Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-07
Sfar.Route Trials.

| WASHINGTON, July 6.-In the Star-route
| trial another Dorsey route was taken up, and
| the testimony was substantially the same as
presented in the cases already considered
After recess the fourteenth route named in
| the indictment, No. 35,051, from Bismarck to
| Tongue river, D. T., was taken up. This is
a Miner route and was let at $23, 500. The
| contractors pay was afterward increased TO
| S35 600, and the pay of sub-contractor in
creased in proportion. Affidavits by Miner
and Boone represent the impracticable ma
| ture of the route, and assert the advertised
| distance of 100 miles was less than the real
| distance, and say the country was COM
pletely infested with hostile Indians that no
| carrier would dare venture over the route
| without a military escort. Under these cir
cumstsnces Miner requested the discontinue
ance OF service, and the application WAS in
dorsed by Delegate Kidder. The service
was, however, Increased and expedited.
Miners affidavit, stated the schedule under
which he was then operating required twelve
men and thirteen horses, and that the expe-
dted schedule would require $50 men and
$50 horses. A number Of petitions and let
tiers relating TO this route were presented and
read, together with Endorsements of contract
Clerk Brewer, recalled by the defense, de-
scribed the method followed 10 the contracts
office in making calculations for expedited
service At the conclusion OF this Witness
testimony, Judge Wylie turned abruptly to
the Jury and dismissed them until tomorrow.
Counsel and spectators assumed general
air of expectancy~at this unusual proceed
ing, but after private consultation with Mer-
rick, lasting about five minutes, court adj
journed.
With reference to the published statements
that there had been disagreement among the
prosecuting counsel growing out of the sup
preston of important evidence by Bliss,
ini- mt he hat inst
before the adjournment OF court Friday last,
rumors came TO him that additional evidence
of the most positive character against the
Star-route defendants had been brought to
light. Consolidating separated, it was impos-
sible to have conference until this morning,
when Merrick ascertained that Bliss and
Kerr have been as ignorant as himself of
the existence OF this most important evil
dence. 1t was agreed that Bliss should take
immediate measures to have the grand jury
reconvened, and another set of Indictments
obtained. Meanwhile there is a most perfect
understanding and agreement between the
government counsel as 10 the cases now being
prosecuted. Merrick states that althoug III the
routes as they have been presented, while
showing ample evidence of the grossest
fraud, do not apparently make out con-
spiracy; yet when they are all presented and
supplemented with other evidence there will
be no difficulty in making cut case. ave
will dovetail them together and show such
a mass of fraud and corruption" said Mer-
rick, emphatically, that We shall certainly
obtain conviction. He (Merrick) did not
intend to allow his confidence in his asso-
ciates to be shaken by any idle rumors which
he believed were put in circulation by the
defense with the purpose of creating dissen-
sion and distrust among the prosecution
counsel"
II is reported that James B. Price, indicted
with Brady in what the government regards
as a very strong and easily-proven case, is
fugitive in Canada. The government is
making every effort to secure his apprehen-
sion