Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-13
THE STAR THIEVES.
Conclusion Of Their Trial in the Police
Court-4 Number Of Witnesses
Examined.
Some OF the Peculiar Workings of the
System shown UP-L0Ose Way
OF Doing Business.

WASHINGTON, > January l2--ln Inc star
route cases in the Police Court today, Bliss
proposed that if in the case now before the
coTrt-that OF Mennex, Cabell and Dickson
the prosecution failed to establish the exist
ence OF a conspiracy, counsel could sgree
to let the other cases stand adjourned until
ii became the pleasure of the Court TO take
them up. In the event OF failure 10 show
the existence OF such onspiracy, of course DO
prosecutions would be pressed before this
court.
This proposition led to some discussion by
the counsel. and the Court made stateme mt
defining the meaning of conspiracy under
the law, and said he had not fully decided
whether or not these cases will be within the
scope of the statutes which form the basis Of
the cases
Without action upon Bliss proposition,
the first witness, c. P. Webster, notary pub
lie, was called, who testified: Witness identi-
fed certain papers presented by the prose
cution as bids and contracts which he had
witnessed for Cabell.
A long wrargle between counsel ensued
over the admission OF these papers, but
they were finally put in evidence, the Court
reserving its decision with regard to the
legal rights in the matter. These papers
were bids and contracts on three OF the
Cabell routes, and much time was consumed
in tedious examination OF witnesses to prove
the validity OF the papers and all circum-
stances of their reception, and the awards
made on them were gone over.
Colonel Bliss explained that the defense
forced him to pursue this course by insisting
upon technicalities.
In the course of the examination Webster
testified to being present at Cabelrs house
and signing and sealing large numbers OF
these papers.
When gus STONED as to the persons present
when he did this work, the memory of the
witness failed him, and counsel for the de-
Tense charged Bliss with seeking to prompt
the witness.
Colonel Bliss repelled the charge, and said
Indignantly: II am not used to being ac-
cused OF subterfuge and wrong practices, and
| will not submit to these charges from any
gentleman"
Quite little tilt among counsel followed
the remark.
The witness being finally turned over to
the defense for cross-ex animation, Mr.. Web
ster said he had left his official seal at Ca
BELLS house over night; had never placed his
seal TO the paper until 1t was completed; I;
had authorized Cabell 10 attach the seal
to the papers, which be (Nebster) had wit
messed, although he had not seen all the
sureties sign their names; the bids were too
numerous tor him to be able to do that; he
said they had sworn TO their signatures
before he approved them; the papers were
all prepared when he was called in; be
might have been imposed upon by parties
representing themselves as signers.
George 81. Bre wer, clerk in the contract
office OF the postoffice department, testified
as to the methods of receiving bids and
awarding contracts in the pos;office depart
ment He did not know an instance where
the postmaster general had investigated the
security offered by the surety on the bid the
department relied upon the postmaster's in
dorsement OF the sureties
Colonel Bliss here again explained that the
department had no discretion in the matter.
They were compelled to accert the indorse-
ment of a ten cent postmaster. Colonel Bliss, in
putting the papers in evidence, called the
attention of the court to the fact that the
names of sureties, contractors and others in
the bids were printed, and only the final
signatures written. The fact, he said, would
tend to show the way these bids were ground
out. The bonds were worthless, and
Minnex and Dickson had sworn in them
to seven hundred and ffty-seven acres of
land in Morgan county, owned by them, was
worth $4,000, whereas Cabell, the original
owner, acknowledged having paid s. an acre
for it.
Mr.. Wilson followed by reading the
afiidavits which the case if based, and
claimed that even if all of the acts charged
in them were true there was no conspiracy.
Conspiracy meant intention to injure some
one. His clients had performed their duties
faithfully. 1t was necessary, he said, for
some one to perform this service. and no ID an
could find separate bond for every bid
if he went into business to any extent.
No one would deny W. w. Corcoran's right
10 go on a thousand bonds. Why should
they deny his clients the same right in due
proportion? 1t was wrong, also, to assume
that this property spoken of by the prosecu-
tion was the only protection the government
had in case of the failure of the contractor.
In fact the surtties were liable TO suits to the
full amount of their possessions.
Colonel Bliss replied at some length on
this point. At the close of his argument,
counsel for Cabell, who was surrendered by
his bondsmen last night, asked to have his
bale reduced, and Judge Smell fixed it at
$1,000, instead of $4,000, as originally de-
manded.
Pending adjournment, Colonel Bliss said
he desired to make a personal statement.
both for his own vindication and that of
Judge Shell. They had been charged with
dragging people from their beds, when the
fact was he had left warrants at police
headquarters at 2:15 o'clock in the afternoon,
with instructions to serve them as soon as
possible, so the defendant might secure bail
before night.
The court adjourned until tomorrow.