River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-15
Washington.
THE ARMY BILL.

COnmlttee on appropriations aSiteu "
recommend non-concurrence by the
house in the senate amendments to
the army appropriation bill. Atkins
explained the provisions of the bill,
and it was read by sections for amend
ment. A long discussion ensued upon
the report made by Burrows, of Michi-
gam. to eqralize salaries of the house
and senate employees by reduction of
the salaries of the latter.
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
In the criminal court this morning
the government called ex-Attorney
General Mac Yeagh as the first witness
in the star route cases. McVeagh
testified that he had a conversation
with Rerdell in June, 1881.
Merrick asked the witness to give
the details of the conversation to the
best of his recollection.
Objected to, on the ground that the
witness must give the date of the inter-
view to make it competent evidence,
and for other reasons. Totten denied
ikldl tut SNiuCnCt WIS tOuipObCnt iOt
any purpose in this trial. The date of
the conspiracy was placed in 1870 and
this confession was made long alter
ward, in June, 1881.
Ingersoll argued that no one would
contend that Rerdell's confession was
intended to further the objects of the
conspiracy. 1t was necessary 10 prove
the existence of the conspiracy before
trying to introduce such evidence as
this.
Merrick was about to reply when
the court interrupted him to inquire
whether he was prepared to assert that
the confession was intended TO help
along the conspiracy, because if it was
not, regardless of other facts, il would
certainly not be good evidence against
| Rerdell.
Merrick replied that he thought that
the question could best be answered by
hearing the testimony.
Judge Wylie-But you must prove
that there was conspiracy.
Merriek asserted that the confession
was the best proof of the existence of
conspiracy.
Judge Wylie-Oh, no; l think you
are wrong; the contrary proposition
is true.
Merrick-B But the body of the dead
! man may never he found.
Judge Wyle-You must prove that
he is missing for long time before as
Stunning him 10 be dead.
The court in answer to an inquiry
by Merrick, replied: Gwen If he
should be prepared to show that every
one of the defendants had made sep
ara acknowledgement of having en-
gagged in the conspiracy it would not
be admissible evidence. A conspira-
cy must be made out by the circum-
stances. The PROSE cution should con-
fine these questions to facts. This was
a very important fact in the case"
Ingersoll-"Ye ifyour honor please,
it is the whole of it." Ingersoll closed
his argument on this point which he
regarded as one of the highest import
ance, by saying that ne regarded the
failure of the government to produce
any authorities as prinsG tacie evidence,
as proving that the law was altogether
on his side.
At the conclusion of Ingersol's argu-
ment, Judge Wylie decided that the
evidence was not admissible at this
stage of the trial. When he was salts
fled from the evidence, of the existence
CT conspiracy, he would allow the testi-
mony to be introduced.
Judge Wylie concluded by saying
that person could only convict him.
self by confession, and could not even
! do that until the crime was made out.
Merrick remarked that of course this
decision would compel him to postpone
the introduction of testimony which
he had proposed to introduce, and Nc
Veagh was then excused.
Merrick explained he had himself
believed this evidence was not present.
ed at the best time and he had only
consented to its introduction TO oblge
MacVeagh and other witnesses who
were DESTROYS of leaving the city,
After recess, Geo. Brewer, clerk in
the contract division of the postotfice
department, testified that Brady did
not act on the papers Immediately up
on their presentation. Some time
lapsed; several hundred OF
them had not been acted upon,
when Brady left the service. 1t was a
common practice which prevails at
present, to increase the service after
the contract was awarded, and before
its execution was begun.
Jno. B. Sleeman, chief of the pay d.
vision, 9th auditors office, treasury de-
partment, described the system of
payments. The only way in which
/ contractors could receive money from
! the treasury for service performed, was
upon warrant signed by the postmas.
ter-general. He could not get 1t upon
a warrant signed by the second assist
ant postmaster-general. Although wit
ness had seen Warner and Rerdell in
| his Office at the same time, he never
knew of their acting together upon any
one contract. Adjourned.
DOYLE,
convicted in Chicago of having in his
possession counterfeit bonds, offers
through counsel to prove the conclu-
sive commences Of the one thousand
| bond plate, how it was obtained and all
about it, provided the government will
release him from confinement. The
present invests CATION at the treasury is
for the purpose of ascertaining the
character of this plate, whether a
good transfer work or mel ely counter.
felt, and if the former to ascertain how
it was obtained, and place the respon-
sibility where it properly belongs. Sec
rotary Folger and other treasury off.
Gals deny in most positive terms there
are any suspicious bonds in circulation
or the GROUND that if any were in cir
culation, they certainly would have
known something about it before now.
Doyle's friends claim he is innocent
and misjudged man in this transac-
ton, and they will prove it to the salts
faction of the government. They say
the bonds found in Doyle's possession
are not counterfeits but bonds printed
from q genuine plate, the issue of
which, however, were not authorized
by law.
BRIDGES ON THE CHIPPEWA.
The house committee on commerce
aged to report joint resolution vest
ing in the secretary Of war discretion
airy power as to the building of bridges
across the Chippewa river in Wiseon-
sin.
CHEAP POSTAGE.
The committee On posbOffices and
postroads has been considering the
propriety and adyisability Of reducing
postage on letters to two c ents and on
newspapers and other printed matter to
hoif tho 1arruaYnf rofao I'D aol, a. n