The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-13
DICKSON DIyULGES
ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT JURY FlxERs.
Startling Revelations In Regard TO The pastardlI
Attempts Made to Corrupt the Jury In the b
Star Route TrlAls-A bark stain on
The Department or Ju,tirr.

|
Star Route TrIals-A bark stain on
The Department. or Ju,ties.
WASHINGTON, September lo.-Foreman
Dickson's attention having been called to
u published interview with Merrick in
which he made remarks rejecting upon
his integrity, Dickson replied: swell, i,
may suit AIerrick 10 fret and fume and say
unkind and unjust things about men who
were sworn to perform duty and per
formed that trust in fearless and con.
scientious manner according TO their hon.
est convictions OF the law aud evidence,
but II he will turn his attention to the
Department OF Justice, Of which lie is an
officer, and purify the atmosphere OF that
institution and mid in exposing attempted
bribery charges aud corrupt practices oil
his subordlnates, he will DO the Govern.
ment good service. No one has higher
appreciation OF Mcrrick than I have, and
l have ever. priced his friendship,
and I doubt il even he is
aware OF the damnablc transactions which
have occurred since the commencement OF
the Star route cases. A system espionage
was established by the Department Of JUS
tice, and in that employ were number Of
disreputable persons, prominent among
them man under indictment for robbery
and self.coniessed participant in the
three card monte" cases, lately punished
in onr court by the conviction OF the men
against whom the party turned States evi
dence. Jurors were followed, and decoys
OF various kinds to ensnare them into the
commission OF wrong acts. Efforts were
frequently made to draw then, into
conversation upon the merits OF the case
| received number OF anonymous letters
and marked papers were daily sent me, alI
containing matters calculated TO influence
my mind. When the regular panel was
exhausted extra talesmen were summoned
and two gentlemen, Messrs. Murray ant!
Tobriner, were selected to complete the
jury. At once these men were denounced,
their characters assailed and it was openly
charged and published that they were paid
agents Of the defendants. / demanded O!
one OF the gentlemen, Mr.. Murray, Il full
explanation, aud on learning the facts Of
how he came to be drawn by the Marshal
US talesman, ielt satisfied that he " ms in.
nocent OF the slanderous charge, and in.
sisted that Judge Wylie's attention should
be called to the matter. YUu will
remember the judge severely criticised
the course pursued by the newspapers
and defended the jurors from imputatlons
cast upon them. Malicious lies were cir.
cu!ated and published about the jury being
seen luncnine with the defendants ard
drinking at their expense, all of which
were false. 1utimidatlons OF every cilarac
ter were resorted to, and systematic ut
tempts made TO terrorize the jury by threat
enlng them. Some OF them were charged
with drunkenness. One OF them, Hol
mead, informed me early in the proceed
ings that lawyer named Falls had inter
viewed him, telling him he was an officer
OF the Department Of Justice and wantet
to ascertain by watching my notes MS
jotted down the. salient point.
OF the testimony and report TO hin
their import. He told Homead he va.
to act by the Attorney General, and was Us
signed to look after him; that it was Ques
ton whether. Judge Freeman or Fall!
Il should be delegated 10 tlSe care OF Hol
mead and finally it was resolved to appoin
4 Falls. He urged Holmead to act with hin
and aid him with information, and said i
would result in his Falls) advancement
and that Holmcad would lose nothing bv il
| cautioned Holmead, when he told me il
June. to pay no attention to Falls or IN,
one who attempted to lead him. Falls re-
peated his visit to Holmcad at interval
and renewed his efforts TO inveise hin
until Holmead threatened to .skicl
him out OF his store. Our places OF bust
ness were invaded by "Spottcrs," our en:
ployes were solicited to tell who we con
yersed with, and what our sentiments wer
OH the subject OF the trial, and our wivc
were not sale from Orer.zealous agents
The first personal knowledge / had OF tn,
presence OF a "iury lixer," was when Henr,
A: Bowen made a proposition to me L
convict the defendants, and promised IN,
S25, 900. His cool audacity was charming
and he unhesitatingly exhibited to me hi
letters OF appointment us Il special agent Q
| Tue DepurtnenL Oh Justice.
he wanted to meet the Attorney General
and said he bad been ,elegraphed ior. ant
he was expected in Washington the mex
day, Thursday, Augusta "a, 1852; tiatw coult
mees at Wormley's hotel undis!urbed am
| he would satisfy me that what he promised
was correct. lie further said, Swell, yor
are . man Of the world and know wheI
you are in q fight, you must use ever,
means in your power to win. This is now
the Attorney Generals fight and he mus
succeed. 'Tis political life or death will
him.. He does not regard Judge Wylic Il.
friendly to the prosecution by his con,rar,
rulings"
He also said the case came 10 Brewstc
as legacy from his predecessor, Mac
Eeagb, and that it had been terribly mis-
managed by MacYeagh and James. Mis-
takes had been made, and errors OF coun
sel had jeopardized it, and the present ad
ministralion did not care to press the cas-,
until Brady's papers commenced thei
TRADE OF abuse and villitication OF the nj
ministration and its officers, and now, un
der all circumstances, the defendants mus
be convicted. | asked him il any OF tn,
counsel for prosecution knew OF his action
He said they did not. y
Z Before leaving him lie said: nI vii
send word to your address tomorrow ant
arrange when We eau meet aud see th,
Attorney General" On the following da,
after the adjournment Of Court, i proceed
ed to my office and shortly -aftcrwartl
colored boy handed me card with til,
following written in lead pencil: A..
"Dear Col. Dickson: Z cEEE>s gee d
Slight o'clock this evening at Drivers
Aug. 24th. "lowgX.n
On Friday, Augusto5th, | called upol
, Judge Wylie at recess and informed hin
that au improper proposition had becl
made ire and by whom; We converse,
about the matter aud he said he ,woult
think over it and resolve upon whatcour
to pursue. =, a,
After adjournment that day he called
me and said that he was afraid those dam
nable attempts to pollute the jury nigh
r | hnvn hnaD mn do rpny, ~ AZ ~