Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-09

WASHINGTON, March S.-Gen. Nelson A.
Miles was called to the witness stand this
morning by the defense in the star route
trial. He testified that in the summer of
1876 he went into the Tongue river coun-
try. It was just after the Custer massacre,
and there were few white settlers there ex-
cept army attaches, who established mail
service. From twenty to sixty days were
consumed in communicating with
Washington. Witness remembered
that John Dorsey came to Fort
Keogh before the Tongue river route
was opened, thinking that the route might
be established more direct than that pro-
posed. Witness sent out an armed escort
in an attempt to discover a route. The at
tempt failed, however,and Dorsey returned
to Bismarck. Witness described the OBJ
stacles to the establishment of mail
route, arising from hostile Indians. Some
times, he said, white men could pass easily
over the route, and again they were liable
to be molested. He remembered one
occasion when the mail had been captured
witness had called upon the postmaster
general and one of his assistants, and had
written letters through official channels
recommending the establishment and in
crease for the Tongue river route. Gen.
Miles produced copy of the first letter
he had written in that connection, but it
was excluded on occount of its date. He
said he recommended increased service be-
cause they only got a mail once
week, and were lucky to get
that. He believed he recommend
ed a tri-weekly or daily mail SO as
to bring his command into closer commu
nication with the war department and for
the benefit of settlers. At times the route
had been of the greatest service, often ad-
vising him of the movements of Indians
and enabling him to anticipate them.
Nothing of Importance was developed
in the cross examination, and after its
conclusion counsel spent some time in the
customary wrangle over official papers.
Hannibal D. Norton was then called.
He had been for six years chief of the
master generals Office. He detailed the
RENTED fines.
Geo. W. Sweeny, of the contract Office,
next appeared With huge pile of papers,
being the accounts of deductions, fines and
remissions made upon nineteen routes set
out in the Indictment Mr.. Wilson began
to examine witness in connection with
them. Recess.
After the recess, although the court as
IL L
enough papers to last week, he insisted
on his right to be allowed access to others.
The old wound was reopened, and the
counsel had lively time. Merrick char
acterized the demand as ridiculous, and
declared every facility had been offered
the defense, and when Wilson persisted in
his demand exclaimed: 81 don't think you
know what you want yourself. 1 don't
think you are sane on it, so help me God"
II think you are crazy" retorted Will
son.
The Court-Mr. Merrick, ysu ought not
to talk to crazy man in that way.
Laughter.
Wilson, BITTERLY suppose the court is
indorsing what Merrick said.
Merrick, with mock gravity-Your honor
should not say that.
The Court-Of course it was only a Jest.
Assuming his theory that you were crazy,
I said he ought not to talk to you in that
way.
Wilson-It's not the first time the court
has talked to me in an unkind way.
The Court-It did make a mistake be-
cause of your incapacity of approaching
jest. Merrick was getting too warm, and
thought to call him off.
Merrick attempted to interpose, but
Wilson turned angrily, and shaking his
finger at him, exclaimed: II know the
methods of this prosecution. I know
have had spy of the prosecution sitting
behind me for weeks
Bliss-So far as the prosecution know
that is not true.
The Court-Mr. Wilson, if you will allow
me another joke, will say that you are all
spies upon one another. It's the business
of counsel to find out what they can of the
plans of the other side.
Wilson, with undated WARMTH will
not allow any man to spy on me if know
it, and [ will never spy on another man.
Merrick, laughing-Pge plenty behind
me now.
The examination into the papers was
then resumed. When it had proceeded
some time the court interrupted, saying
it failed to see the pertinency of the offer
ed evidence, the papers.
Hinkle said these deductions had been
set out in the Indictment as part of the
conspiracy.
The court said it was not part of the
governments case.
Merrick said it was an attempt to prove
that man did not commit one act by
showing he did not do another
Davidge argued at length in support of
the offer. Taking the Indictment as a ba-
sis of his argument, he declared Brady,
while in Office, had cut to pieces his al
legged co-conspirators in making deductions
and fines, and had acted only as a good
man, as judge, in making remissions
where they seemed to be demanded in
strict justice. Wilson also participated in
the argument. He asserted that wherever
postmaster had regularly reported a fail
ure to Brady, he had relentlessly,
and unerringly and sverlastingly,
so long as he did last in his Office, impose
these fines III strict accordance with law
and regulations. Walsh had said that
Brady got half of the remissions. He
wanted TO show by the testimony offered
that this statement of Walsh's was utterly
untrue. He wanted the jury to see whether