National Republican., 1882-08-10
THE STAR-RouTE TRIAL,
Commencement of the Arguments for th
Goycrnmeut-MrK Ker's Effort.


Govcrnmeut-Mr.H Her's Effort.
When the criminal court opened yesterday
morning Judge wyle asked the counsel present If
they had agreed upon the order ofthe arguments
Mr.. Wilson said that Mr. Ker would open for the
prosecution, and would be followed by two replies
for the defense; then Mr.. Bliss would speak for
the government and the defense have three re-
plies. The Attorney General or Mr.. Merrick would
follow and three f the counsel for the defense re-
ply Mr., Merrick or the Attorney General, which,
ever had not spoken, would close for the govern
ment
Mr. KrR THEN BEGAN HIS ADDRESS.
He said he would not apologize for the length
Of the trial. not from want of respect but because
the prosecution had nothing to apologize for. The
testimony covered over 2,200 pages. There were
about 500 pages OF testimony for the government
The mass of papers introduced when examine
simply appeared to amount to nothing, but when
put together they showed craft and deceit and
design. He referred 10 the character of the case,
aud the great interest the public had taken in IT,
whose verdict was already made up, and who
waiting now for the verdict of the jury. He al
luded TO the ISLANDERS published about the court
aud the jury and the necessity that the strong arm
ofthe law should be upheld IN this District Thc
out the world wherever an English paper was
ubiished containing accounts OF the trial oi
semi: Cabinet officer and an ex-senator OF the
United States. He then proceeded to go Into
THE DETAILS OF THE CONSPIRACY,
TO show where each defendant performed his part
in the transaction. A conspiracy was an agree
ment in which, 1t might be, no word was spoken.
1t might be an Interference without words-some-
thing in which nolanguage was used The agree
ment was an inference TO be drawn from the facts.
Conspiracy was the hardest crime to prove, and
after being proved the clearest to recognize. He
then told who and what the various defendants
were, He called attention to the dates that the
contracts went in eifect-July /, lS7S-and Vailo's
appearance in the combination and the ante
dating of his subGontracts. He referred to The
meeting between Boone, Rerdell, aud Miner at $.
w. Dorseys house and a man who signed papers
as John NJ. Peck. He had once or twice qucs'
toned the rulings of Judge Wylie, but since lie
had read the testimony over he could take no ex-
ceptions. Boone had not testified Willingly if lie
had, what an opening he could have made. Turn, Turn,
confession confirmed everything that everybody
el.e had said: Mr.. Ker held that the statute of
fined conspiracy. There was no power vested in
| Mr.. Brady to make contract aud then imme-
diately increase it by hundreds and thousands.
BRADY's STATEMENT TO WALSH
showed he receved.a pro rata of these expeditions.
| This statement was confirmed by Rerdel-made
| long before Walsh's. Mr.. Ker then took up the
various routes seitdttm. The route from Kearney
| 10 Kent was the first He gave the dates of the
different orders on the routes. Instead of declar
ing the contractor a failing contractor for not
putting Oh the service, Brady had expedited the
| certainly, in the light of Walsh's and kerdelrs
testimony, was not an honest transaction. On
|
oath before Notary Taylor. was perjury as wllful
and corrupt u any ever committed. Miner wrote
the letter of February being Peck's offer TO carry
| the mail No power of attorney gave him author
ity 10 commit perjury or to swear to affdavits in
| Picks name.
| HE SHOWED HOW THE PETITIONS WERE GOT UP,
| and that the words Schedule 13 hours" were in
| serted after the petitions were signed and in
dorsed. The service at that time was being
performed in twelve hours, and yet Brady allowed
thousands of dollars for service which was already
| being performed quicker than the order ofexpedi-
| ton required. The route from ST. Charles to
| Greenhrn was the next considered. Greenhorn
| was nothing but water tank so the route was
| extended to Pueblo, which did not change the
allowed an Increase, though the subcontractor said
| he had always carried the mail TO Pueblo. He
| had thought Ames the suhcontractor, was n
| myth, but he now knew that Ames was the fasCi-
| mating John r. Miner.
| HE REVIEWED THE VARIOUS ORDERS FOR INCREASE
showing that by Miners perjured oath a clear
profit of SO, l05.GO had been drawn from the gov
| ernment. The route from Tuqueryille to Aduir-
| vile, Utah, was entere d into. The original pay
was 81 l6S, it was increased to sl9,T2G22 and the
subcontractor received S7,4l4. Routes from The
| DGlles to Baker City and Parrott City to Garland
were treated in the same way. The court then
| adjourned without Mr.. Ker finishing his argument
afidavits made by Mr.. Brady and Mr.. Belts, which
were given in yesterdays REPUBLICAN.
A REPUBLICAN, reporter asked Mr. Totten aftel
| the court had adjourned, in what order the de-
| fense will speak. Mr.. Totten said the order was
not definitely settled, but that Mr. Carpenter would
Mr.. Hine, and Mr.. Henkle will reply to Mr. Bliss
Mr.. Mcsweeney, Mr.. Wilson, and MIR. Ingersol
| will close the argument This order may be mod
| ihed to suit circumstances.