Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-08
DRIVEN TO Desperation.

The Star Route Thieves Attempt 80 Bride
the Jury-Attorney General Brewster's
| Address.
WASHINGTON, Sept. THE attorney
general resumed his address this morning
| IN the star route trial. He said he as8ot
going to pick up chips and shavings III the
case, but to present facts concisely. he had
listened to the vehement appeal to the jury
Of one of the defendants counsel not to
allow themselves to be influenced by popu-
lar opinion. This could only be regarded
as an insult. 1t had been charged that the
government was hunting down these men
from party considerations. Why, said
he with energy, these men
belonged to the government party. was
1t reasonable to suppose they would be
prosecuted? What motive was there for
such persecution? The motive was that
the papers of the department showed
wasted money in the West. There were
scandalous stories in circulation Of
bribery and corruption. Should NOT q
man in the civil service be regulated by
the same rules which influenced soldier?
He was prompt enough to demand investi-
cation when his honor was impugned. He
persecute these men! He did not know
them. He only recognized them by sight
Did Mr.. James know them
or MacVeagh. when they started
| this investigation? The defendants have
| been defeated on the outposts They had
lost their battle on the skirmish line.
McSweeny had said when he opened the
case he knew all about it. He would pro-
duce papers and witnesses who would dis
prove all the charges. And why had this
| not been done? Where were the letter
books! Where were the witnesses?
Mr.. Brewster proceeded to argue the
case at great length, and to prove the guilt
OF the defendants by, citatiOns from the ev-
idence. He occupied the remainder of the
day.
After the jury had been excused for the
day, Judge Wylie said it had come to his
| ears that members of the jury had been
! approached in a most disgraceful way in
| attempts to influence their action. He had
first heard of it about a week ago, when he
had received most direct and positive in
| formation of this character. He had then
advised the jurymen to say nothing about
| 1t. as he did not want to stop the
| progress of the cases. Within tWenty-four
hours, however, these wolves that
surrounded the jury have become fercer
and holder, and upon hearing of ole at
tempt more braZen and villainous than the
| others he had felt such Indignation that he
had NEARLY advised the juror to shoot
down such a man on the spot. He had
thought that, but had not advised it. He
now advised the jurymen to spurn such
| men with the toe Of their foot, to turn
from them with scorn. He wished to
warn these men they were not to commit
| such outrages without punishment. After
| this trial perhaps an investigation would
follow.
Gen. Henkle rose and said with much
feeling that III the interest of his clients,
he should demand an immediate investiga-
ton. The court saw perhaps he would
have it. All of the other counsel for the
defense gave similar notice. Foreman
Dickson rose and said that when the cases
were disposed of he should lay all the in
formation in his possession touching the
subject before the court.
After further argument Mr.. Brewster
said no wife should dwell in the vale of
tears through his fault. IF the jury en-
tertained doubt of the guilt OF. defend
ants, let them acquit them iminal
courts were not places for wiyeAR Judge
Butler, IN Pennsylvania, had only recently
AcPIlndAsiOu d ludu iOf bringing MS VIE
with him into court to influence the sym
pathies of the jury. Yesterday they had
listened to an eloquent appeal
defense of woman's duty, and man had
drawn the picture of an incident that
touched all humanity. But that man did
not believe that story. He had called it
untrue. Of what value was it as an illus
tration, if il were untrue! The attorney
general closed his address with touching
story, Illustrative of the majesty and dig
nifty of the law, and an adjuration to the
jury to preserve the forms of justice in
their purity. Judge Wylie then called up
on counsel for the defense to put in their
prayers in answer to those already fled by
the governm ent's counsel, and Wilson read
them. They rehearse salient points in the
indictment and charge that upon the gov
eminent rests the responsibility Of proving
guilt.