Morning journal and courier., 1882-09-13
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Trials of Jurymen The Star Route
 Twelve Pestersd by Jury Fixers-A
 Loud Protest From Foreman Dickson
 Opinion of the Finding What is
 Thought of the Bribery Charges.
 WAsH1NaTos, Sept 12.-Mr. Dickson's at tention being called to published interview with MT. Msrrick in which the latter made remarks refecting upon his integrity, Mir. Dickson said "Well it may suit Mr. Msrrick to fret and fume and say unkind and unjust things about men who were sworn to perform a duty and performed that trust in fearless and conscientious manner according to their honest convictions of the flaw and evidence. but if he will turn his attention to the de partment of justice, of which he is now an officer, and purify the atmosphere of that in- stitution and aid in exposing the attempted bribery charges and the corrupt practices of his subordinates he will do the government good service. No one has higher apprecia ton of Mr. Merrick than I have and I have ever prized his friendship, and doubt if he Is even aware of the damnable transactions which have occurred since the commencing of the Star route cases. A system of espion. age was established by the department of 1 justice and in that employ were number of disreputable persons, prominent among them | a man under indictment for robbery and a | Sell COuIosoSu phTtAclphnC III tn0 three card 1 mote cases lately punished in our court by | the conviction of the men against whom this party turned State's evidence. The jurors l were followed and decoys of various kinds | were adopted to ensnare them in the commis l sion of wrong act. Efforts were frequently | made to draw them into conversation upon 1 the merits of the case. I have received ! number of anonymous letters and marked papers were daily sent me, all containing matter intended to influence my mind. When l the regular panel was exhausted extra tales l men were summoned and two gentlemen ! Messrs Murray and Tobriner, were selected ! to complete the jury. At once these men
 were denounced, their characters assailed
 and it was openly charged and published that
 they were paid agents of the defendants. I
 demanded of one of the gentlemen, Mr.
 Murray, 8 full explanation, and on learning
 the facts of how he came to be drawn bv the
 marshal as talisman felt satisfied that he
 was innocent of the slanderous charges and
 insisted that Judge Wylie's attention should
 be called to the matter and did so. You | will remember the judge severely criticIsed l the course pursued by the newspapers and
 defended the jury from the imputations cast
 upon them. Malicious lies were circulated l and published about the jury being seen luncb- l ing with the defendants and drinking at their ! expense, all of which were false Intimida ! tions of every character were resorted to- ! and systematic attempts were made to terror
 ize the jury by threatening them. Some ' UEunk6nn6SS of
 them, Mir. Holmead, informed me early in
 the proceedings that lawyer named Falls , | had interviewed him. telling him that he was an officer of tho department of justice, and
 had desired him to ascertain by watching my
 notes as jotted down the salient points ol 3 the testimony and report to him thsir import. F He told Holmead that he was authorized to
 act by the Attorney General and was as- signed to look after him that it was a ques
 tion whether Judge Freeman or Falls would be delegated to take care of HoImead and l finally it was decided to appoint him. He l ] urged Holmesd to act with him and aid hin with information, and said it would result 1T !, his (Fails') advancement, and that Holmeac f would lose nothing by it. I cautioned D Holmead when he told me in Jun. | to pay no attention to Falls or anyone who @ attempted to mislead him. Falls repeated hi l visit to Holmead at intervals and renewed hi efforts to invsigle him until Holmead threat s ened to kick him out of his store. Ou
 places of business were invaded by spot ters,' our employees were solicited to tel t | whom we conversed with and what our senti
 menus were on the subject of the trial, an, even our wives were not safe from interview d CTS and overzealous agents. The first per
 sonal knowledge had ot tho presence of tn U jury fixer' when Henry A. Bowe 1t made the proposition to me to convict tn
 defendants and promised me $25,OO0 Hi > cool audacity was charming and he unhes st tatingly exhibited to his letters of appoint
 ment as special agent of the department c justice"
 The Star route bribery question is still tn q. subject of general discussion and undoubted
 ly will remain SO until the matter is oleare D. D. up. Foreman Dickson boldly declared tc B day that Colonel Bowen, of New York, WE ST the man who offered him $25 1000 in th
 name of the prosecution and that he was i
 the company of the Attorney General an
 Senator Cameron at the time. He insists als
 that Bowen desired to arrange an intervie
 between Dickson and the Attorney Gener
 on the ground that it would be political deat
 to the latter to lose the case. Those who al
 inclined to think the story part of u