Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-22
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
MR. INGERsOLL's CLOSING REMARKS.
TAKING OF TESTIMONY BEGUN.


OF his clients, the DorSeys. defendants in the star
| route conspiracy case. He said that the Jury
might come TO the conclusion that some OF these
routes ought not TO have been established but
that did not prove conspiracy, as Congress es-
| tablished the routes. They might come 10 the
conclusion shat Mr.. Brady put too many trips or
too fast schedule on these routes, but that did
| not prove conspiracy. Ii it proved anything. IL
WAS nothing more than eXtTavagancc, and eXtray-
agance was not crime. IL IL were crime, the
Ienltentiares would not be too large for the hon
| est men I'm the country.
Mr. INGERsoLL THEN TOOK UP THE vARIcUs ROUTES
In which his clients We're specially Interested and
gave an account OF the circumstances on the
Ioutes, and the facts which they proposed to
prove. alleging that the expeditions were made in
response to the urgent demands OF citizens and
others interested, setting forth in glowing terms
the growth OF the country, etc. Speaking OF the
nrst route, that from Garland to Parrot city, he
said that after Mr.. Brady went out OF OFFICE
Naming dispatch was sent by the Associated Press
over the entire country TO the effect that mis-
| route had been discontinued; that IL was one OF
the Dorsey frauds. Come to find out the reason
tnat IL mad been discontinued was that railroad
mad been completed over the route, and the mail
was being carried seven times a week over the
railroad, at far greater cost than had been paid
what they call reform, but there is a large
amount OF dishonesty mixed with II, at least in
| the statement OF the facts
Mir: Ingersoll, having concluded his review OF
tue routes, SAID that certain charges had been
made against his clients. "Let me tell you,' he
said, III were prosecuting the meanest ma n that
crawlS between Heaven and earth would not for
my HE, make mSStatement TO his disadyan-
tase.no. not for the world. would rather steal
than 10 enoeaVor 10 rob- a man OF HIS liberty by
misStatlng or coloring a fact Ny Imagination
cannon conceive OF a meaner or a more dastardly
tnlng am not saying that they have done these
Things knowingly and wilfully. 1t is for you to
! Judge"
NIX lNGERsoLLs ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MR. BLISS.
MI. lngersoll then proceeded to accuse Mr.. Bliss
or various misstatementS concerning ex-senator
Dorsey'S service in the Senate on the post Of
flee committee saying that Mr.. Dorsey had never
been chairman OF the post Office committee and
had resigned from that committee three years
before the time when Mr. Bliss represented that
he was Chairman OF the committee s.Ir were ON
the jury" he said. 81 would never believe any
statement such a man would make-not even the
tlme OF day, unless looked at the clock after
wards"
IN HIS CLOSING,
Mr. Ingersoll said that it was for the Jury to say
whether his clients should be convicted by infer
ences and prejudice. SIT is fol- you to say" said
Mr. Ingersou, "whether. you will be guldei by
law, by evidence, by justice, and by reason. or
whether you will lie controlled by fear, by preju-
dice and by Official power"
Mr.. 1ngeISoll concluded at 1915 pm.
Mr. Wiltshire in Behalf Of iserdeu
Mr.. Wiltshire rising, asked permission to ad-
dress the jury for ten fifteen minutes in behalf
o. Ills client He represented that at the last trial
his client had not been represented directly
either in the opening or the closing. The verdict
SO far as his client was concerned, was somewhat
remarkable and he thought that the circum-
stances justified his request TO be heard now
Judge Wyiie said that under Mr.. WltShres
pledge TO be brief, he would allow him to address
Mi. Wiltshire then proceeded to address the Jury,
describing
RERDELL's RELATIONS TO THE OTHER DEFENDANTS
as clerk in charge OF their business n Washington
to hfc
money that passed through his hand He pro-
posed to show that he could not be connected with
these alleged conspirators any more than any car
rier on any route held by these DEFENDANTS; that
he had never hal any interest in these routes. He
round In the testimony that the statements made
by McssrS. MacVeagh, James and Clayton were
the only ones that had any reference to his Client
and they showed no criminal act on his part Mr.
Wiltshire concluded his opening In less than ten
minutes, saying that he only intended to call
attentlon TO the main features OF the case OF his
THE COURT THINKS 1T TIME TO GO ON WITH THE EVIL
DENCE.
Judge Wyre remarked that the case had been
fully opened, and 1T was now time to proceed to
evidence.
Mr.. Davldge suggested an adjournment to Tues
day.
Judge Wylie observed that he was anxious that
this trial should not be protracted as the last
one, and he was unwilling to lose half day. He
declined, therefore. to accept the suggestion but
Qttr some 1urtnef discussion agreed TO adjourn at
three O'Clock.
THE FIRST EVIDENCE OFFERED.
Mr. Ker offered as the first piece OF evidence the
appointment OF Judge Key as Postmaster Gen.
eral.
Judge Wylie observed that he would take 1udi-
cal pOtice OF the appointments of both Postmaster
General Key and OF Mr. Brady Second Assistant
Postmaster General. He said he did not desire to
unnecessarily burden the record.
Mr.. ker was about to read the dates In the ap-
pointment or Mr. Thomas l. James as Postmaster
General when Mr.. Wilson said: "what have we to
do with that?"
.You VIII have good deal to do with that"
said MI. Merrick, ''before you get through"
The First Witnesses.
The first witness called was James Lawrenson.
notary public, by whom Mr.. Ker proposed to show
when the gentlemen named qualified.
Judge Wylie said that that was unnecessary,
and Mr.. Lawrenson was excused from the stand.
Thomas B. Kirby. who held the ofT1ce of private
secretary to Postmaster General Key, was called
to the stand, testified to the preparation OF the
'Postal Regulations" and identified q copy OF the
authorized 'Reguiations:"
Before the witness left the stand Mr.. Merrick
proposed to him that he would look over hts
records and indicate what regulations were made
during the time Intervening between the publica.
ton of 1873 and that OF 1872 and the dates when
they went into force.
"To do that" said MT. Kirby, "Iwould have to
written manuscript, which would occupy me TWO
or three weeks"
''ludt WOulu Uc ptdSdut TeCEedIlOQ, MI.
Kirby" said Mr.. Wilson.
After some discussion Mr.. Merrick said he would
indicate what regulations he desired to trace
sTATIsTICIAN's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. John H. Falconer, statstician OF the Post
Ofdce department, was next called, and testified
that on the S0th OF June, 1879 there reported
8, as star routes. On crOSS-examlnation the wit
ness said that on the 30th OF june 1875 there were
S,S11, and on June 30. $780, there were 1863 The
routes reported In 1873 aggregated In length 2O67
miles, representing an 1 actual mileage OF travel
1879 was $3.50, and the mileage OF travel, or
transportation, g. 24S $50 miles In 1880 the aggr
gate length was 235. .248 miles, and the aggregate
transportation 76, ,070, 995 miles
Mr.. Wilson wanted to 60 into the number and
mileage OF steamboat routes, but Mr. MerrIck OBJ
1ected.
Judge Wylie in sustaining the objection, said
he could not go into an investigation OF everything
connected with the Post once department.. He
would not consent to have unnecessary matters
thrown into the trial OF the case.
Mr. Wilson urged tnat this testimony was pro-
per. He said that when he came to 0ffer testi-
mony, he proposed to urge that this testimony was
competent.
Judge wylie said that at the proper time he