The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-02-22
Washington News Notes.
A THUNpERBOLT.

WASHINGTON REQ. Io.-ln tne. star-fOTe
trial, after cross.examination Of The uos.-
master of Bismarck, Reer1all rose, ani
clear voice, said: "Ift' 1T please, I
desire to make statemen, ny own De-
half" A profound silence prevailed Tor a
moment. The court looked surprised, but
counsel for defense seemed to be prepared
for the blow about TO follow. The court
finally said: "You can make IT,"
Reerdell then proceeded TO read rapidly
the following statement;
"It the court please, desire to make q
statement in person and in my own behalf,
| After mature reelection and consideration
of the whole subject have determined to
abandon any further defense in this cafe
aud Put myself at the mercy of the count
| and government, and if desired TO do so by
counsel for the government TO testify 10 all
my knowledge of any acts with reference to
any of the defendants, either against or for
them, myself included Therefore, now
in person ask leave to withdraw my plea
mot guilty" heretofore interposeo, and
enter my plea Of guilty" and in SO doing
of the court feel this
| TO be my duty. | owe it TO myself and my
family, and 10 the truth, have arrived at
this liked determination upon my own
reflections and responsibility, and without
any previous consultation with my counsel,
who / believe would not have advised tot this
course, and whom l now relieve from all
and any responsibility for the course
have adopted"
'Well, on my part, there is no objection
said Ingersoll, abruptly.
This is somewhat unexpected, pre-,
sume," said Wilbhiere (Reerdehs counsei);( \
"but Reerdell has exercised the right that
belongs to himself therefore, nothing is
| left for me to do but to withdraw from the
case, or at least from further participation
| in the case"
The court-"The defendant, who has Just
spoken, desires to Withdraw the plea OF not
| guilty. and enter the plea OF guilty The
clerk will make the entry"
John Walsh, was then called to the
stand.
suppose, will remain under his present bail.
The court will pass no order at present"
Reerdeu and his counsel then left the
| room, and Walsh proceeded to relate his
story OF the interview between himself and
Brady.
Reerdell testified this afternoon in the
star-route trial that he was appointed to
| position under the district government,
and at the same time acted a. Senator Dor
/ sey's secretary; Miner had an Office in the
! third story Of DOrsey's house; in January
ard February, 1873, Boone Watts and Sena-
| tor Dorsey were frequenters &. ,MinoESsSS-
! flee; by direction OF Dorsey, witness VS.
sisted Miner in fixing up proposals; Minor
| read of the amounts and witness iilled in
dollars and cents, Senator Dorsey and
Boone were present part Of the tine this
was going on.
| MerricE, OF The government counsel in
| the star-tou.e cases, was tonight 9sred for
I 3piiilnlc5 20 the siloC5 ot Ecesieil's
| disclosures during to-day's proceedings.
He answ, red: - believe Reerdell is en-
! lirely sincere, aud is telling the truth, and
will disclose the entire truth. The test.-
mony. which he has thus given is
about only ore-lOur'h Of what
he is expected 20 give and
l. nothing like as impoltau. as that which
he will give tomorrow. When It is all
before the court and is taken
In connection with evidence already
in, which slsiains him in every particular,
| 90 not believe there can remain doubt in
any mans mind of the guilt OF all parties.
or that there can be doubt that my state
ment made last summer was correct,
that Rserdell was but subordinate in-
strument, knowingly and personally aiding
prominent and able men in their
nefarious scheme 70 defraud the
government of the United States.n
Again" said Merrick, slowly aud emphat-
ically, ~ want it 10 be Understood
that tho government would 70. consent
to accept Reerdell as witness and nolie
PROSE- the case against him, and | pre-
emptorily refused 10 DO anything Of the
kind, and certainly would not baye
put him on the stand unless
he had of his own voluntary action pleaded
guilty, and unreseryedly thrown him
Sell upon the mercy Of the court.'
Merrick added that he believed
the government would close its
case some time during the next
week. Reerdell, he said, had spoken Of a
number Of blank aiiidavits Of a damaging
character that had mysteriousy disap-
] r-orr1I ehn-flw that
while he was in jail after the first trial,
his room bad been broken into and lhe pa
pars carried of. A prominent lawyer
called attention 70 the TACT that
Walsh had not been crOss-
examined and asserted that this 1,
that Merrick had witness ready 20 testify
that the Prize drafts had been paid 20
Brady Just as stated by Walsh.
CoHnICTING AZ ABUsE.
In the executive session Of the senate to-
DAY Mr.. Eimsnds called attention 20 the
a legged abuse Of privilege Of the flOOr of the
senate by Lobbyists and others, who through
the indulgence Of senator's have been IN the
habit Of obtaining caids Of admission Osten-
sibly as secretaries. With view 90 cor
recting this evil, Mr. Etmunds introduced
the following resolution: Ordered that no
person shall be admitted 20
the hOor as a private secretary by 2 senator
until the senator appointing him shall eer-
I fv in writing 70 the serreant-at-arIns that
be is actually employed tor the performances
o. the duties Of such secretary. ana l8 en-
gagged in the performance Of the same
After some scussiOn the resolution was
referred 70 the committee on rlle- Ard
ordered printed.
1HE DEPAHrNEEr or AGErcrLTUEE
reports the results Of statistical returfs re-
lntinF % the comparative querli'y Of the
present cotton crop IN progress q market
u.E, AVERAGE Gate OF ciCse Of picki.g, iR-
inrics ~ c.igrpiliar ard bo.l-r Jrm and
uasntit, of product. The returns u
ne protucf in bales makes the E-.-erzte
&. 6.sp0Oo0, distributed IN thousand lales
a. follows; Virginia, q; North Carolina.
AZ: south Carolina, GIG: Ge0-gia. 8so-
| .o42; Louisiana, 639; TexAs, III Ark
ansas, 6s7; Tennessee, 3S7 Missouri. y
other terrifOry, p The unusual length of
the season f0f maturing i given very gsn-
erally ss an important factor. Increased
production and growth vas - vigorOus
I IN portions Of area cultivated, that uucn
immature cotton vas destroyed by frosf.
Notwithstanding the lateness Of the season,
as q whole i vas unusnally fEvorAble. he
returns ere nearly unanimous u declaring
ths staple Longer than usual Whifer and re
from trash. Aisv reports shorten tbe stsrle-
AD0ut II PER cent. q the crop stiL remain.
in The fsrrrez' hands. Tbe injury ty cztef-
pillar uns everyvbers sight with fsr ercsT-
tons. The losr + czlcul1te1 = ntorl -
cert. N Llctlsin1a. 2 IN Isx IN 49,
sipri, Alss.na sr1 J n
f.s-Eis- IL protssl1 80