The Evening critic., 1883-05-12
The Z" Herald" and the Latest STAR
Route Affair.
The New York Herald, which is nothing
;f nnt ~ nE,;r sa,..


If not unfair, says:
According to Blackmar, Rerdell before
pleading guilty and while sitting with the
other defendants, proposed to exercise his
privilege as defendant by challenging Jurors
In the secret interest OF the Government This
proposed treachery shows ready disposition
on the part OF one OF the conspirators TO be-
tray his fellows in the hope OF bettoring his
own chances of escape, and the counsel for
the prosecution would have shown them
solves TO bo fools as we'll as knaves
II they had consented to become parties TO the
dishonorable proceeding. They very properly
declined with Indignation to entertain the
proposition, and pursued straightforward
course In the matter. But while II does not
yet appear that Blackmar, even on his own re-
eponsibilty, entered into any agreement or
arrangement with Rerdell, his relations with
the latter appear to have been rather too close
and confidential for n Government agent TO
hold with one OF the Star-Route Offenders.
agents should keep clear of all dealings with
Them which can give rise to any suspicion Of
discreditabie practices,
The truth is Blackmar's testimony is SO
contradictory that it is difficult to tell ex-
actly what he does mean. But he tells
enough to show that an arrangement was
made by which Rerdell was to challenge
in the interest of the Government that he
conveyed this fact to Merrick, who he
says, rejected it, but instructed him to
listen to all Rerdell might have to say;
that a list of names was made out and here
he mixes himself up in one place he could
not say who was to furnish the names, in
another place that he wrote them down,
and again that Rerdell gave them to him
but the fact that one name was furnished
by some one whom Rerdell challenged upon
personal grounds, that is, that the chal-
lenged had expressed himself against Rer-
dell, when it turned out that he did not
even know Rerdell, goes far to show that
the list was furnished Rerdell by some one
better posted than himself.
That the prosecution used Rerdell while
sitting with the defense is shown by Black
mars sevidence, in so far corrob-
Grating Rerdell-Rerdell was to in
dicate by looking at the clock that
he had a communication to make to
Blackmar; he would go to Blackmars
room where "Mr. Rerdell wrote down what
ever was reported and these reports were
handed by Blackmar generally to Mr..
Bliss" This was as "hagitious and mali
cious" as the attempt to aid the Govern
ment in the matter Of challenges, and is
not disclaimed by Mr.. Bliss. And this fact,
proven by Government agent, suggests
the query, Would counsel who would resort
to such nefarious practices hesitate to do a
meaner or more sneaking act to gain
greater advantage?
Referring to this proven conduct Colonel
1ngersoll observed: 1t is just as bad an
arrangement as the other, just as devilsh,
just as infamous. This man, one of the de-
PENDANTS, was sitting with us, hearing our
conversations and then taking them to this
witness, by this witness to be turned over
to the counsel for the Government
All fair-minded men must agree that it
was infamous Knowing these facts will
the Herald say that the counsel for the
prosecution showed themselves fools and
knaves' by becoming parties to this dis
honorable proceeding?" And will the
Herald say whether this proven proceed
ing" is not as dishonorable and discredita-
bic as the other?
If the whole truth were known it is
probable that Blackmar would appear
merely the go-between between Rerdell
and the Government in carrying out the
bargain made by Woodward with Rerdell
in Hartford last fall, which would Justify
even stronger language than the Herald
employs.