Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1882-09-15
pICKSON'S DILEMMA.
THE STAR ROUTE FOREMAN CON
-.s TLNUES HIS STORY.
Impressions Of an Investigator at
Pine Run Indian Agency Roscoe
Conkling's Niece i'll Trouble
Minor kilograms.
Dickson's Story Continued.

Dickson's Story Continued.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-In statement
made to-day Foreman Dickson, of the star
route jury, said he had been approached by
Henry A. Bowen, who offered him $25,0OO to
vote for conviction, and represented himself
to be an officer of the department Of justice.
He wanted to meet the attorney general, and
said he had been telegraphed for, and he was
expected in Washington next day, Thursday,
August "a, 1882; that we could meet at
Wormley's hotel undisturbed, and he would
satisfy me that what he promised was correct.
He further said: "Well, you are man of the
world and you know when you are in fight
you must use every means in your power to
win. This is now the attorney generals fight
and he must succeed. It is political life or
death with him. He does not regard Judge
Wylie as friendly to the prosecution by his
rulings" He also said the case came to
Brewster as legacy from his predecessor,
MacVeagh, and that it had been terribly
mismanaged by MacVeagh and
James. Mistakes had been made, and the
errors of counsel had jeopardized it, and the
present administration did not care to press
the case until Brady's papers commenced
the TRADE of abuse and vilifcation of the ad
ministration and its officers, and now under
all the circumstances
THE DEFENDATs MUST BE CONVICTED.
I asked him if any of the counsel for the
prosecution knew of his action. He said
they did not. Before leaving he said: II
will send word to your address tomorrow and
arrange when We can meet and see the at
torney general" On the following day, after
the adjournment of court, I proceeded to
my Office Shortly afterward a colored boy
handed me card with the following written
in lead pencil.
DEAR Col. D1cKsoN:-Eight O'Clock this
evening, a. Drivers. BOWEN.
Friday, august, 25th., called upon Judge
Wylie and informed him that an improper
proposition had been made, and by whom.
We considered about the matter and he said
he would think it over. and resolve upon
course to pursue. After adjournment that
day he called me and said he was afraid these
damnable attempts to pollute the jury might
have been made on some of the jurymen and
advised me to caution them privately, and
that for the present he would not take action.
suggested that I could encourage Bowen,
and probably let the proposition culmlnate
into an atcual deposit into the corruption
fund and then he checked me by
saying mo. That has too much the flavor
of police business" I said I would report
to him any further facts might CLEAN from
day to day. Some days after I had a con-
versation with him and told him that other
JURYMEN HAD BEEN APPROACHED
and he said he would attend to the matter in
proper time. I attempted to tell MIN tue
facts IN the Bowen interview, but he pCe-
vented me, saying he did not care to know
the facts in detail, OF know what side
of the case they represented. 1t was appar-
ent that a person acting for the defense
might approach jurylnen with corrupt Of
fer, representing hinaselves to be i'll the in
terest of the prosecution, and vice versa,
with view of testing or entrapping jury
men. He again advised the strictest eau
ton. Later on Mr.. Alcott intimated to me
that he had been interviewed for corrupt
purposes, but did not state tho facts, and
Doniphan reported to me that man
named Shaw had offered him
$4,000 to clear Dorsey. advisedshim to re-
port the matter to the Judge, and he did so.
THE JURYMEN's $ VOTES.
Until we took the first informal ballot, on
the afternoon Of Friday, Sept. s, did not
know how any of tho jury would vote, nor
did in the slightest degree endeavor to con
troll their actions. And Irefer to my col
leagues to substantiate my statements
UI could not discover any possible criminat-
ing evidence against S. w. Dorsey that was
supported by undisputed facts. explained
my position to my colleagues fully, and when
ever we discussed the charges in the indlct-
ment, or any of the other acts, I supported
my position by facts sworn to by govern
ment witnesses. AS to Brady, the testimony
Of Walsh, sustained by collateral facts in the
evidence was what the prosecution depended
mon to convict him. must be allowed to
Judge Of Walsh's highly interesting and illu-.
minating testimony as It Impressed
me, and if did not believe [v
it il its entirety, or take much stock IN the