Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-19
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
Mr.. BLISS cekcLUDEs HIS ADDRESS.
pIs SHARP ARRANGEMENT OF BRADY 6 co.
AN AGREEMENT REACHED AS TO TEE
STENOGRAPHIC REPORT.

Bliss resumed his address TO the jury. He took
up first route No 3S1l3, from Rawlings 10 White
River. On this route the sub-contractor was re-
quired to swear to af1idavits In blank the blank
spaces being filled up in Washington at the
pleasure or the contractor. These affldavtS were
the basis or the orders OF expedition made by
Brady. There were Indications that when the
contractors started in this route they sought
get reduction of only 81 hours, but afterwards
getting greedy,
THEY MANIPULATED THE AFFIpAvITs
so as to make reduction to IS hours. On that
route letter was written by Rerdell to Perkins
that III he could get petitions here before March L.
1881, they could get an additional increase, the
reason being that 1t was doubtful whether Brady
would remain in power after the 4th Of March.
The petitions however did not arrive here until
March 5th Mr.. Brady, on the Sth OF March, made
the required order. but Postmaster General Thos
L. James directed that the order be revoked.
Brady thereupon wanted TO know If Mr.. James
oruer Indicated the policy OF his administration
showing that he knew what Mr. James directions
were. In August following. after Mr.. Brady had
gone out or onice, 1t Was discovered that
BRADY HAD NEVER REVOKED THE ORDER.
1t was claimed that the expedition and increase
on the route were made In view of the emergen-
ces raised by the Ute outbreak. but as matter OF
fact the orders were all made either long before
the outbreak or long after it was quelled This
route let originally for s1,7OO was carried up to
varied at different times, averaging about $4,000
year The net annual revenue of the route
varied from 81, 245 to sl,724
THE LAST ROUTE IN THE INDICTMENT
The next route and the last one included in the
Indictment. was route No. 40l04, from Mineral
Park to Pioche, let originally for S29S2. ON this
route Mr.. Bliss charged petitions We're forged and
altered; In one case petition intended for an
other route had been changed by erasures to apply
to this route. On the petition it was apparent
That the fifty signatures were all written by not
more than four or five men. The last order made
on this route, making an addition OF $4,000 t.
upon single letter from Mr. Sidney Dillon. on
this route, however, on thrty-nne days In the fall
OF 1879, there went over the route but thfrty-ona
letters. On twenty days OF that thirty-nine the
mail Carriers dfd not carry single letter; yet by
Brady'S orders the government was required TO
pay $4,000 a year to the contractors.
Mr.. Bliss remarhing upon the fact that Brady
had cut down the service on the ground OF what
the mail bills showed. but six days later restored
sum to an eXtravagant figure, said that this oc-
CURED just as Brady had been called upon to
furnish certain Information TO committee OF In
veStlgatlon o. Congress After mature reflection,
however, Brady had concluded that ii he left his
record as Ii appeared after he cut the service
down, the question would naturally be asked why
ne had ever made the orders OF expedition, so he
restored portion OF the service. The entire rev.
enues OF all the post Offices on that route
were less than hfty dollars year, yet
BRADY PERSISTED IN PAYING
for the route $52, 900 a year. Mr.. Brady knew be-
fore any order was made on the route that there
was no necessity for the expedition or increase.
He Was informed by letters of citizens along the
route the trIf1ng character OF the mail that went
over the route.
Mr. Bliss remarked that he had gone through
the history OF the routes In the Indictment, omit
ting much, however, that would come out in evi-
dence. He had stated nothing which he did not
believe they would be able to prove, and which
the court would not allow them to prove. He
wanted now to call attention TO one single other
piece of evidence, which they hoped to present,
but Of which he could not speak with certainty.
THERE WAS AN EX-SENATOR
OF the United States who had made detailed
statement, which had become matter of record,
that he had knowledge OF sums OF money paid by
S. W. Dorsey to Brady as Brady's share OF the
profits. That ex-senator, said Mr. Bliss, is fugi-
tive, with an order of arrest from this court now
out for him.
Mr. Wilson interrupted and protested that Mr..
Bliss was not stating what was proper, as he was
not stating what he proposed to prove.
II say" said Mr. Bliss. shat we expect to have
MIN. say that he has been In concealnlent: that
he has been concealed in Nevada The first time
we have heard Oh his emerging from his conceal
train coming from Chicago. lido not know whether
in company with. but, at any rate on the same
train M @ Win az, gentleman employed as counsel on
Mr.. Bliss, continuing, said the fugitive had gone
to northern New York, followed by government
agents, and hence had jumped across the line to
Canada. 81 believe, gentlemen" said Mr.. Bliss,
"that before this trial is over he will come to the
conclusion that 1t is better to test.fy-to come
here and tell the truth and subject himself to
whatever discipline the court may see Mt to
Impose, rather than subject himself to perpetual
exile" He believed, he continued, that they
should have him here basing his belief on his
knowledge OF human nature. II he comes he
II Arla n1Qrf fhof ha
willing witness, desiring to aid the government
II the government failed to present that testimony
1t would be no fault OF theirs. He believed that
they would show that
BRADY REsoRTED TO EXPEDITION WHEN IT WAS
WHOLLY UNNECESSARY,
and paid large sums OF money for expedition
where it Was not needed; that he paid large sums
OF money for increase in cases where he himself
had the evidence that there was no mail carried
on the route; that every little thing was availed
OF to add to the compensation OF the contractors;
that allowances were made for supposititious ad-
dItions to routes; that Brady utterly disregarded
the prOductiveness OF the routes; that changes
had been made in the routes. involving
large expense solely in the interest OF
the contractor, and that Brady habitually paid up
to the limit both for the increase OF service and
increase Of speed. Mr. Bliss proceeded to recapit-
ulate the facts that it was proposed to show. He
said they should show briStling all over the case
evidences OF the understanding between Brady,
Dorsey and the other contractors They would
eXacted percentage from all expeditions ordered
and remiSSfOnS made. They would show them the
purchase OF the silence OF complaining pOstmas-
ters and Sub-cOntractOrS. They would show them
these things by unimpeachable testimony.
Mr. BLISS CLOSES
When they have shown these things they would
leave the case In the hands OF the jury confident
that they would vndicate the cause OF honesty
and the cause OF justice in the District of Columbia
by rendering prompt verdict
Mr. Bliss finished his address at half-past twelve
O'Clock.
The StenOgraphic Record.
Judge Wylie, then referring to the matter OF the
stenographic record, said: +" As the court wanted
to know what it had to depend upon for its own
minutes, it was necessary to determine the
matter"
Mr.. Henkle, rising. said he had o proposition
from Mr. J. O. Clephane to report the case for both
sides for 20c. a folio
Judge Wyl1e said the court was NOT In a
position to make bargains with reporters
The government had right to employ reporters
1t had seemed to him yesterday that the reporters
were disposed to take an undue advantage OF their
position in court for the purpose OF obtaining
more from the defense than they ought to demand.
his opinion was that 25 cents folio was net Only
hv,<o fnA