The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-21
Brafy Says He Never Had Any Money Trans
actions with Walsh, but Attempted
to Borrow Stocks from Him.
The President and Secretary FolgeT
to Make a Trip to Florida.
DepIorable State of Affairs Caused by the
Strife Among the Creek Indians
Judge Whites Successor,
THE srAR-RourE TRIAL.

Evidence Concerning the Price Checks.
WASHINGTON, March 2G-Mr. Ingersoll
continued his argument in the star-route
trial, this forenoon, in opposition to admis-
sion of evidence concerning the Price drafts.
He contended that unless the offered evil
dence tended to affect some other defendant
than Brady, it was incompetent 1t threw
no light upon the motive of Dorsey, of Mi
nor of Vaile, and in this case it threw ne
light upon Brady's motive. They could not
go back and get up criminal information
so that the jury would say, "Well, he did all
the other things; we guess he did that" For
the sake of argument he had assumed that
the charge was true, but it was not The
very fact that the government was seeking to
wander into other cases showed that it de-
SPARED of making anything OF this case.
The Court said the question at issue was
the relevancy of the offered evidence. If re-
ceived, 1t would only tend to prove crime on
Brady's part without associates, and that
was not proper, for none of the defendants
could be tried for individual crime under
this Indictment; therefore, the offer was ex-
cluded.
General Brady then resumed the witness
stand, and some questions were asked about
outside routes, when Mr. Wilson gave notice
that if the prosecution went outside the in
dictment and took up other routes, he would
feel called upon to go into the subject at
length.
The court replied that the rules of law
could not be relaxed merely to save time.
That had long ago ceased to be q subject for
consideration.
The inquiry turned upon the congressional
investigation, and the witness reiterated many
answers given during its progress.
Mr.. Bliss asked if the witness knew what
member of Congress interested himself in
the Mineral Parke-Pioche route.
II do" said Brady.
Question-Who?
Answer-I must decline to say
Mr.. Bliss again put the question, and wit
ness said he had no objections to naming the
persons who instituted the movement but
he had objections to naming the persons who
had concerned themselves in subse-
quent orders, The Nevada senators
and representatives, and the Utah delegate.
had interested themselves in the route, and,
among others, Senator Jones.
Mr.. Bliss remarked that the papers did not
show the Endorsements of any of the persons
named.
The witness was asked to explain his rea-
sons for cutting down service upon the Min
eral Park-Pioche route and restoring it
within a short time. He said the service had
been reduced because it was not properly
executed; afterward it was represented
to him that great injustice had been done the
contractors.
Mr.. Bliss asked who had represented that
the reduction was an injustice to the con-
tractors. Hesitatingly the witness answered:
'The contractors themselves. believe that
phase of the question was also presented
with great stress by Senator
Plumb, of Kansas who said he was a friend
of the contractors and knew injustice had
been done them" The witness was con-
vinced the fault was with the sub-contract-
ors, who delayed the trips at the Colorado
river, and that if the service was restored the
contractor would make it good service.
Mr.. Bliss called his attention to the fact
that the reason given in the Endorsement
upon the Jacket for restoring the service
did not mention the contractors, but referred
only to the importance of the route as a
connecting link in the railway system
"Was that reason true?" he asked the wit
ness, who responded in the affirmative
adding; THAT was one reason, but not the
greater reason"
Mr.. Bliss (abruptly)-"What had Senator
Plumb, Kansas senator, to do with this
Arizona routep'
The witness-"He could probably answer
that question more correctly than l could"
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
Various questions Of technical nature
were put to witness regarding different
routes, such as his reasons for expediting a
route to a certain number of hours. Many
of his reasons he failed to recall, but, looking
at his papers, he would give such explana-
tions of the circumstances as. in his mind
justified the orders. Where service had been
discontinued and one months extra pay al
lowed to the contractor although mail had
never been carried to the station, the witness
denied any knowledge of such fact. He said
even if the circumstances were as stated by
counsel, the contractor would have been
justified in refusing to carry the mail, on ac-
count of misstatement of distance.
Speaking of the affidavit upon the Touquer-
ville-Adairville route, the witness said he
had not examined into it far enough to see
that it required every man mentioned to
travel forty hours in every twenty-four He
was asked why he had not increased the
compensation Of the contractors on the
Vermillio Falls route, as in the case
of the Tongue river route. He answered
that he was not aware that the distance in the
first case was wrongly advertised.
Mr. Bliss produced a distance circular
showing the error, but the witness declared
he had never seen it before,
"Did you ever see any papers in the de-
partment that you did not want?' queried
Mr.. Bliss. sharply.
A.-Yes, but there were so many, and
upon such various subjects, that / cannot
remember them. He added that in this case
1t was the duty of the corresponding clerk to
have discovered and called attention to the
circular.
Mr.. Bliss showed that the order itself made
the error apparent, but the witness said
French had made the order, and that his in
dorsement "Do this-Brady," had probably
been written after description of the distance.
Mr.. Bliss inquired why the Prescott.Santa
Fe route had been expedited under Walshs
cor tract.
WITNESSES recollection was that the service
had been expedited originally under Melon