Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-12
THE "JURY FIXING, SENSATION.
Foreman Dickson Tells His story I'm
DctaiB-What He says Of the Bribery
BusIMess; Mr.. Merrick,s Opinion, etc.

Mr.. Dickson to-day made statement IN reply
to published interviews with Mr.. Merrick In which
that gentleman reflected upon Mr.. Dicksons integ-
rty. Mr.. Dickson said: "well, IL may suit Mr.
Merrfck to fret and fume and say unkind and un-
just things about men who were sworn 70 perform
duty, and performed that trust In a fearless and
conscientious manner, according to their honest
convictions OF the law and evidence: but IL he viii
turn his attention to the Department OF Justice. OF
phere OF that Institution, and aid in exposing
the attempted bribery charges and the
corrupt practices Of his suoordinates, he
higher appreciation OF Merrick than have, and
have ever priced his friendship and doubt II even
have occurred since the commencement OF the
star-route cases system OF espionage was es-
taoiished by the Department OF Justice, and In
IoaI employ were number OF disreputable per-
sons, prominent among them a man under indfct-
ment for robbery, and a selI-confessed participant
1re I'M monte cases lately punished In our
this party turned states evidence. Jurors were
followed and decoys OF various kinds were adopted
act Efforts were frequently made TO draw them
INTO conversation upon the merits or the case. I
nave received number OF anonymous letters, and
matter Intended to Influence the mind
When the regular panel was exhausted extra
taleSmen were summoned, and two gentlemen,
Messrs. Murray and Tobriner, were selected to
complete the jury. At once these men were de-
nounced, their characters assailed, and it was
Of one Of the gentlemen. Mr. Murray, a
Of how he came 10 be drawn by the
marshal, as talesman, felt satisfied that he was
innocent of the slanderous charge, and insisted
That Judge Wylle's attention should be called to
the matter, and did so. You viii remember the
judge severely criticised the pursued by the
newspapers. and defended the jury from the I'm
putations cast upon them.
Malicious lies were circulated and published
ABOUT the jury being seen lunching with the de-
which were false Ihtimiiations OF every char
acter were resorted to and systematic attempts
were made to terrorize the jury by threatening
them. Some OF them were charged with drunk
enness One Of them, Mr.. Holmead, informed me
early In the proceedings that
A LAWYER NAMED FALLS
had interviewed him, telling him that he was an
officer OF the Department OF Justice and desired
down the salient points OF the testimony and re-
port to him their import He told Holmead that
he was authorized to act by the Attorney General,
question whether Judge Freeman or Falls should
De delegated to take care OF Holmead, and finally
It was decided to appoint him. He urged II.
formation, and said 1t would result In his (FallsD
advancement, and that H. would lose nothing by
and renewed his efforts to inveigle him until H.
threatened to kick out OF his store Our places OF
business were invaded by spoilers" our employees
were solicited to tell who we conrersed with, and
what our sentiments were on the subject OF the
trial, and our wives were not safe from inter
viewers and over-zealous agents
THE JURY-FIxBR
The first personal knowledge had OF the pres
ence Of the '.Jury-nxer" was when Henry A.
Bowen made the proposition to me to convict the
defendants and promised me So, 600. His cool au-
dacity was charming, and he unhesitatingly ex-
special agent Of the Department OF Justice
dated August 22d, 1882 He wanted me to meet the
ana he had esn e
next day, Thursday, August Gath. 1889: that we
could meet at Wormley's hotel undisturbed, and
correct He further said: sWeII, you are a man
OF the world, and know that when you are in q
Us uss in to
and he must succeed-'tis political life or death
with him. He does not regard Judge Wyie as
rulings He also said the case came to Brewster
as legacy from his predecessor, MacVeagh. and
that 1t had been terribly mismanaged by
made, and errors of counsel have 1eopardzed
IT. that the present administration did not care to
press the case until Brady's papers commenced
mlniStratfon and its officers, and now, under all
circumstances, the Defendants must be convicted.
asked him If any OF the counsel for the prosecu-
ton knew of his action. He said they did not
before leaving him, he said, l will send
word to your address tomorrow and arrange
when we can meet and see the Attorney General
On the following day, after the adjournment of
court, proceeded to my Office, and shortly after
d
following written in lead pencil: ''Dear Col Dixon:
O'Clock this evening, at Drivers Bowen. Aug.
Path" On Friday, August a5th, called upon
whom. We conversed about the matter,
ana saa NE What
adjournment that day he called me, and said he
was afraid that these damnabe attempts to pol
the other Jurymen and advised me to caution and
consult with them privately; that for the present
he would not take action. F.! suggested that 1
could encourage Bowen, and probably let the
proposition eliminate into an actual deposit OF
the corruption fund and then expose him. |
flavor OF police business l said would report 10
him any further facts might CLEAN from day to !
day. Some days after had conversation with |
him. and told him that other 1urymen had been /
approached, and he said he would attend to the /
matter in time attempted to tell him the facts !
In the Bowen interview, but he prevented me, /
saying he did not care to know the facts I'm detail
or know what side of the case they represented 1t
was apparent that person acting for the defense
might approach turyman with corrupt offer, |
representing themselves In the interest OF the |
prosecution and vice versa, with view OF testing
or entrapping 1uryman: He again advised the
strctest surveillance and caution. Later on, Mr.
Olcott 1ntimated to me that he had been inter-
viewed for corrupt purpose, but did not state the
man named Shaw had offered him 500 to vote to
clear Dorsey. advised him to report the matter
to the judge, and he did so. Until we took the
first informal ballot on the afternoon OF Friday,
September Sth, did not know how any OF the
jury would vote. did In the slightest degree
endeavor to control their action, and refer to my
colleagues to substantiate my statement"
Mr. Dickson further stated that Mr.. Merrtck's
statement that he swore to the facts he related to
the jury was incorrect and that the paper was
not produced until other jurors had made their
statements. He said he would this afternoon file
a sworn statement OF the facts with the district
attorney, and had written letter to the Attorney
General calling upon him to protect a citizen in
the discharge Of a compulsory sworn duty and to
discharge Henry A. Bowen, who had made the
corrupt offer. %
SUITFO DIvORCE.-Alberta Smith has, by Messrs
Cook and Cole, entered a suit for divorce from
the bonds OF matrimony with Morrell Smith. They
were married in Baltimore on January 4. 1881, and
she CHI argos that he neglected her and failed to
support her, and she asks permission to resume
her maiden name OF Alberta Reed
A JEALOUS HUSBAND SENT TO JAIL.-Alfred Cof-
fee, messenger Of the Criminal Court was
charged in the Police Court to-day with assault by
another colored man named w. E. Ward. who tes-
titled that on the 18th OF August he went to the
court house to find the date OF his marriage, as he
had suit for divorce against hts wife. He said
that while on the steps OF the court house
Cof1ee accused him OF telling lies about him