National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-09
THE sTAR-RouTE TRIAL.
Judge wyIIe 90 tho fury Commcncemen
OF the TestImony


In tho criminal court yesterday, AFTER the court
had been formally opened, aud before Mr.. Nc.
swecny commenced his opening Judge Wyle said
his attention had been called TO certain statements
in regard to the way in which the jury was Sc
lected. Ten Of the jurors were selected from the
regular panel. Four talosmen were then sum-
moned and two only called. Tho usual interrog.
atores were put to them, and they were accepted.
He drew attention TO the fact that there was
law for libel IN conseq uence Of articles published
the effect OF which was TO o. slruct Justice, and
said the District Attorney should bring the matter
Def re the grand jury lie cautioned the Jurors
against being influenced by any one, and urged
them 10 keep their own counsel.
Mr.. McSwccncy then resumed his opening. He
explained ut length the burness relations existing
between Dorsey, Vale, Peck, and the others. He
conspiracy" aiter IT. was necessary to use his
credit Contracts had been made between Vale,
John w. Dorsey, and Miner against ex-senator
Dorsey,s advice who invested $4,000 in the bust:
ness. He did not want the contracts ms he had
took Il, m to protect himself This was the posi-
no conspiracy. In fact there was enmiy
between VaiIe and Dorsey, arising out
oil proanS ssg con dn They n would
contracts, showing every item. From A. ril @, 1879
there had been no business transaction he w en-
Miner, Peek Vale, Brady, aud s. w. Dorsey. The
books Presented would show that S. w. Dorsey,
who was represented as rolling i'll Ill. gotten puins,
was actually $4,000 poorer than when nc touched
petitions were discussed at length, aud Mr. Nc.
Sweeney said they would like to see the muu
weSS wGS a SG TEn to by Dorsey
eloquent rerordtiOn. He asked the jury to obey
the njunctions of the court, 70 be true to Them
selves, - stand together, and to do right.
MIR. KER OPENED THE EVIDENCE
by showing the appointment of ID. NJ. Key, Horace
Maynard, and Thomas l.. James as POstinHsters-
General aud Thomas J. Brady as Second Assistant
Postmaster General on the 2Ith of July, 1876
Thomas u. Kirby, clerk In the Office of the Rail.
way Mail Service, was the iirt witness called ard
examined by Mr. Ker. In 1873 Mr.. Kirby said he
was private sec oiary OF P stmaster. General Key /;
he prepared rules aud regulations for the govern
ment of the Post. Office Department. The rcgula-
lions which he prepared have been IN force since
July !, 1879. except 50 far rs amended by orders
Of the Postmaster. General or acts OF Congress
Thomas :. Taylor, Journal cork, was examined to
show hat since January l, 1879, there had been no
order made by the Postmaster General amending
the regulations regarding the expedition of star.
route service John IL. Falconer, slatistican of
the 20 tOfice ID -purmcnt, testified that on itGnc
80, 1873, there were ssh Star routes. having an
aggregate length 81 2O6,T77 miles; log steamboat
routes, WIN length Of S069 miles, aud 1000 rail-
iOad routes, with IL length of 77,l2O miles. The
total annual transportation was 1915 miles,
and the mileage for the star routes 81 49, $50 miles
Mr.. Falconer was directed TO bring in to-day the
statistics for 1879 and 1880, when
HE WILL DE cross EXAMINED.
Amos Wilson, of the inspection division of the
Second Assistant Postmaster Generals Office
testified he had charge fthe journal from April o.
were In writing and after being entered in the
journal were returned to the clerk. The journal
was not always signed the same day. 1t was GER
Auditor. General Brady did not introduce or
change the mode of procedure in regard 20 them.
Orders were not necessarily signed the day they
were made, as II sometimes took days to get up
one days work. George NJ Sweeuy who was in
the Second Assistant Postmaster; Generals office
in 1878, testified to the method Of doing business
in tile contract division. This evidence concluded
the day s proceedings