National Republican., 1882-12-20
THE sTAR.RoUTE TRIAL.
Col. Bliss Concludes for tho Government
The stenographio Reports-,Jcn. Chandler
Opens for the Defense.

Col. Bliss Concludes for the Government
The stenographic Reports--,Jcfr. Chandler
Opens for the Defense.
Col George Bliss concluded his opening for
the government in the star route trial before
the criminal court of the district yesterday.
He presented the names of additional routes
alleged to have been expedited by Gen. Brady
for consideration, and called attention to
the fact that Spencer, the missing wit
ness, knew of large payments of money
made by Dorsey and others to Brady.
He believed Spencer would put in an appear
ance before the trial was over rather than
keep himself in perpetual exile. At the con-
cluson of Col Blisss speech Judge Wylie took
up the question of the reporting. He thought
the compensation Of twenty-five cents folio
ample, but suggested that the expense should
be borne equally by both sides As TO tho
printing, that was matter with whlch the
reporters had nothing to do. The suggestion
was accepted by both sides and was acquiesed
in by the reporters.
Mr.. JEFF. Chandler proceeded to state to the
| Jury the case of the defense. He spoke of the
tvrrany displayed in this prosecution. But
the Jury, he said, would do justice to the de-
| PENDANTS, independent of that tyrrany. 1t
cumstancos, to manifest the grand heroism
which the case demanded. The savage bru-
tality of the prosecution ought to be rebuked.
He hoped to be able to convince them that
this was an insincere prosecution; that 1t
had not been inaugurated and carried
| forward for the public good; put
| that its animating principle was malice.
Every device which ingenuity could resort to,
had been employed to obstruct the admins
tration of justice in this case. he asked the
jury whether they could say, after the three
days speech of Mr.. Bliss, who were on trial un-
der the indictment, and what was charged
against them. 1t was not charged that there
was any fraud in the original lettings. The
contracts were made by the postmaster general.
The rules as to allowance for increased service
were made by the postmaster general /;
and the second assistant postmaster gen.
eral was bound by those rules. 1t was
not for the second assistant post
master general to say whether those rules
were infirm or not. Mr.. Brady's Office had
been that of a subordinate. He had no power
to order an increase of trips, or of speed. He
acted in an advisory capacity only. If the
petitions and papers showed, on their face,
that the increase asked for was reasonable,
that was justification to Mr.. Brady. Mr..
Brady had to control, to investigate, and to
look after between 5000 and 10000 star
routes; and it could not be claimed that
he had the time, or the physical power
to observe, in detail the business that come
before him. The Postofhce department was
as old as the government. Mr.. Brady stepped
into tho department, with all its laws sup
posed to be in the most perfect shape. and con-
Quoted its business under the same methods
and tests as it had been conducted under
since the foundation of the government. If
there was any infrmity in his conduct it re-
suited from his observing the law. Every
order complained of in the indictment had
been signed by the postmaster general. But
yet the postmaster general was not criticised.
He was only represented as being deceived.
The prosecution, however, had not
said that they intendedi to offer proof
that the postmaster, general had been
deceived II did not follow that because a
man paid too much for horse he was de-
ceived. No court Sould allow man under
such circumstances 20 plead the "baby act"
The prosecution would not put the postmas-
ter general on the stand TO prove that he was
deceived. Even If the allowances made were
too large, extravaganza was not fraud. 1t
was not pretended that Mr.. Brady had vio-
lated the law, because Mr.. Bliss said that, Mr..
Brady acted within the limits Of the law.
At $3.50 o'clock Mr.. Chandler complained of
fatigue, and the court adjourned until to-day.