Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-25
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE STAR ROUTE.
The Jury Still Listening to lngersOll.

WASHINGTON, May "a.
Ingersoll continued hi. address to the jury
in the star route case this morning.
Ingersoll said it was undoubtedly true that
contractors chose the routes with slow and
intrequent service, because they thought they
would be increased and expedited. Was it
a crime to make the best bargain you could
with the government? Was it not to be sup
posed that these gentlemen (the prosecuting
attornevs) made the best bargain they could
with the government? Was it not reas enable
to suppose that slow mail service in new
country would grow with that country and
eventually be made faster and trips more
frequent? Away went that prop. The coat
tails of that point were horizontalized in the
dim distance.
The prosecution. continued Mr.. Ingersoll
showed celebrated pencil memorandum
to Boone and he swore that the eliminating
part was probably in RerIelre handwriting.
Then they dismissed him after he had sworn
that their principal witness was forger they
| dismissed him. Could the jury doubt that
Boone knew everything that was going on?
Was there ever a conspiracy like this? News
of which ran like wildire through the West.
yet. of which Boone, in Washington, knew
nothing?
Ingersoll then read from Bliss opening
speech, But we shall show to you that at
least one U. S. senator, urging an increase.
was the paid agent Of the defendant" Where
was that evidence, he asked
Biss-I said | would do it if you would
put him on the stand
Ingersoil (sarcastically If we would fur.
nish the evidence. How could | know the
senator?
BIiss-Was there more than one?
Ingersoll-I say that there was not one.
I say that if you knew of any such person it
was your duty as L. S. attorney to bring him
to justice and if you did not do it you neg
lected your DUTY.
Bliss-Whose name was on the pencil
memorandum?
Ingersoll-Some such remark was made
the other day and striker out of the record.
That pencil memorandum bore the name Of
James II. Mitchell. (feelingly) I would not
for the world stain the reputation of another
when he WAS not present to defend himself
| II Is as bad t. stab The reputation as TO kill
the flesh, as bad to kill the honor of a man
as to put dagger in his heart.
Ingersoll wanted every fact in this case to
stand out like stars on dark night, without
doubt to cloud them. When the verJic.
was given he wanted every juror to be able
10 say that it was founded on the rock of
that it was not tainted with mis-.
statement or falsehood If he had
To prosecute a man. to take him from his
home and leave his freside to desolation,
and he succeeded in hi. case, and if after
that he should find out that he had made one
ni>-statement he would end-avor TO set that
man free oy every means in his power. II
they failed he would go down upon his knees
and beg his pardon. He would rather 20 to
The penitentiary himself. Maybe he was
WI he Rliss h. -
and making insinuations against everything
that WAS good and pure. Was it possible
that Bliss had so mean and small an opinion
of christian as TO believe tsat juror would
swear away mans liberty just to get even
with an infidel. He UngersolD knew that
rot one of the jurors would allow himself
to be prejudiced against his client because
they did not agree on q subject of which
neither party knew ANYTHING.
1ngersoll next made . vigorous defence of
John Dorsey. He asserted that he was alb