The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-10
Star Route Trial.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-lt was decided
last night to 20 on with argument in the
star.route trial. and this morning Wilson
began the closing argument for the de
fense, lie will be followed by Carpenter
Williams, Henkle, Davidge, Chandler and
lngersoll in the order named.
Wilson began by saying "lf length OF
speech made lawyers fame, the two gentle
men who have preceded me should be i'm
mortal" The testimony in this case had
been scandalously misrepresented aud per
verted. Why hao the government failed to
call John II. Mitchell to prove his name
was on that memorandum, and that he had
received money from Dorsey Ihev had
iaunled the defense with their neglect in
that matter, yet when the defense called
Bedford, they refused TO allow him to say
anything in answer to Reerdel's charges,
and had said the matter had nothing to do
with the case.
The government, he said, dii not want
aud had no, sought 10 be fair aud impartial
in this case. Reredell had agreed with the
government to challenge jurors IN their in
terest, while ne sat with the other defend.
ants. Jury fixing, indeed what was that ?
ker interrupted to demand reference 10
that evidence, and lngersoll turned to Rere
de's testimony and read pass.
age where he said he made some such
agreement with BlaCkman. ker de-
clared that lngersoll had suppressed
an important passage, and he did not re-
gard il as fair TO thus cast structures upon
the prosecution, He read from the record
Eeredel's statement that Wood ward knew
nothing of the agreement with BlaCkman.
Wilson Ghen continued. He said he had
waited in vain to see BlaCkmau called and
said It was a,scheme.unparaleled in infamy,
and Reredel had tried to cry out his part
OF the agreement
The c,urt challenged the tru:h of the
statement.
Davldge reminded the Judge that Rere.
dell had attempted to challenge n Juror
but his right to do so had been denied hy
the court because he was unsupported by
other defendants in mis- challenge.
The court remembered its mind had been
much relieved al the time To find the mat
ter had resulted in no harm to the Jury.
II was conspiracy without an overt act.
lnpersoll-"As wicked as it was malc-
ious.n
The court-"Though it did not result in
anything 1t was not very creditable to the
defendant or Reredell.n
luHtIoOll- ANui W lllt government,
The Court-"Nor to the government
agent"
"Ingersoll-"The government acts
through agents.
The COURT should certainly not prc.
sumo that any one employed by the gov.
ernment should be authorized to attempt
anything of that sort. ! am great deal
relieved to know the attempt wasn't sue.
cesSful,"
Ker-"From your honor's Knowledge of
the gentlemen engaged IN the prosecution,
believe no disclaimer is required, but
say now that We had no knowledge of that
conversation, good, bad or Indifferent, and
II the gentlemen persist IN the statement to
the contrary, he will receive rebukc from
the government counsel who follows him
that he will not soon forget. 1t will be un.
merciiul.n
The counsel for the defense greeted this
remark with burst of laughter.
Wilson said he was about to explain the
circumstances when interrupted.
The court said he was Justified In an ex.
plauation, because Wilson had declared
that government counsel had rot die.
claimed their Knowledge of the matter. As
Il matter OF fact, the redirect examination
oi Reredell had proved they had no such
knowledge; that 1t did not extend even to
Woodward.
Wilson again resumed his argument, and
had not concluded when the court ad.
iourned.