The Evening critic., 1883-05-11

tinuance, with every prospect OF reaching
June before we know what tho Jury will do.
Those who have read reports of the trial, as
published in tho papers, have received only
that part OF tho proceedings which favored tho
prosecution. The offlcial reports read quite
differently at times and supply many omis-
sions in the evidence. The public has clamor-
thieves" as they are called, and the reporters
knowing what their readers want, have dono
their best to present tho conviction side OF tho
case. The evidence has not been faisined, but
has been suppressed, in many instances, In
such parts as would make favorable showing
for the defense. In this way the. public has
1t has wanted this kind of Information and
would not have been patient with any other.
But With everything presented in its most
rersd for the defense, that same impatient pub
lie sees no conviction OF the indicted parties,
analyze the facts given forth, and, although
the case as presented In the daily prints, is
somewhat OF one'slded affair, some remark.
able things are apparent. First, II IL noticed
that the only witness OF prominence. II not
credibility, for the prosecution are McVeagh
and James, and these obtained their knowledge
ateecond hand. They were really no witnesses
at all, but simply repeating the utterances Of
Rerdell in n confession made to them before the
first trial: There may be some other witnesses
OF credibility, but they are not sufficiently
prominent TO be recalled In memory, while
the majority are mon whose characters are
badly smirched. on the contrary, the defense
have produced such men Secretary Teller,
Congressman Belford, General Sherman and
Army officers stationed on the frontier, whose
knowledge of the wants of the country In mall
facilities, cannot be questioned, and these men
all speak from personal observation, and facts
originally known to them. Their evidence
was not filtered through confession of cul-
prlt pleading guilty to escape punishment.
The public also notices singular anomaly
ms regards the Cabinet There is Attorney.
General Brewster raving mad In his efforts to
convict Brady and Dorsey, and Secretary Tel
Ter appearing In their defense as a witness
'clothed in his right mind" 1 use the
words craving mad' In regard to Brews
ter advisedly. His madness is temporary, but
frequent
Again, the public notices that the principal
witness for the rosecutlon-Rerdell- en-
tering plea of guilty, goes on to the stand
and testiies to the effect that he never did
in any individual action of his own, or In q con.
spiracy with any one else. His actions ana
his evidence are contradictory throughout. So
much the public has seen. will give q few
observations OF my own, mixed with a few
facts that are not generally known, and let the
reader draw conclusions.
To begin at the beginning, we see the pros
ecution instigated by Gibson-a notorious
black-mailer-who had bundled up the In
for use by Tilden in the campaign of 1880.
That antediluvian not receiving the nomina-
tion, the stur Gibson had in his possession
was sold to Macveagh for $4,000. In this sale
he was aided by Woodward, a Postof1lce In
spector dismissed by Key at Bradys instance,
and reinstated by James: These two worthless
| rolling for the past two years at an expense to
the Government OF over S1,O00,000.
Macveagh and James handled the case long
enough to see that they had an elephant on
| their hands, and were happily relieved by
| the death of Garfield and the disruption of his
| Cabinet. When Brewster came in the case
was his asa legacy. Ho thought he saw an
| opportunity to distinguish himself, and
jumped at 1t with avidity. He has spent
| All the Money
| on 1t at his disposal, and so exhausted the ap-
| RI N m
| parts Of the country have been obliged to
suspend for lack Of funds to pay witnesses
| and Jurors. Of1icers OF these courts are utter.
| ing fierce complaints, and denounce the unfair
and unequal distribution Of the funds for the
administration Of Justice. Many are already
demanding an investigation OF the disposi-
tion OF the fund which belongs to all the
courts alike and is wanted at other points as
| well as in Washington.
ored in all their business transactions to make
| as good bargains as possible and obtain all the
money that could be had as result of their
| bargains. Such Is the way with business men
| generally. The defendants in the case under
discussion are accused OF doing just what
many engaged In the prosecution are doing.
on which the indictment was found, and then
Rerdell gets $4,000 for pleading guilty and
| then testifying to the innocence OF himself
and co.conspirators. RerdelTs attorney also
| gets $4,000 for advising him to confess and
throw himself upon the mercy OF the Court.
| The act was money in Rerdell's pockets and
his attorney got good deal better and more
easily-earned fee than he would have received
from Dorsey, in all probability, who was pay
master for Rerdell up to the day of his con-
fession.
Bliss, who is an importation from New York,
gets 500 a day as principal op attorney In the
day as fees. They may have some interest
in the trial dragging Its slow length along,''
but they stoutly maintain they are sacrificing
their private business in the interest Of the
Government. Merrick almost sheds tears at
the decay OF his practice, although he has on
| vidual attention. These figures are for their
per diem allowances alone. They are paid In
addition all expenses for streetcar and car
riage hire; railroad fare to New York OF
| wherever they may choose to go; lunches and
dinners, when not convenient for them to go
home; hotel bills, when out of the city; items
for blacking boots, shaving, hair-dressing
messenger boys and telegraphic and tele-
| phonic service. I have not heard OF tailors
and shoemakers being paid for services rem
| dered tho Department OF Justice In their par
ticular lines OF business, but they Will be
worked in after while II this curious exhibi-
The books Of the Department Of Justice sSov
that Ker drew between the first of September
and first OF November, 1SS2-sixty-one days
| $1,000. The court was in session but thirteeI
days during this period. His per diem woulC
not amount 10 this sum. What did he do with
the money This is question which Dem
ocratic House OF Representatives will hav
answered next winter. Democrats are alread,
chuckliDg over the capital this trial Will affort
them In the next Presidential campaign.
III the Government has good and clear cas-
against the Star-Route conspirators, as the.
ere called. why is 1t compelled TO keep al
army OF detectives, spies and informers con
stantly under pay? Every 1uryman, ever,
defendant and every one openly friendly t
the indicted parties Is shadowed from the mo
ment he leaves his home in the morning unit
he returns TO 1t In the evening, and his plac
OF residence ia
Watched at Night
| TO see who goes In and who comes out. Dali,
reports are made of all this work OF surveil
lance, and everything deemed of importanc
Is recorded. Every movement OF the defend
ants Is known TO the prosecution. Mail col
riers on the plains, on the Pacific coast, an
everywhere Star-Route exists, have bee
pumped for Information by these detectives
In the hope OF finding evidence for conviction
Thousands Of miles have been travelled owe
mountains In the bitter cold of winter, throug
snow storms at the risk OF life, and thousand
OF dollars expended in the search for convict
ing. testimony. Brewster declared In advanc
| Of the trial that he would convict Brady AM
Dorsey. He has certainly tried to do sc
whether II is an honest and patriotic effort o
not the public viii correctly Judge when 1t ha
all the facts OF which 1t VIII be possessed afte
| awhile.
But the defendants have had detectives, toe
| and number OF lawyers under good pay
That is their private affair, however, and II l
not the public money they are spending. The
are contending as individuals against q pow
/, erful Government-contendingf for liberty an
the preservation OF character. The contest
, unequal, and II they succeed, 1t will show a
, endurance and a power IN legal skill neye
before exhibited IN this country or In tn
world. II they fail they are ruined, and eve
, II they succeed some of them Will be impovel
> ished: Their all is at stake, and they 1gt
with desperation. The Government has M
haU rln nj xuI