Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-18
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
PrOceedings in the Criminal Court To.
day.

was recalled by Mr.. Bliss, and identified copy Of
letter sent By himself to ex-senator Dorsey.
The witness was cross examined by Mr.. IngerSoll
He said the copies OF the letters did not contain
all that the letters contained, but only the por-
tions the witness thought important to retain
He wrote the letters because he had been doing
some work for Mr.. Dorsey; he had Sub-let two con-
tracts, and got up petitions for Mr. Dorsey on
three routes. He did not get up falSehoois about
the Eugene City route, which he did not consider
square and honest.
AN OBJECTION SUSTAINED.
Mr. 1ngersOn asked witness II he had not ad-
v1sed against expedition On one Of the Dorsey
routes and the discontinuance of another, but
objection was made and sustained.
Mr. cHAHDLRRs POINT
Mr.. Ingersoll submitted to the witness copies of
two letters which the witness said he had received
from Mr.. Dorsey. The witness having identified a
newspaper article referred to in his letters
to ex-senator Dorsey the question was raised by
Mr. Chandler as to the perttnence or proprety OF
admitting evidence as to actions of the witness in
Oregon and not in the District, which, II they had
any effect or fruit, it was in the petitions filed
here In the department.
THE COURT SAID
that it had been ruled that the conspiracy could
be proved by circumstances.
Mr.. Bliss stated that he was re-examining the
witness upon matters brought out by Mr.. Inger-
soil. AS the defence had opened the question as
to what the witness had done, the court permitted
the e-direct examination as to the actions OF the
witness.
WHAT Mr.. BLISS PROPOSED TO SHOW
Mr.. McSweeny having called upon Mr. Bliss to
state what they proposed by producing the news
paper article Mr. Bliss stated that he proposed to
show that. under the direction of Mr.. Dorsey, the
witness wrote many articles, some of which he
succeeded in having printed In the papers; that
he wrote the article in question: got David New
sum, well-known resident OF that section. to sign
it. then sent the article to Dorsey with its history
and that Mr. Dorsey filed it in the department as
~ Nvo %o,r
Ing the expedition.
THE COURT RULES AGAINST IT.
The court said that the truth Of the article had
not been impeached, and he did not consider It
competent evidence as it was perfectly legitimate
to havc articles published in the newspapers and
to get up petitions. The prosecution charged in
the Indictment that the conspiracy was formed for
the purpose OF defrauding the government by
lions. They now propose TO prove that the witness
Was employed by dorsey to get up papers that
state the truth and advocate the expedition Of the
route by the publication OF the truth. 81 don't
cite this clse.'
Mr. Bliss said then that they proposed to show
that the article did not state the truth
Mr. Carpenter said the prosecution could not i'm
peach its own witnesses.
Judge Nylie observed that It had not been
shown that Mr.. Dorsey had instructed the witness
TO get up false articles or petitions.
Mr. Merrick argued that the paper was conpe-
tent, as showing the means taken by Dorsey to
secure the desired orders increased.
The court reiterated It's decision that there was
netting crinins in having petions and articles
qu'inted with public affairs Knows that there Is
not public improvement but that there are par
parties have right to use the press In adver-
tising the work, and they don't always confine
themselves to the truth"
"Certainly," Interrupted Mr. Inyersoll. "the
government ought not to object to the use Of the
press" - ~
Judge Wylle continuing, said that as time was
valuable the court did not think 1t right spend
1t IN Investigating matters leading to no result.
Aller long discussion, Judge Wyle having de-
cllned TO admit testimony as to the witness
actions prior to May 2sl, 1879 except it purported
10 prove pre-exstIns conspiracy, the witness
was excused from the stand.
A COLORADO LAWYER CALLED.
Thos G. Putnam, a lawyer, OF Denver, Col, was
next called to the stand and testified to having
conducted suit in 1880, for Frank X. Wilcox
against Senator Dorsey. He had then in hts
possession letters from ex-senator Dorsey to WILL
coxs claim against Dorsey was for about $500;
Dorsey was represented by c. ". Tankersly as his
attorney; Witness delivered the letters to Chas.
w. wright, an attorney. Witness had copies made
OF them before he surrendered them.
At 1t appeared the copies were not made by him.
put IN his presence, the question was raised that
copies.
After some discussion, Mr. Bliss withdrew his
Denver, who assisted in copying the letters, was
called to the stand.
ANOTHER RULING BY JUDGE wYLIE
Mr.. Bliss onered in evidence one Of the letters
copied by the witness. Objections were made
that the date was prior to the alleged conspiracy:
that there was DO proof that such letters were
ever written by ex-senator Dorsey, and that the
substance OF the letter was mmatariaL After a
long discussion disc OF the objections Judge Wylle
ruled that 1t must be proved that the letters were
mitted.
The court then took recess
AFTER RECESS.
Mr.. Putnam was recalled to the stand, and pro-
duced kilograms received by him from Woodward
& woodward, W1lcox's attorneys in oregon, in
structing him as to proceedings regarding the suit
against Dorsey.
An objection was made to the admission of the
telegrams, which was argued at length.
MR. MERRICK'S PROTEST..
Mr.. Merr1ck, while arguing for the admission OF
the kilograms, protested against Interruptions.
against guffawing. 'This is a serious case," he
said yesterday. Il object to this minimizing the
case which is the strongest position the other
SIDE can tase Is cas- case In which the govern
million year for the music made by the other
side"
Judge Wylie decided to admit the telerrams
which were replies to queries from Mr. Putnam to
letters. +.
JOHN A. WALSH CALLED.
John A. Walsh was then called by Mr.. Bliss and
In the court, some Of the defendants who were out
OF the courtroom coming In to hear what he had
to say.
The crier announced that Mr. Walsh had gone
to MI. Hines Office While waiting for Mr.. Walsh
Cyrus Marks, OF Pueblo, Colorado, a clerk in the
post Ofice there, was called to the stand The
witness was examined as to the time Of the depar-
tuIe and arrivals OF mails at Pueblo.
Walsh's Story as Told I'm New York
Mr.. Thos. A. Walsh, who was recently before the
grand jury OF this District in connection with the
star route frauds, has been interviewed at length
in New York. He Is quoted as exhibiting drafts
which were paid on account Of services in connec-
tion with the star routes. He (Walsh) also exhi-
bted checks paid. as he alleges to A. c. Buell., by
order OF Brady. for services purporting to have
been rendered by Buell. before the subcommittee
OF appropriations. He exhibited other drafts to
the amount OF $15 00o .These, he said, .'were on
sccoqnt Of OF route No 81, ,14S, and were deposited by
senator sen w: r Kellogg, one-halt for the account OF
Gen. brady and 0ne-half for himself The two
$l,3 ,35O drafts were on account OF route 81, 120,
handed In directly from Gen. Brady for credit Of
nis own account" He exhibited number OF the
dralts paid 70 Kellogg's order, and principally
!ndorsed Dy him, as proof OF his connection with
tneSe mail transactions through hts afnliatiOns
WIN James y. Price, who had mail contracts in
LOUISIANA and Texas. Welsh states that Kellogg
COld MIN substantially that the Price drafts and
the Price note OF $ 600 discounted by Walsh" were
given Oy Price to kellogg sfor expedittng and In