The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-22
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
Verdict ofthc Jury for the Decentralization
the verdict Was Received.

AFTER tr1al ldSulnp nearly seven nnOHlIs,
ex-senator Dorsey, ex-Assistant Postmaster
General Brady and the other men indicted
for conspiracy to defraud the government in
connection with the letting out of Star route
postal contracts, have been acquitted by
the jury. The jury was as follows: John
II Crane, foreman, pr )duce dealer; John ].
Hughes, laborer; Clarence Shields, laborer,
Rees Evans, stonecutter; Frank Renshaw,
grocer; George Sheriff, farmer; John YER
non, barkeeper; Jackson Howard, colored
waiter; Mason Lowery, colored waiter; o.
Grier, real estate agent; Michael Horrigan,
Horseshoer; Edward Gill, paint dealer.
After the jury had retired, and as they were
entering the courtroom for further instruc-
tions from the court, an exciting episode oc-
Cured. Juror Vernon fell in fit, having
been deprived for some time of his Gus
tomary stimulants. He was re-
stored to consciousness, and the
jury again retired to deliberate upon their
verdict. The scenes which occurred when
the verdict was finally reached are described
as follows
When the jurors took their places in the
court room, at precisely 10 O'Clock, Judge
Wyie looked at them and said, In his slow,
hesitating way "Gentlemen-I have sent
for you to learn-ahem-to learn if you have
agreed-ahem-upon verdict" Mr.. Crane,
the foreman, said: "We have agreed"
Judge Wylie gave start of surprise
and looked toward the seats for the
counsel for the government. Not one
of them was present. But Mr.. Kerr,
one of the counsel for the prosecution, came
in and stood in the door as the Judge said to
the clerk, "Receive this verdict" There
was the usual silence as every one turned
toward the foreman. Mr.. Crane said very
deliberately, 1--WE find the defendants not
guilty."
Then there followed scene of great con-
fusion and uproar, which the Judge could not
restrain. Indeed, he did notify. The figure
of a woman in gray silk was seen jumpingup
and down with hands extended toward the
ceiling, sobbing,. shouting and crying. :
"Glory to Godw "Glory to God ~ 1t
was Mrs. Dorsey. who had violent fit of
Mysteries. Dorsey, with tears running down
his cheeks from under his green goggles,
had all he could do to restrain his wife,
and make her regain her self-control.
Colonel Ingersolls face was n study.
The stern lines of an intense anxiety relaxed
his lips and chin trembled, and tears filled his
| eyes. His family were on their feet perfectly
wild. The stolcal Judge Wilson became as
nervous as child. He walked around with a
lighted cigar in his hand, and burned his
mustache half off trying to put the wrong end
in his mouth. The nervousness of the defend
ants and their friends was communicated
quickly to the tickle crowd of spectators, who
cheered and yelled at the victory of the de-
Tense, while every man of them would prob
ably have been as ready to cheer and yell
if the government had been successful.
Brady was the only one in the whole crowd
who retained the same ironcad composrre
which he has shown all through the trial.
His countenance never changed. He sat
silent for a few moments and mechanically
shook hands with those who approached him.
Then he got up and walked quietly over to
the jury. He was the first man to approach
the jury. Beginning with the foreman, he
shook hands solemnly with each member
and then asked a friend to present him to
Judge Wylie.
The jury, as soon as the confusion had
moderated, was polle1. Judge Wylie then
announced that there was no more duties for
the jury to perform "You hal lab )riouS
task to perform in this case" he said. "You
have been more than six months engaged in
the trial. Many of you have occupations of
your own that you have been obliged
TO neglect, AMI although your YER
dict will of course create dissatisfaction
with many, yet the court is bound to pre-
| sumo that having been selected according to
law and sworn to perform that duty faith
fully, you have done so, each one according
to the dictates of his own conscience, it will
be satisfaction to you rs long as you live.
You are discharged with the thanks of the
court"
The court was adjourned soon after. The
defendants and their counsel went to one of
the ante-rooms of the court, where a most
extraordinary scene of congratulation fol-
lowed, Dorsey came up to Colonel lngersoll,
and, putting both arms around him, gave
him ferocious hug. and then surprised the
Colonel by kissing him with rapturous, re-
sounding smack of superlative gratitude.
Then Mrs. Dorsey kissed him. The tears of
happiness continued to f1ow The triumph
of such an unexpected SUCCESS after two
years of fighting in the face of the entire
power of the government, made the humblest
person connected in the most remote degree
with the defense crazy with Joy. Even Brady
lost his stoicism when he was out of sight of
| the crowd, and was as much overcome rs
Mrs. Dorsey. When Colonel Ingersoll came
out of the courthouse a crowd gathered in
front of him. and then one stout
| unged, broad shouldered man cried out.
'Three cheers for Colonel Ingersoll."
There was wild scene of tiger-like cheering
and ki-yi-ing from the excited crowd. This
demonstration was personal compliment
to the colonel, for when the defendants
passed out there was not the slightest sign of
approval or disapproval beyond the congrat-
ulations of personal friends. Colonel Inger-
soil stood on the broad steps of the court
| house and smiled with the benevolent air of
a popular orator in front of congenial
crowd. and laughed outright when some over
enthusiastic admirer called Speech, speech
The biggest scene of the day was at the
saloon opposite the courthouse. Dorsey
went in there just after the verdict and an
nounced that it should be a free bar for all
who came. The bill was to be sent to him
at the close of the day. The scene that fol-
| lowed this announcement surpassed the
excitement in the courtroom. All
the men who have TO struggle all day
long to get drunk were enabled to enjoy this
luxury eayly in the day. All lied for the
most expensive drinks and scorned anything
but twenty tive cent cigars. The bill began
10 mount so high that the barkeeper sent
word to Dorsey at IL O'Clock. AT noon the
| free-rum dispensary was shut down. In the
evening Colonel Ingersoll was serenaded, and
made n speech to the crowd. At the conclu-
sion of speech making Colonel Ingersoll in.
vited the crowd into the house, where liquid
refreshments were served. One of those
who came into the house was Juror Evans
He was seized by Mrs. Dorsey and Mrs
Peck, who, linking arms with him, enthusi-
astically escorted him through the parlors,
presenting him to everybody as one of the
twelve honest men. After an hour or so Of
Handwriting the crowd dispersed.
| The total expense Of the star route trial.