National Republican., 1883-05-11
The Argument Suspended in Order to lnvesh-
gate His Position in Regard to It
Mr. Blackmar Tells Exactly What He
Proposed to Do as Defendant.
His Proposition Reported 10 the Government Counsel
But Not Accepted.
An Interesting Episode In the Star Route
TrinI-nIr. Wilson Resumes.

clearly that Blackmar had made no PROPOSE
tion TO Rerdcll, but had merely listened to
proposition coming from him. The court
wished now to confne its censure to Rerdell.
Mr. Dayidge said he believed that the court
did not fully understand the matter. 1t was
not a mere proposition, but an infamous bar
gain between Rerdell and q government
agent to affect the composition of the jury.
He was willing to suspend the argument in
order to let Blackmar take the stand and say
whether or not he acted under orders.
Mr.. Ker replied that the matter had been
fully investigated Rerdell had been exam
iped and re.examined, but if IL would satisfy
the defense they could examine Blackmar,
and he was sure that Blackmar would come
out all right.
Mr.. Davidge declared that IL was not for the
defense to call Backmar. The record showed
that u government agent did take part in that
iniquitous proceeding.
The court did not so understand the evil
dcnce. Mr.. Blackmar could take the stand,
however.
Mr.. Ingersoll conducted the examination.
The witness said that he was present in the
court room when Rerdell testified in regard
to this subject.
Mr.. Ingerson You can state what you wish
The witness. made no arrangement of the kind
with Rerdell. He said he was willing to go ON the
O. Did he say he would sit with the defendants
anu challenge jurors at the governments sugges-
4. He said he would exercise his privilege as a
defendant to challenge jurors.
q. How? For or against the government?
A. / was TO communicate that TO the govern.
ment lie gave me list of persons he would
yhsnGS S SavI SSsb SSys Il now ws a. %e Hn$ n$
supposed that l would be examined. /
communicated the proposition to Mr. MeTrlck
think gave that list to him, but cannot be posi-
tive Cannot remember the names on that list; am
willing to furnish the list If 1t can be found.
Mr.. Ingcrsoll inquired if the witness knew
that Rerdell had attempted to carry out his
proposition.
The witness said that his only knowledge
on that point had been derived from the rec
ord. 1t was not understood that Rerdell was
TO challenge Jurors for the government When
witness reported to Mr.. Mcrrick he was di-
rected to listen to Rerdell, and cautioned what
TO say in reply.
Mr.. Merrick ordered witness to say
to Rerdel that the proposition could not be
entertained; it would not be proper for the
prosecution to enter into 1T, nor would 1t be
honorable towards the counsel for the defense.
Witness had a conversation with s. w. Dorsey
yesterday did not tell him he made that ar
rangement with Rerdell; and did not think
that Dorsey would say that either.
q. Did you not say TO Mr.. Dorsey yesterday that
you ought not to be blamed for this Rerdell mat
Ter; that you had taken every step under the
direction OF Mr. Merrick2
A. said that In everything had done in this
trial my hands were clean; and that the remarks
oi Mr.. Wilson were unfair; that had been in
stIucted TO do whatever did.
Continuing, the witness said that he had a
conversation with Boone in the court room
during recess yesterday. Said to him ex-
actly what he had said to Dorsey, and told
I,n IN
said then, and would say now, and to the day
of els death, that he made no such arrange
mcnt with Rerdcll. Did not know that he
denied it to either Dorsey or Davdge; had
been very close in this matter. Did not say
20 Boone that he was going to put the burden
where il belonged; nor that they could not
put any Hoover or Bowen or Fall business
Oh him; nor that they would have to carry
their own load.
@. Did you agree on system of signals with
Rerdel about the clock?
The witness answered that ho did, and
then entered into an explanation He had
told Rerdcll that he could not be confined in
his room all of the time, and that If he (Rer-
dell) wished TO SEQ him he must say when
and where. Rerdcll said that when he
wanted to see witness he would look at the
clock, The Jury had been selected at that
time. Witness met Rerdcll in answer to his
signals, and reported the result Of his inter
views to Messrs. Merrick and Bliss never to
Mr.. Kcr.
Mr.. lngersoll asked II Rcrdell was not then
sitting with the defendants.
The witness answered that Rerdell had not
read his statement up to that time; he was
not sitting with the government attorneys.
Mr.. lngersoll asked why Rerdell met the
witness, and what he told him.
Mr.. Backmar answered that the inter-
views were about this case could not remem-
Der that Rerdcll told him what the defend
ants were doing.
The court directed Mr.. Ingcrsoll to confne
his questions to the subject of the selection Of
the jury.
Mr. lngcrsoll That is cousin germane TO that
matter; II Is brother to IL.
The court II is not proper, and we will not 80
into cousins germnne or brothers.
Mr.. Ingersoll. It is Just as bad-as devilish-as
The court QmpStiently) oh Rerdel had given
you notice long before.
simultaneous denial burst from the coun-
sci for the defense.
Mr. lngersoll exclaimed No. sir; no, sir
he had taken pains to deny it in the public
prints; he had borrowed money from the
other defendants to buy bread to keep him
from starving.
The court declined to allow an extension
of the scope of the inquiry; it must be con
fined to the selection of the jury; otherwise
il would never have been allowed.
Mr.. Davidge attempted to address the
court, but Judge Wylio refused to hear him.
Mr, Ingersoll. want the witness to produce
that list.
The witness Twill do 1t.
The court don't know that i will allow that
even. The inquiry must be confined to the ques
tion Of whether Rerdell was In coAusion with thu
government regarding the jury.
Mr.. Ingersoll, want to show that he agreed
with them, and, further, that he acted ON tina
The court The field is too large. The witness
can testify in regard to what was said yesterda,
about the selection of the jurors. The simple
question is whether there was any agreement be
tween Rerdell and Blackmar.
The witness said that he now remembered
that he had not shown the list Of names tC
Mr.. Merrick When he reported TO Mr.. Mer
rick that Rerdell wanted to challenge for tn,
government, that gentleman was very mucl
offended, but said that witness must listen h
Rerdcll while refusing to entertain the prop
osition. When the jury was partially selecte'
Rerdell came to witnesses house, wrote ou
the list, and said he was going to challeng
the persons named therein.
O. Did he not offer TO challenge such names a
the government would select?
A. Yes; but his answer was positively untru
when he said that was 10 select them.
The witness continued by saying that Rer
dell's proposition was that he should chal
lenge four Jurors exercising his privilege as
defendant, and that the government was +
have the benefit of the challenges. WItnes
implicitly obeyed Mr.. Merrick; never rC
ceiyed a list of names from any governmen
officer TO be submitted to Rerdell. Was sur
that he had not given the list to the pTosecu
tion, but was not SO sure that he had nc
mentioned the names To them, Mas then