National Republican., 1883-03-13
srAn RouTE STORIES

Read with All the Prosy FormHIity OF
the Great Trial and EnIivcncd Now and
Then with Few spnts Between Coun-
sci.
The defense opened the days proceedings
in tho star route trial by calling Delegate
Martin McGnuis, of Montana, TO the witness
stand. He said that he had favored the cs-
tablishmont of the Bismarck Tongue river
route because it was the natural eastern out
let for the mails of his territory. After its cs-
tablshment he had sought to have the service
increased and expedited. Did that in compli-
anCo with the requests of delegations and pc
titions. He called upon Brady with that OBJ
jcct several times thought that Gen. Miles
accompanied him on two of these occasions.
Before the establishment of the Tongue river
route, the Salisburys controlled the only in
let into the country, and 1t was with the adj
ditional object of breaking up the monopoly
that witness sought to have the service cstab.
lshcd. The contractor and the amount of
pay were unknown to him; that knowledge
was not within his province.
The witness described the condition of the
country at the time the route was established,
aud its growth up to the present time.
At the conclusion of his testimony tho in
PRODUCTION Of official papers was resumed.
The court showed much annoyance at at
upon the admssibility of a certain class of
papers after the court had ruled them out,
and peremptorily ordered Mr.. Hcnklc to be
seated. That gentleman promptly noted nn
exception to the language of the court, to
which Judge Wylic reoncd sharply The
court will use any language That VIII be
effective for the purpose, and will not stop ut
language either"
Mr.. Wilson offered in evidence paper in
connection with the Kcarney-Kent route,
showing he asserted, that Brady had refused
a request for expedition, although II the gov
ornment's theory was correct he might nave
pockoted some money without risk by grant
ing the request.
Mr. Merrick objected because 10 was an
offer to show that man had not committed
one fraud by showing that he did not commit
another and subsequent fraud. At the date
of this refusal, 1850, Brady's acts were under
investigation by congress he had been called
upon to explain the deficiency of $2OOO,OOO; ;
all of the contractors had been warned of their
danger, and had been called upon to stand by
Brady for his protection as well rs their own.
The court said that il could not assume at
this stage that the government had proved
fraud, for that was what they were trying
The motives of the second assistant post
master general were worthy of serious con-
sideration; the act offered to be proved
tended to throw light upon those motives,
and the paper should be admitted. Mr..
Merricks statement about the congressional
investigation was not a matter for the court
to pass upon it was rather for the jury to
consider. Walshs testimony had been intro
duced to show Brady's habits, and this evil
dence would be received for the same pur-
pose.
A reference TO Peck in some of the papers
led the court to inquire, is Peck dead
$nerc has been no evidence Of his DEATH"
Mr. Ingcrsol presumed sO--"At any rate
his viip has bppu "A widow several wears ~
Mr. Merrick said that no witness had testi-
fed to his death.
Mr. Ingersol said that there could be no
doubt of Peck's death still he believed that
the government suspected that he was alive.
MI Mcrrick. Well, he has always been II myth
ical sort of person.
Mr. Ingersoil. lie has been>a myth and is now a
ghost.
Mr. Merrlck. Yes, he is now a ghost; and who
signs his name since hC mas become ghost donl
know. Laughter
The reading of the papers was continued VI
to the adjournment.