National Republican., 1882-12-23
TIE STAR nIFFtcuLrY.
MIR. Ingerso1 Concludes His Opening
Statement for the Defense, and the TAX
ing OF Testimony Is Begun.

ing OF Testimony is Begun.
At the opening of court yesterday morning
Mr. Igersol continued his address to the
jury in the star route trial on the part of the
defense generally, and especially of his inn
mediate clients, tho two Dorseys. lie said he
would state the facts as to few of the routes
in which Stephen w, Dorsey was interested
The jury might think, when it heard all the
evidence that there were some routes which
never should have been established. But
that did not show conspiracy. 1t simply
showed the fact that congfess established
routes that were not absolutely necessary.
The jury might come to the conclusion that
Mr.. Brady had more trips on some of those
routes than he should have had. But that did
not show conspiracy. The most that it showed
was extravaganza, and extravaganza was not
a crime The jury might say that the speed
was greater than it might be- but all the con-
Meeting routes would have to be taken into
consideration, and, mt all events, that would
not constitute conspiracy.
Mr.. Ingersoll thch proceeded to discuss the
routes in detail, calling attention to their i'm
portance in n military view in some cases, and
their usefulness to the general public as well
as TO the people directly served. He also
showed what pressure had been brought to
bear by legislatures, governors, prominent
officials and the people themselves TO have
these routes established and how and for
what reason some of them had been discon-
tinued. On one of these routes when Stephen
w. Dorsey got it, the total pay was $4,000,
and the subContractor was man named Jen-
nings By
THE SYSTEM OF "wAYB1LLs"
put in operation by Brady it was found that
the subcontractor was not performing the ser
vice, and fines were imposed amounting to
$4,000. He asked whether a conspirator
would have set trap las by these way bills
to catch coconspiratOr. A special fool he
said, would have to be made for that special
purpose After Dorsey had paid $4,000 in
fines on this one route alone he sold the whole
business at $1,000, and was very glad to get
rid of it. In the same way he took up each
| of the other routes stating the facts in con-
nection with them and showing that no favor
nad been shown to Dorsey on any of them.
He also spoke of the dangers attendant
upon the service on some routes, which had
to be guarded by the military in order to pro-
tect the property of the contractors and the
lives of their agents against the hostile In
dians. In conclusion he said "It is for you,
gentlemen, to say whether you will take as
the grounds of your verdict the prejudice of
the public press, the letters of the attorney
general, the opinions of somo counsellor at
law, or whether you will be governed by the
testimony. 1t is for you to say whether a
man shall be found guilty on inferences-
whether man shall be deprived of his
liberty by prejudice. 1t is for you to say
whether regulations shall be destroyed
by malice, and by ignorance. 1t is for you to
say whether man who fought to sustain this
government shall not have the protection of
the laws. 1t is for you, and for you, and for
you addressing directly each of the three
colored men on the jury, to say whether a
man who fought to take the chains off your
body shall have chains put on his by your
prejudice or your ignorance. 1t is for you to
say whether you will be guided by law, by
evidence, by justice, and by reason, or whether
you will be controlled by fear, by prejudice,
and by official power"
.....-- MR.. WILTSHIRE
addressed the jury briefly on behalf his client,
Rerdell representing that he had not been
| interested in any of the contracts and had
only acted in the capacity of a clerk. He also
| spoke of his good character and fidelity in
| the various positions of trust and response
bility which he has held.
This closed the opening addresses to the Jury
and
THE OFFERING OF TESTIMONY
was then begun. Formal testimony was put
in as to the dates of the commissions of Post
masters General Key, Maynard, and James,
and of Second Assistant Postmaster General
Brady; also as to the number of star routes in
operation in 1873, 1879, and 1880, (being re-
spectively S,Sl1 9225, and 9,s63) also as to
certain box offices in which the mails for
Miner, Peck, the two Dorseys, and Rerdell
were putt also as to the journal of the Post
office department, containing the daily orders
and the practice of the postmaster general in
signing each days orders (but sometimes at a
fortnight's interval.) The court at o'clock
| %. IN adjourned till Tuesday next.