The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-13
STAR ROUTE THIEVES.
ooNsrELLArIoN 81 :cUplp!rY
That Oass Enlightened lie Postal rirnansnt
Changed lntO Failing StAn-Ihs Proceed.
ingslh the InQslry lntO the Cases Of
> Fraudulent BOnd Ral,srs.

WASHINGTON, January l2.-1n the stal
Route cases in the Police Court to-day Mr.
Bliss proposed that il in the case now be
fore the Court tthat OF Sfinnex, Cabcll and
Dickson) the prosecution failed to estab
lish the existence Of conspiracy, counsel
should agree TO let the other cases stand
adjourned until 1t became the pleasure oi
the Court to take them up. In event oI
failure to show the existence Of such con.
sptracy OF course prosecution would be
pressed before this Court. This proposi.
ton led to some discussion by counsel, and
the Court made statement defining the
meaning Of conspiracy under the law, and
said he had not fully decided whether or
not these cases fell within the scope OF the
statutes which form the basis Of them,
Without action npon Mr.. Bliss PROPOSE.
ton, the first witness, @. p. Webster. no.
tary public, was called.
The witness identified certain papers nre.
sented by the prosecution us bids and CON.
tracts, which he had witnessed for CabeIl
A long wrangle between the counsel en-.
sned over the admission Of these papers,
but they were finally put in the evidence,
the court reserving its decision with regard
TO the legal rights in the matter, These
papers were bids and contracts on three of
CabelFs routes, and much time was con.
sumed in tedious examination OF awitness 10
prove tho validity of the papers and all
circumstances Of their reception and
awards made on them were goue over.
Col: Bliss explained that the defense
forced him to pursue this course by insist.
ing upon technicalities.
In the course Of the examination Mr..
Webster testified to being present at the
Cabell House and signing aud sealing a
large number OF these papers When ones.
toned as TO the persons present when he
did this work, the memory Of the witness
lalled MN, and the counsel for the defense
witness
Col. Bliss repelled the charge and said,
indignantly, Il am not used to being nc.
cused OF subterfuge and wrong practice.
and | will not submit to these charges from
any gentleman"
quite little tilt among counsel followed
this remark, the witness being finally turn.
ed over to the defence for cross.examina-
ton.
George ]. Brewer, Clerk in the contract
Office OF the Postotiice Department, testified
Ms to the method Of receiving bids and
awarding contracts in the Postoffice
Department He did not know Of an in
stance the Postmaster General had
investigated the security offered by the
surety on the bid The Department relied
upon the Postmaster's endorsement Of the
surCties. The bonds were worthless. and
Minnex and Dixon had sworn in them that
go acres OF land III Morgan county, KY,
owned by them, was worth $50, 900, where.
rs C4beIt, the original owner, acknowl.
edged having paid Eve dollars nm acre for
Mr. Wilson followed by reading the atFi-
dayits on which the case is bIsed, and
Claimed that even il nil Of the acts charged
IN them were true there was no conspiracy.
Conspiracy meant intention TO injnre some
one.
Col. Bliss said he desired 10 make n per.
sonal statement, both for his own yindica-
tion and that Of Judge Smell. They had
been charged with dragging people from
their beds, whereas the facts were lie had
lett warrants ut police headquarters at 2:l5
p. Mp with instructions to serve them as
soon as possible, so defendants might secure
bail before night
Court adjourned until tomorrow.