The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-25
THE STAR ROUTES.
Col. Ingerson still Talking.

Col. Ingersoil Still Talking.
WASHINGTON, May 24.-Col. Ingersol con-
day daasd hs In GEE sIaf fPas tss the
contractors chose routes wis. ..4.d ~ f1o
qaent service because they thought that they
would be increased and expedited. Was it
crime to make the best bargain you could with
the Government? Was 1t not to be supposed
that these gentlemen (the prosecuting attor-
neys) made the best bargains they could with
the Government? Was 1t not reasonable to
suppose that slow mail service In a new
country would grow with that country and
eventually be made faster and trips more fire.
quent? Away went that prop. The coat tails
of that point horiz0ntalized in the dim dis
tance. The prosecution, continued Mr.. Ingsr-
soil, showed the celebrated pencil memoran-
dunn to Boone, and he swore that the criminat-
ing part was probably In RerdelPs handwrit-
ing. Then they dismissed him. After he had
sworn that their principal witness was forger
they dismissed him whom they had called 10
the stand TO brand Dorsey as a conspirator.
lie put the word "forger" upon the forehead
OF the principal Government witness instead.
Could the jury doubt that Boone knew every
thing that was going on? Was there ever a
conspiracy like this, news Of which ran like
wildfre through the West, yet OF which Boone
In Washington knew nothing2
Mr.. Ingersoll then read from Mr.. Bliss
opening speech:-"But we shall show to you
that at least one United States Senator urging
the increase was the paid agent OF defendant"
Where was that evidence? he asked.
Mr.. Bliss-I said that / would do ii if you
would put him ON the stand
Mr.. Ingersoll (sarcastically)- III we would fur
nish evidence. How could know the Sena-
tor?
Mr.. Bliss-Was there more than one?
Mr.. Ingersoll-I say that there was not one
thought that II you knew OF such person it
was your duty as United States attorney to
bring him to justice, and il you did not dosit
you neglected ard shirked your duty
MIR. Bliss Whose name was on the pencil
memorandum?
Mr.. Ingersoll- such remark was made
the other day and stricken ont of the record.
That pencil memorandum bore the name Of
james III. Mitchell (feeliDgly). would not
for the world stain the reputation OF another
when he was not present TO defend himself II
is as bad to stab reputation as to kill flesh as
bad TO kill the honor OF a man as to put dag
ge in his heart. Mr.. lngersoll wanted every
fact in this case to stand out like the stars on
dark night, without doubt to cloud them.
When the verdict was given he wanted every
Juror to say that i was founded on the rock Of
truth, that 1t was not tainted with msstate-
ment or falsehood. III he had to prosecute
man, to take him from his home, leave his fire.
side TO desolation, and he succeeded in his case
ii after that he should find that he had used
one misstatement he would endeavor to set
that man free by any means in his power. II
they failed he would go down upon his knees
and beg his pardon. He would rather 90 TO
the penitentfary himself. May be he was
wrong, may be Mr.. Bliss was right In sneering
and making insnuations against everything
good and pure but his belief vas that justice sits
an eternal king, holding in her hand the scales
10 weigh the acts Of every man. He tried 10
make the world better and hammer for Lis felz
low creatures. BE did not sneer at justice and
mercy. Was II possible that Mr.. Bliss had SO
mean and small an opinion OF Christian as TO
believe that juror would swear away a mans
liberty just TO get even with an intidel? He
Qngersoll) knew that not one OF the jurors
would allow himself 10 be preiudiced against
his client because they did not agree
on the subject OF which neither party
knew anything. Mr.. Bliss had made that
remark in the hope of awakening in the
jury small preiudces, feelings that lurked un-
known 10 many breasts. Ingersoll next made
vigorous defense Of John Dorsey. he as
serted that be was absolutely honest. The only
charge against him centered in the fact that he
made the papers necessary to carry on the
mail business after he sold out The prcsecu-
tion would have the jury believe that he was
forced 10 commit perjury. forgery and several
other crimes by his former co-operators. Now
John Dorsey simply made ont those papers to
give the gentlemen to whom he sold his con-
tracts the rights he agreed to sell, the powers
necessary to carry on the business.
Adjourned.