Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-08
A B0MBSHELL In COURT.
ATTEMPTS TO BRIBE THE STAR
ROUTE JURY.
Judge WylIe Surprises the Audience
An Inquiry Dema n Sed-The Gull
~ Parties Not Yet Exposed.

WASHINGTON, September 7.-Attorney
General Brewster to-day concluded his ar
gument for the prosecution in tie star
route trials, aud the case Is practically
closed. The Judge will probably deliver his
charge tomorrow, and the case may go to
the jury on the same day. Mr.. Brewster's
argument was listened to with the same
close attention as was given to Col. Inger-
soil, and his audience was so large that
the Judge was obliged to give
orders TO admit no more spectators
to the court room. The closing part
OF the argument was well worth recording,
but at its close an incident occurred, which
was wholly unexpected TO all except the
immediate actors In II, and which dwarfed
everything else that has occurred during
the trial The Judge had announced that
recess would be taken, that the prayers of
counsel for instructions to the Jury should
be argued before the court alone, and
that the jury could be excused until
tomorrow. Then ensued the scene
OF the day, and one which has few, II apy.
parallels IN the judicial history Of the couH-
try The jurors were again on their feet
and about to leave the box, and many of the
audience were preparing to leave the court
room, when Judge WYlie stated that he
wished TO devote moment to another mat
ter. The significant tone in which he said
this warned the spectators that some
thing important was to follow, and instantly
there was dead silence.
"Several Of the members OF this iury,"
continued His Honor, calmly, "have come
to me with the Information that they have
been approached with propositions most
lu Of O mt fVH IT,
first iDtimation l had of this kind was
several weeks ago. Several more
CnteTupting himself)-I cannot call them
intimations, they are square and direct infor.
mstiOn-have been given to me privately for
the purpose of asking me what thew (the iur-
ors) should do. Nv advice was to say nothing
about the matter. The court did not want
to interrupt the progress Of the argument
of the case by any such side question as
this, but advised them to be careful. This
thing has grown becoming more aud
move Indignant as he pToceeded)
and within the last tWenty-four
hours it seems that these wolves which
have been around this jury have become
ferceT and more determined. | felt so much
Indignation that | was almost ready to ad-
wise the iuTymen to shoot the man on the
spot. That is the way / felt about IT, but
gave no such opinion. But villainy OF this
kind, scOundrelsm OF this degree de-
serves no mercy. l do not say in
what interest these suggestion have
been made. / do not want to convey any
Information on that subject, but / want to
advise this jury 10 repel with scorn and in
dignatiOn any basa attempt OF this charsc-
ter on their virtue and integrity. The insult
is Of lasting intensity, and ] do hope that
when we get through this trial fairly you
may have information enough to enable the
court to lay its hands on men of this kind
on the men who have approached you in
this way.
81 hsYe called your attention to this sub
ject with another view-to give warning
to men of this kind of what they are about,
and that the officers of the law will do their
duty. II It Is possible to ferret out these
scoundrels It shall be done. Give them no
quarter. Spurn them with the end
Of your toes. No baser vermin in
fest the earth than the men who
engaged in this kind Of business,
and the insult to you is that they suppose
that you are just as base, just as low as they
are themselves. No man should allow a
whisper OF this kind to be made to him
without spurniDg It with the utmost scorn
and contempt. II ne goes further-I do not
advise violence at any time, of course do
not. But next to an insult that is given to
q mans wife is an insult of this kind to a
juror. His honOr should be as sacred and
carefully guarded as he would guard the
honor of his wife. Having said this much
cOllaterslly, st this point we can now take a
recess" +"
Judge Wylie's rsmarks, which were de-
liyered with great earnestness and in an in |
dignsnt tone, which showed that he meant |
every word he said, with, perhaps, the ex-
ception of his deprecation OF violence, 4
created a profound sensation, and the fore
man Of the jury, Mr.. VIM. Dickson, who is
probably one Of the jurors approached. rose
and said that after the disposition OF this
case he would lay the whole matter before
His Honor.
Then Mr.. HenkIe, counsel for Miner and
Vaile, rose, and on behalf of himself and OF
bis clients demanded an Investigation of the
charges that had been made.
The court-"We will see about that. We
will probably have it,"
Mr.. McSweeney-"We, too, want an in
vestigstOn."
Mr.. Wilson (emphaticallY)-"We want 1t |
all around"
A recess was then taken.
A great many reports are afoat tonight |
as to who it is that attempted to bribe the |
star route jury. The name Of a former at
tOrney of this city is connected with the |
attempt, but not authoritatively. Mr.. Mer- |
rick, of counsel for the prosecution, is |
quoted as saying that he had been aware of |
tne attempts at bribing the jury, but did not |
know that Judge Wylie was also |
informed, so that Judge Wylie's utterances
to day were surprise. to him. Mr.. Merrick
is also quoted as saying that he knew who |
had offered the bribes and the amounts. |
One of the jurors has been interviewed to |
night, and is reported as saying he has been
approached on two occasions by parties in |
behalf of the defense. Counsel for de- |
fense have been also interviewed, but pro-
fess entire ignorance.