National Republican., 1882-12-06
THE DICKSON CASE.
Proceedings Had I'm the Police Court Yes
tcrdny-Trial to be Resumed To-day.

Proceedings Had i'm the Police Court Yes
tcrdny-Trial TO be Resumed To-day.
The case of William Dickson, accused of
conspiracy to bribe the star-route jury, was
called in the police court yesterday afternoon.
The government was represented by Mr..
Wells. Mr. Brewster Cameron, and Mr.. Ker;
and Mr.. Dickson by Mr.. G. NJ Smith and
Judge Cuppy. Mr.. Dickson was accompanied
in court by Mr.. George w. Driver. The at
tendance was large, and included all the mem
bers of the late jury.
Proceedings were opened by Mr.. Wells, who
read the charge and offered certified copy
of the report of the trial. A plea of not
guilty was offered for Mr.. Dickson. A copy
of the Dickson affidavit having been sub
mitted, the prosecution called the first wit
ness, Assistant District Attorney Moore, who
testified that Dickson had made this affidavit
before him on the 18th of September last.
Juror McNelly was called, and testified to
tho reading of Dickson's statement in the
jury room. Mr.. McNelly's evidence upon this
point added nothing new to what the public
already knows. Upon question as to whether
the witness could be expected to identify
paper which had merely been read in his
hearing (the certified copy having been pre-
sented for Identification, Mr.. Moore took the
| stand temporarily to state that he had placed
the original paper in the Department of JUS
tice, and that this was a true copy of it. The
copy was thercupon admitted and read. Juror
McNclly resumed the stand, and said the pa
per read by Dickson in the jury-room was
about an attempt to bribe him. Il told Mr..
Dickson did not take any stock in it," said
the witness, and that it was another safe
burglary affair, and l would have nothing to
to do with it," Mr.. Dickson, he said, had
previous to that time talked with him on the
street upon the same subject. The paper, he
said, was not offered to the court during the
trial.
On his cross-examnation Mr.. McNelly
denied that he had ever said Dickson had
tried to corrupt him. He did say, however,
that the subject of bribery was first introduced
by Mr. Dickson. Mr.. Smith asked the wit
ness if the reading of Mr.. Dckson's statement
had any influence upon him. McNelly replied
that it neither influenced him nor any other
juryman, SO far as he was able to discover.
He believed the statement was read to infu-
ence the jury, but in making this assertion
he meant no unkindness toward Mr.. Dickson,
to whom he was personally friendly. He did
it from strict sense of duty. Witness denied
that he ever desired or was offered a place in
the Department of Justice. He would not
say that Mr.. Dickson had ever tried to influ-
ence his vote, but quoted the former as saying
repeatedly that John A. Walsh could not be
believed.
The testimony of George N. Cox was mainly
unimportant. He testified to Dicksons read-
ing the paper after they had taken one vote,
and supplementing it with the remark
=" May God strike me dead if every word l
have uttered is not true!" Witness had
voted to have the paper read, but did net
favor including it with the evidence. The
court deprecated such action, saying that it
was both unlawful and improper. Mr.. Cox
stated in conclusion that Mr.. Dickson had
complained to Doniphan, McNelly, and him
self a week before the verdict was rendered
that he had been corruptly approached. Cox
said that Doniphan and Dickson were the only
ones that spoke to him on the subject of
bribery He paid high tribute to Mr.. Dick
sons honesty and integrity.
There was nothing Of especial interest in
the testimony of Mr.. Doniphan, who followed
Mr.. Cox on the stand. Before proceeding
with Mr.. Tobriner's examination the court
adjourned for the day,