The Evening critic., 1883-05-31
MERRICK MEANDERING
Through the Meshos of the Star.
Route Case.

When the Star-Route trial was resumed this
morning Mr.. Merrick started out upon the
third day of his summing up to the jury. He
claimed that GeLeral Brady had made orders
combining expedition and increase In ono and
violated the law thereby, as he contended
that oil such orders should be separate and
distinct. he proceeded to illustrate his
Tongue River route, but was suddenly
checked by Mr.. Wilson, who called his atten-
tion to the fact that the order was made by
Mr.. French and not General Brady. He then
went on the Rawlings-White River route,
and argued that on this routo xpedition was
made solely. upon the AFFIDAVIT OF the CON
tractor and the reduction from 1OS to 81 hours
could have been made without any necessity
existing for an increase OF stock TO carry the
mail and make the time. The attorney turned
his attention to the afidavit on the route and
said the question was, did s. W. Dorsey flll in
the blanks or Rerdell, the only man who could
initiate the handwriting of Mr.. Dorsey? The
filed IN the Department on April 26, 1879,
and at that date Rerdell was in the
far West. This, he thought, was ample evil
dence that 1t could not have been done by
Rerdell.
"Couid not the afldavit have been nlled in
at one time and sworn to afterwards 2" asked
aNo, sir" said Mr.. Merrick, "not in this In.
stance"
~ see," said Mr.. Crane, ''that Mr.. Dorsey's
letter says so hours and the ahidavit calls
as III did not look at it" replied Mr..
Merrick.
were the roots OF the Governments case, and II
they failed then It must fall, but II they
showed that these roots had been watered by
crime and grew into flourishing tree, he
should ask that those who enjoyed the fruit
should be punished. 1t was for this reason
that he was spending so much time upon this
Mr.. Merrick. in explaining the calculations
on the basis of the affidavits, handed the Jury
n paper upon which he had done some
figuring, and told Foreman Crane to keep 1t.
Colonel Ingersoll objected, saying smiiingly
that 1t was very dangerous paper.
Mr.. MerrIck replied that the gentleman was
right. It was dangerous and showed the way
the sum has been done, and without perjury
a losing contract could not be converted into q
profitable one. The counsel could laugh
shake his round, red head and fat face till
the end of time. The calculations showed the
case to be perjury and corruption.
'sThen," said Colonel Ingersoll, laughing
"you don't blame me for obiecting to the
Mr.. Merrick said he did not blame the coun
sci for any OF his; efforts: He did not blame M
him for his pathetic appeals to the jury for he
81 object" Interrupted Colonel Ingersoll
''to the counsel misstating the record. have
said again and again that ! asked Tor the
mercy of an honest verdict from this Jury.
have never asked from this jury any mercy
except the mercy OF honesty, the mercy OF
courage ahd that they should consider moth
ing but the sworn testimony in this case"
Swhile with one word," replied Mr.. Mer
rick, she asked for an honest verdict, with
another he addressed to the jury pathetic
appeal"
Colonel Ingersoll here read /. portion of the
record and his argument TO show that his
statement OF asking only the mercy of an hon.
est verdict was correct, but was interrupted
by Mr.. Merrick in the reading.
His Honor said that II was not necessary fol
| Colonel Ingersoll to continue the reading. He
| had all the way through his argument asked
| the Jury for the mercy OF an honest verdict and
If he had made objection to the statement o.
| Mr.. Merrick the Court was with him and
| would have sustained the objection. AS the
| correction had been made 1t was not necessar!
TO go further.
The recess was then taken.