The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-09-13
THE VERDICT IN TIE sTAR-RoUTE
TRIAL

II
TRIAL
| Very few cases Of recent years have at
tracted SO much and so widespread atten-
ton as the celebrated case which has just
been partially determined in Washington
City. The position financially, socially
and politically, occupied by the defend
ants, the magnitude of the conspiracy
formed and alleged frauds practiced upon
the government, the nature Of the prose-
cution and the distinguished character and
standing Of some of the counsel engaged,
both for the government and the defense,
| all assisted In fixing ON the case the earn
est attention of the public and rendering it
curious as to the result. When an ex-as-
sistant postmaster.seneral and an eI.
| United States senator are the prisoners in
the dock and the charge against them
is conspiracy 10 defraud the govern
ment, under which they had attained to
| exalted position, notoriety and power, il is
not to DO wondered at that the country
should manifest deep interest in the deter
mination of the suit. There was such an
array ofcounsel, wealth and power on the
side OF tho defense throughout this trial,
| that those who were nationally satisfied Of
| the guilt of the defendants hardly dared to
| hope for any other verdict than that of
mot guilty." so low has fallen the public
faith in the administration of justice. The
verdict Monday is one that the country can
congratulate itself over, for it goes further
and means more than was expected Two
OF the defendants, MINOR and REREDELL,
were convicted under the indictment, and
BRADY and the two DoRsEYs only sue.
ceedcd In hanging the jury rs to
| themselves. There was also mistrial as to
VALE, while two other of the defendants
were turned loose. II is probable that the
clear bold and exhaustive charge of JuDGE
WYLIE went far towards fastening the case
upon the defendants and counteracting the
vigorous and eloquent appeals of their
counsel. In the result so far, rs is usually
the case the smaller fry have to bear the
heavier burden, and the condemnation of
the greater criminals has been postponed.
However, mistrial in the present case is
almost as disastrous as a conviction, and
the DoRsEys aud BRADY stand before the
| country in very unenyiablo light. With
all their boasts and efforts, with their
wealth and great political influence, bring
Ing to bear n press of power
that nobody felt could be resisted
they have yet utterly failed to establish
their innocence before an impartial court
and jury and must again pass the ordeal of
judicial investigation. The result as to
them will undoubtedly influence public
opinion greatly to their discredit and dan
to grow indifferent, but presses the point
thus gained the chances for their convic.
ton will DO greatly increased and the
doors of ielon's cell will be con-
them. From the United States SEN
alto to the pentcntiary is great
fall, so great as to make the multitude
skeptical as to its happening; from the
| ohuupN w WV 'tbillNh w ~ ntilHtu sun Us
equally MS far, but it begins to
look as If the law and admins.
tration Of justice in our country
were yet sufficiently strong to furnish
such aspcctaclo. 1t has been charged that
large sums of money have been offered
freely to influence the decision OF the Jury,
but rs yet this is only rumor. II such
indeed be the case, the verdict, by which
these powerful men are still in the custody
of the law, after long and full trial upon
the merits of their case, during which time
everything has been said and done for thcnl
that could be done or said, IL only the more
remarkable, rs the evidence has to be ire.
mendously overwhelming and conclusive
as to guilt before u bribod man will hest.
tate. Nothing now need, or can, stand in
tho way Of final conviction in these cele,
brated trials, but delay and inactivity onth
part Of the government. The prose
cution is in the position OF
u general who has won victory
but the fruits thereof will be lost speedily
Wy ~ iu'uiN w iuilNN up Nv ulCC anu NlkOI
oosly the advantages gained and before tn,
enemy il able to recover from the b ow
The verdict is dcubly rcassuring as indica
tive Of returning healthy moral tone an,
tho assurance Il gives that there is We
vitality sufficient in the channels for ad
ministcring justice to fix upon even tn,
most distinguished criminals the mortc,
stains and obloquy of their misdecds. An,
( TO evil doors in high places, the fact tina
the powerful Star.route ring could not viii
the freedom of its chiefs through none,
, power or eloquence, tho lesson must un
/. doubtedly DO pointed and cxccedingl,
| salutary one. While justice has b.en onl
partially triumphant, fraud has been sorel
Y robukcd.
THE DIsMEMBERMENT OF PERU.
Thelittlc South American republic, whic
. stood us OIL" to use q common Sian
. phrase, so dciiantly few months age
" when Mn, BLAINE was attempting to medi
alto between It and Peru, has again insulte