The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-16
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL,
General Expression of Disapproba-
ton at the Verdict.
Brady and Kellogg to Plead Next
Week.

| week.
WASHINGTON June 15.-There is almost as
much discussion Of the Star route verdict TO-
| day as there was yesterday. The government
counsel are unable TO recover from their
amazement, but tactly admit that the verdict
/ seems to indicate the impoSsibility of convict
! ing IN this district any persons Of great wealth
and political prominence. The government
has no further charges against Dorsey. Ii has
two indictments against Brady--one in conneo-
! tion with Kellogg and one in connection with
/ Price. Brady and Kellogg are to be required
TO plead next week. but the government seems
| TO have no intention OF pressing the cases TO
| trial this fall. Senator kellogg, indeed is
quoted in the local papers as beiag the hap.
| piest man in Washington over the result OF
| the trial, and as stating that in his Judgment
| the result can only be an order from the Ad-
| ministration for dismissal of the suits. Some
| lawyers maintain that the government has in
sufficient legal grounds upon which TO base
| the proposed civil suits.
Surprise is manifested that in view Of the
! result of the star route trial the government
| lawyers did not attempt TO secure an act which
would authorize them to have special jury
for Tho second trial. The views OF govern
inent counsel were sought upon this subject
and the answer is, that the pressure of public
/ opinion was so great and the demands of the
/ dcpdAlHlblb VI JustiCo 50 urgent tOk IN llnillS-
| diate trial and a speedy conclusion that il was
/ deemed expedient 70 delay the trials for the
! time necessary to secure such legislation. The
/ last Star route trial ended in September, Con-
/ greSs met in December. There would have
| been no certainty that any law OF that sort
| could have been passed before the last OF the
session, and those oil the government counsel
/ who have been seen think that tho public
| would not have been satisfied il the second
trial had been delayed pending attempts 70
~,
not have been successful. Mr. Merrick, speak
| ing upon tins subject this morning, said: ''The
| first trial ended about the middle of Septem-
ber Congress had adjourned. Ths second
began December 1st. Congress had not re-
| assembled, or / should unquestionably have
made the effort. ] urged the necessity Of
| pestponing the second trial until action looking
| to the remedy OF the evils OF our jury system
| could have been taken by Congress. Bat the
| government aud the people insisted upon &C.
| tion without delay"
Press Comments.
| New YORK, June 15.--0t the star route YER
| dict tho Herald says: sThe verdict of tho
| jury has not merely acquitted the defendants;
| il condemns the Attorney General and his
| helpers. Ii declares on the oaths Of twelve
| men that the Government brought false charg-
| es sgainst these defendants. That is q seri-
| Gus matter; it is an injury for which these men
ought TO have redress from the Government ("
The Sun says: "It Is a mistake to scppose
| that either ia England or America the people
undertake 10 punish by legal process every
man who may have committed a crime. Only
| those are to suffer thus whose guilt is 50 plain
that twelve men sitting IN judgment have no
| doubt of it. II the defendants in the star
| route case could not bs brought within this
| category they were entilled to go free; and we
can-only regret that the proof failed 10 estat-
| lish their responsibility for a crime of which
We believed them TO Do guilty"
The World says; ''The false verdict rendered
by the jury in the star route prosecution is
more than a failure of justice. 1t is public
| calamity. This is a blow at justice. II is an
| encours cement to dishonesty. 1t is a tempta-
ton TO crime. Persons Of lax mortality will
| learn from it that If thes can become political
managers aud lay by large fund or counsel
| fees, they can snap their fingers in the face Of
| the law and make certain OF Immunity. IL
! will tend to bring discredit on Republican in
stitutions at home aud abroad. The trial will
| appear as 5urlesque and it will be Insisted
| by enemies OF Republican ideas that there is
| no punishment for public stealing under a
Re ublican form of Government
The Tribune says: The jury system is not
| likely to gain in popular estimation by the
verdict rendered yesterday at Washington.
/ Tue most serious reverse expected for the pros
eeution was disagreement; instead Of that
there comes, after more than forty hours OF de-
| liberation, judgnsnt Of acquittal, not only
| ending this case in triumph for the defendants.
| but greatly discouraging TO say the least any
| further star route prosecutions. The defend
ants escape the penalties Of the law, but they
| cannot escape general condemnation. The
/ people will perhaps find comfort in the refiec-
tion that they have paid an enormous ptics for
their escape ia the expenses Of two trials, and
/ have been punished TO that extent at least"
The Times says, under the head OF ''Justice
/ Defeated: "The verdict of the star route Jury
| is one that will give comfort and encourage
ment 10 all who think IL is no sin 10 steal from
tue Treasury of the United States. To the
honest people Of the nation it is result unex-
| pected aud unGesired, a grIeyous dlsappoint-
Inent and fresh revelation OF the power OF
| wealthy and unscrupuous graduates of the
| school OF practical politics when confronted
IN the courts of Washington by the proofs Of
their yilainy
| BosToN, June Is. = The Advertiser says:
Among the incidents in an eventful trial
among ths surprises diyersifying the monotony
cI weary litigation, there IS nothing co fully a
| surprise as The verdics itself. The country has
| feared disagreement never this, though pos
| sble verdict. 1t remembers how the last ver-
| dict stood, nine TO three for conviction; that
| the dissenting three are under indictment or
| the evidence convinced the judge and drove
one Of the defendants into the plea Of guilty. ("
| l. remembers the cnurge Of the defendants. IL
thinks and judges. The finding may not alter
! its verdict"
| The Post says: "There seems TO be but a
| single sentiment among decent people OF wnat
| ever parry, ard that one OF disgust aud shame"
The Herald says: "0t the actual, moral
| guilt Of the accused, there can be, and is, no
| doubt. Bat clear rs the moral guilt may be,
| there are many persoDs who have doubted
from the first, whet her the fact OF a conspiracy
| could be legally established. Enough consid-
| GRAFTON has not been given to the point, to
| which we have often called attention, that
| Congress had purpc-ely left tho law so loose,
| aud placed such wide discretion IN the hands
OF the contract officer OF the post ofice depart
ment, that there might be robbery, which was
| not stealing"
| The Globe says that the jury was apparently
| composed of ten blockheads--m0re or ers open
| to suspicion OF being also knaves-one prodig-
| ious fool and Que common drunkard, and their
| verdict ia the result OF lovely combination OF
| iDcompeteney and delirium tremens. The
| trial concludes with shameful buFesque on
the jury sysiem. A juror who has been 1or six
| mouths under he control OF court officers falls
| to the floor ia I'll OF the jim-jams because his
wbiskey ration is stopped, and then he Is filed
| up with brandy and sci up 10 the box 10 pass
| upon questions which able attorneys have
wrangled over for moEths.
The Presidents Position.
| Attorney General Brewster says that through.
| out the trial the support OF the President
has been earnest and sincere. President
| Arthur has told him (Bfewster) that
| he wanted the defendants 10 be brought 10
| justice at any cost. In the matter OF expense,
| Mr.. Brewster SAID bhb plan Oh the prosecutions
was prepared and the expense virtually IN.
Cured before he was selected as Attorney Cen
eral. lie had retained Mr.. Bliss because he
! vas familiar with the case BEFORE Whom he
| found the cost Of the trial would be 30 great lie
could not let him leave the case ON the score OF
| economy, because it would be said that he had
| parted with the only who could have
brought the trials 10 successful issue. Mer-
rick and Ker were retained because Of theiI
| abilities and their democratic lpolitics.
What Foreman Crane Says.
| "How did the jary regard the eviderce Of
| Rerdel?" asked reporter OF John III. Crane,
| foreman Of the jury.
"Tbere was not one of Them" said Crane,
"that believed word that Rerdell or Moore
| said, or much Of what Walsh said. 1t was an
| impossible story thst Walsh would allow Bra
dy to take S25 600 in his notes from bin and
| put them into his pocket, aud then part With
| him like a philosopher. IL was too absurd. A
man OF his ilk, il Brady should do such a
thing, was likely, at lealt 10 sing out, "stop
| thief"
"Do you think" asked the reporter, "tbal
any Of the jurors we're influenced improperly
'No, do not" said Crane During the
whole trial none OF the lawyers on either side