurors az
10 the ex parte nature OF the Investigations by a
grand jury, cautioned them not to find bill un-
less satisfied that the accused is guilty upon the
evidence presented to them, and nSt to consider
mere suspicious He gave them some directions
! also as to the rules regarding evidence Judge
Wylie was about to send the grand Jury to their
room, when the district attorney reminded him
that The law required
SPECIAL INSTRUCTION REGARDING DUELISG
"There has been so little dueling in this Dis
trict," remarked Judge Wyie, "that the court had
almost forgotten it." He then gave them for
NAL instruction as to dueing. He observed that
| stood that Mr. Geo Bliss would represent the GOV
ernment- The jury then retired.
The Trial Resumed.
The petit jury was then called and the trial of
the pending star route case was resumed. Mr.
Merrick conducted the examination for the prose-
cution in the absence OF Mr. Bliss, who attended
the grand jury.
John Carey, of Grant county, oregon. was called
as witness With reference to route a., l6O, from
Canyon City to Camp McDarmott oregon. The
witness was sub contractor on the route. The
witness was a Frenchman and talked broken
English Mr.. Merrlck desired to prove the identity
OF letter received by the witness from Mr. Miner
but the witness could not read English we'll, and
therefore was not positive asto his Identification
long discussion ensued as to whether the letter
witness, witness having
declared his belief that 1t was the letter from the
appearance OF the signature and the general ap-
pearance OF the paper,
JUDGE wYLIE DECIDED
that 1t was sufficiently we'll identified to go to the
jury. An exception was noted. The letter was
signed by Miner, and Informed the witness that 8.
II. Abbot, postmaster at Alyord, was complaining
| to the department that he (the witness) did not
pay his bills, and that there was no need OF any
think more than a weekly mail. The letter
Instructed him to pay Abbot v hat was necessary,
as 1t was likely he wanted some money. The letter
stated further that Abbot had complained In
similar manner before. but when Miner sent him
$50 IL was all right The witness said he carried
the mail from Camp McDermott to Dock Ander-
son. upon crOSS-eXamin,i ton the witness said he
carried the mail only two or three weeks.
At quarter-paSt eleven o'clock the proceedings
were Interrupted and the grand jury entered court
The Grand Jury and Counsel for the
Government.
When the jury had been called, and the usual
queries propounded, foreman Hutchinson refer
ring to memoranda, asked the court: "Is it dscre-
tionary with the grand jury to permit counsel for
the government to be present during the exam:na-
tion Of witnesses?"
eyes, 1t IS" said Judge Wylfe
"Can we exclude" began Mr.. Hutchinson
"NO," said Judge Wyle, ..you cannot exclude
him. he has right to be present il he wishes to
be. II there Is any question the grand jury de-
sire TO consult each other about you have right
to exclude him, but In conducting the examlna-
ton OF witnesses, the government has a right to
be present by its cOuISelr
"During the entire time OF the eXaminatton?n
asked Mr. Hutchinson.
"Yes, Sir" answered Judge Wylie
me grand jury then again retired to their room
up Stairs
The trial was then resumed Frank Mclean, a
suD-contractor on route 44.16O. was called.
THE GRAND JURY
investigating the star route matters, as completed
to-day. Is composed as follows: Elias S. Hutchin-
son, c. W. Lohr, Henry semken, F. c. Ecklor, c.
A. Lemar, F. A. Schneider, w. B. Muller, Jacob H.
Ken kengla, Howard g. keyworth. VIM. A: Hamilton,
Gay Gas snreth 5s le
Robert Q. Edmondston, John II. Click, w. B.
Brooks, Il: A; Willard; W. J. Stephenson, James B.
nal panel A. S. Solomons, John L. Miller, and ".
B. Bowman did not answer and were excused and
VIM Il. Clagett and w. S. Harding were reported
not found.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY TO-DAY.
This morning Mr.. John A. Walsh and Mr.. Joseph
Cochran (of the Post Office department gave tes-
timony before the grand jury in reference to some
Of the mail route from Sin Antonio to Corpus
christi, Texas, operated by j. B. Price, 1t is
clalmed that Walsh, as the agent OF the con-
tractors received drafts account OF the service
which, according to arrangement, he divided be.
tween senator from Louisiana and Brady. Mr.
walsh was sitting in the courtroom when the
grand jury was organized, and a subpoena was
lmme0iately applied for and issued for him. ltwas
served upon him In corridor near the court
room MI coon, OF the Post On1ce department.,
was also before the grand jury.
it Is understood that All Boone, the mail con-
tractor. Will be examined by the grand jury to
morrow.
ATTACHMENT FOR EX-SENATOR SPENCER.
Upon application OF Mr.. Merrick, this morning.
an attachment, returnable forthwith, was issued
Tor ex-senator Geo. E Speacer. The subpoena re-
%snea %s eh into 1T court showed service in New York on
letter from Postmaster Hall, at Canon City,
informs the Post ONCE department. that, up to
August, 1873, Peck had fai.edsto begin the service
Another letter, from an army officer at Fort Nc
Dermott, states that for weeks they have received
TWO WOMEN AND ONR MGN.-Sarah Cheek. alias
Nott was tried before Judge Smell to-day for as
Sa0ltlng another col0red woman named Harriet
Bell who stated that she has been living with q
and went to i've with lie Sisoner. witness went @
Sar0h;S Ioc ~ @o do