Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-01

Owing to the restrictions imposed by law upon
evidence at a trial OF joint DEFENDANTS under q
charge OF conspiracy at the present, well as at
the former trial, great deal OF time has been
pended In the consideration OF Testimony which has
been neither sensational. nor has each piece or
evidence, construed by Its own light alone, ap-
peared very important. To properly appreciate
the strength OF the chain OF evidence, it must be
considered In connection with the testimony of
Walsh. Mac Veagh and James, which under the
rules OF evidence as expounded by Judge Wylie, at
the last trial. cannot be introduced until the CON-
mon interest OF the conspirators, is proved, or a
T''ind tacie case OF conspiracy Is made out.
Then the peculiar methods OF Dorsey and his fell
lows In bidding for contracts their extraordinary
dealings and agreements with sub-contractors, the
uniformity of Bradys rulings In their BEHALF and
the singular faith Brady placed in their adavits,
representations. and petitions, and the precedence
he gave to them over the reports OF officials OF the
department OF which he was a CHIEF officer will
stand out with a new and deep Significance. AT
the former trial the prosecution made an effort to
Introduce the testimony showing the corrupt
Outstanding between Brady anc the contractors at
the outset which effort, II 1t had not been defeated
by the rules OF evidence, would have filled the
whole comse OF the trial with light and given the
Jury clear conception OF the value of what super
ncially appeared TO be mass OF very dull and IN
important testimony. The counsel for defense
had until recently endeavored to bring the efforts
OF the prosecution into contempt by Sneerfng at
this mass OF, as yet, unilluminated testimony,
though their own appreciation OF its damaging
character was evinced in their vigorous attempts
to obtain Its exclusion from the record.
The Introduction at the present time OF
the testimony CT A. W. Moore, the agent Of
W. Dorsey, in arranging for service on the route,
and A. E. Boone, who at first held an interest In
the various contracts, has, however, been suffi-
Gent TO shed a very strong light ON the transac-
lions of Brady and the contractors, and to show
the reason why the defense have made such labor
fouS efforts TO discredit the witnesses and be-
little their evidence. The case Of the prosecution
at present is In O much more promising condition
than at the corresponding stage OF the former
trial The foundation has been carefully laid, and
the government has already been able to intro
duce evidence through Moore and Boone of a cor
rupt understanding. When the light of the testi-
Dlony OF Walsh, MacVeagh and James-which
would have been intensified by that of Spencer If
to Europe, taking his Illuminating power with
him-iS flashed out 1t will confirm the very strong
opinion OF guilt already formed in the minds of
those who have followed the testimony
The testimony of Moore, the importance OF
which may be measured by the frequency of the
braggart proclamations OF the defense, OF their
purpose to contradict him, has been since he left
the stand, strongly corroborated by Sub-con-
tractors and others, who have testified to arrange
ments made with them by Moore In the name of
Dorsey and Miner.