The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-08
THE CASE OF DORSEY.
Motion for continuance refused.


WASHINGTON, Dec. Tin the Supreme Court
of the District, criminal term, all jurors sum-
moned being in attendance, District Attorney
Corkhill announced that the government was
ready 10 proceed in the case of the United
States against Thomas j. Brady and Others.
| The government was represented by Cnrkbill,
Bliss and Merrick the defendants by Davidge,
Wilson, Ingersoll, Carpenter Wiltshire, HiDkle,
and Others. Col. Ingersoll submitted motion
for the continuance of the case, and read the
affidavit of Stephen w. Dorsey, stating that he
cannot safely proceed TO trlai now or al the
present term because his personal attendance
would be absol tely necessary for his defence,
and because his attendance is impossible on
account of his health. The affidavit relates
that he has been affected with disease OF the
eyes, obligipg him to remain in a dark room
He says he intends to offer himself as witness
on his own behalf and the defendants, and to
swear there has been no such conspiracy as
charged, and that each and all of the alega-
tlonS of the Indictment are untrue. The am
davit is sustained by the affidavits of Drs. Mar
mon. Bliss, Sewers and others. Mr.. Merrick
opposed the motion; and after long coloquy
between Judge Wylie and Col. Ingersoll, in
which the latter urged the condition OF bis
client, the court overruled the motion and
Ingersol excepted to the ruling. and then
asked time to go TO his clients room and secure
his signature to another paper. Recess for this
purpose was granted.
AT noon Mr. Wilson, counsel for the de-
swern to and signed by all the defendants, SET
ting out that they cannot safely go to trial at
the present term because of acts of officers of
the government in endeavoring to influence
public opinion against the defendants, aud in
timidate and coerce witnesses, jurors and the
officers OF the court who have the selection
and control OF the jurors. They also charge
that Judge Wylie is SO biased and prejudced
against them that he cannot fairly and impar-
TALLY administer the law, and that by reason
of such prejudice and bias they cannot have a
fair and impartial trial before him. They
therefore ask that the case shall go over till
next term, when another judge will hold
court The paper having been read in full,
judge Wylie remarked that the only question
in his mind was whether he would allow such
paper to go OF record. He characterized the
paper as an insult to the court.
Col. Bliss said this case bore great resem-
blance to the famous Tweed case, in which the
counsel sought 10 file similar paper, and were
committed for contempt for making the at
tempt.
Judge Wylie decided that the paper could
be filed, but that it would be the last of it.
Mr.. Wilson then read another affidavit, of
Thomas j. Brady as the basis for a motion to
be tried separately from the other defendants.
Judge Wylie overruled this motion, to which
counsel took exception
Attorney General Brewster here entered the
court and took a seat with the government
counsel.
Mr.. Wilson submitted motion for bill of
particulars, which was also overruled Vari-
GUS other preliminary motions made on the
last trial were renewed, and the rulings then
made were repeated. Some discussion ensusd
upon the question of another argument upon
the right of each defendant to four peremp
tory challenges, but without deciding the mat
ter the court adjourned.