Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-21
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
for the Prosecution Con-
tinued T0.day.

When the Criminal Court convened this morn
ing to continue the star route trial, the examna-
tiOn OF John NJ. Fisk, OF Canyon City, Oregon,
mail carrier on route a, ,155, from Canyon City to
Baker City, Oregon who was on the stand at the
adjournment OF the court last evening, was re.
sumed. The defense objected to the witness tes-
tifying to the schedule time on the route, claim
ing that it was matter OF record. This provoked
a long discussion, at the end of which the court
permitted the witness to answer the questions to
which objection was made. The witness testified
that he let Baker City between and in the
morning; went to Granite creek, distance OF
nvop n 9e ss aay d ahen on the next
and on the following day from Canyon City to
south Fork distance OF thlrty,four OF thirty-flve
testified to the increase OF the route in july 1879
A LETTER RULED OUT.
Mr. Bliss offered as testimony letter from the
superintendent Of the line On which witness was
employed, giving him instructions as to the route
but the letter was ruled out
During the time two trips week were run the
witness said two drivers and fourteen horses were
used from Canyon City to South Fork, on sched-
ule OF 120 hours; that the mail was carried on a
two-horSe blackboard The largest mail witness
pounds and the smallest about thirty pounds On
the return to Baker City the mail generally
amounted to from 10 to % pounds. The witness
the running OF the route
BETWEEN THE DALLEs AND CANYON CITY.
Joseph E. MasterstOn, of Canyon City. who car
ried the route between The Dalles and Canyon
City, beginning November, 1878, was next called
and examined. He drove the distance, which was
about 200 miles, in days. After the increase OF
the route he drove only from The DalleS to Cross
Hollow, distance of 80 miles.
MR.. BLISS SAYS THE AFFIDAVIT WAS FALSE
The court being asked for what purpose this
testimony was intended Mr.. Bliss said they pro-
posed to show that the affidavit as to the number
OF men and horses employed on the route was
false.
Mr.. INGERgoIL OBJECTS.
Mr.. 1ngerson urged that the charge in the In
dictment respecting this route. that false and
fraudulent petitions had been presented, and none
had been shown. The Indictment was silent as to
the affidavit, and he held that no such charge
could now be introduced
MR. MERRICK ON WHAT HAS BEEN PROVED.
After remarks by Mr. Henkle, Mr.. Merrick, In
the course OF his reply, said that it was enough If
they had proved these contractors drew money on
contracts which they had corruptly obtained, and
the performance OF which contracts they and
Brady knew were not being performed. II the
government proved that they mad shown the hand
OF infamy roobing the Treasury OF the United
Mr.. Ingersoll said there had not been proved one
single paragraph. line or word even tending to
% Would like iise he said, to submit this case e. the
jury without another word.n
II say this case is iuil Of Il, your HONOR said
JUDGE wYIxEseAID
the governments had undertaken to make out
case against the defendants under the combina-
ton OF contracts and subcontxacts. It was neces-
sary that there should be aconspiracy to estat-
lish the Indictment. ana from the nature OF the
conspiracy the contracts bkoame blended. II all
these parties had eatered into combination for
an evil purpose. fG was necessary for the in1ict-
ment TO contain auna Eyenncnt to show the un-