National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-17
THE sTAR-RouTE CASES.
A Further Postponcmcnt-IIr. y. w. Dor
scy Appears Ia Court.


Yesterday tho star-route cases, postponed from
the ith instant, were taken up before Judge Wylie
in the Criminal Court when the court opened,
Mr.. Merrick, for the Government, said the writ
for the apprehension OF John W. Dorsey had been
returned marked not found" Judge Wyle sug.
gcsled the defendant might be in court and d.
rccted that his namo be called While the clerk
was calling the name Of John w. Dorsey, MT. Car
pointer, of counsel, rose and said, "StopW This
caused somewhat Of a sensation, and then Mr..
Carpenter said "If the Court please Mr.. Dorsey
Is in court. Itwos not the purpose Of counsel at
any time not TO have him here An efiortwa made
to have him in court, but he did not receive the
message. lie Is in court, and has been in the city
for ten days.
MIR. DORSEY, COME FORWARD"
From out Of the asle came forward n man whom
Mr.. Carpenter presented as John W. Dorsey ana
said bonds would be given during the day, The
usual motions TO. quash and in abatement were
made and ovcrruled, and, the reading OF the IN
dictment being waived, the defendant entered
plea Of not guilty. Mr. Mcrrick then said that the
Government was ready TO proceed, but that new
indictment was now being found against Rcrdcll,
aud Witnesses In that case were before the grand
ground would have to be gone over again. He
had no doubt that an indictment would be found
In Rerde Us case He thought this trial would Las.
two or three weeks Ilo submitted to the court
whether they should proceed or not. Mr. Totten
opposed the ,poslponcment, as the accused ha1
nOlnlhB 10 40 WIN ISIhtii uNu tutlo N"9
| ground on which this request was made. lie
understood that Rerdell had made some sort OF
confession, which II was proposed to Introduce ,
here, and that all this charge of conspiracy rested
on was something or othersaid by Redcl long nfter
| the alleged conspiracy occurred: The defense OBJ
, jccted to the grounds offered for postponement
| which were Unprecedented. He would like to
| know what evidence these gentlemen had as to
what the grand jury was going to do.
WERE THEY MANAGING THE GRAND JukY2
| Mr.. Merrick said the gentleman must have mis-
| unlprstOOl him. Hp Ind made no motion. Mo-
| body was managing the grand jury. a discussion
arose between Mr. Totem and Mr.. Merrick as 20
| Saturdays conference, in which Mr.. Merrick said
| there was no one there except the prosecuting
officer of the District (roterrimg to Mr.; Bliss :"
| deny he Is SUCH" said Mr.. Totten. Mr.. Merrick
said he held commission TO that effect. After
| some further discussion, Mr. Wilson asked Mr..
| Merrick II he wanted to try the Indictment IN
answer, Mr.. Merr!ck remarked That Mr. Wilson
| said he was ready the other day. When they pro-
| posed TO go ahead he suid nc wanted first TO eX
anime some papers The GoyernmGnt w9s rs tsMIy cai
| lie submitted whether the time of the court was
SO valuecss that 1t could spend four weeks trying
| this indictment and then spending another four
| weeks going over the same ground; HIS colleagNe
Nir Bliss was not present, but was before the grau
jury in his capacity Of assistant district attorney
| for the District of Columbia
Mn. WILSON OPPOSED THE PosTPoNEMENT,
and while he was talking the Attorney; General
came in and took seat by Mr. MerricE,s side.
Judge Wyl!e said in civil case the plaintiff when
different in n criminal case. If the court saw the
interests Of The public aud Justice required posi-
| ponement such postponemcnt should be granted.
| II seemed to him That poslpOnement In this case
for brief time was likely torcsult in any seri-
ous injury to the defendant. The Government
| might reasonably nsk n postponcmcnt OH the
ground that one Of the defendants, John W. Dor.
sey, had not appeared in the court until tbis morn
ing. lie could also see that the indictments might
| be consolidated, and the Government effect great
| saving thereby. He thought no harm would be
done to wait and see what the grand jury would
| do. Io would grant n postpOnement until the
| 25th instant. This closed the proceedings, Mr.
Dorsey giving bail in the sum of $4,000 for his ap
pearunCe.