Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE STAR ROUTE.


made no proposition 10 heIueii, Jul theTciN
listened TO proposition coming from him.
The court nov wished TO confine its censure
to Rerdell.
After some argument it was agreed Black
mar should again take the stand. Mr.. In
gersoll conducted the examination.
Wituess said he present in the court
when Rer,iell testified in regard to this sub
ject. but had made no arrangement of the
kind with Rerdell.
cannot remember the names on that list.
/ am willing to furnish list if it can be.
found.
Mr. Ingersoll inquired if the witness knew
that Rerdell had attempted to carry out his
proposition.
The witness said his only knowledge on
that point had been derived from the record.
The witness had conversation with 5. w
Dorsey, yesterday. did not tell him he made
that arrangement with Rerdell: but did not
think Dorsey would say that either
Continuing. the witness said that he had
conversation with Boone in the court room
during the recess yesterday. Said to him
exactly what he had SAID to Dorsey.
The witness said that he would say now
that he made no arrangement with Rerdell.
He did not know that he denied it to either
Dorsey or Dayidge. He didn't suy to Boone
that he was going to put the burden where it
belonged.
Did you agree on system of signals
with Rerdell about the clerk?
The witness .aid he did and then entered
into an explanation. Rerdell then said that
when he wanted to see the witness he would
look at the clerk. The Jury had been select
ed at that time. The witness met Rerdell in
answer to his signals, and reported the result
of his interviews to Merrick and Bliss, but
never to Mr.. Ker.
Ingersoll asked where witness had met
Rerdell and what he told him.
Rlackmar answered that the interviews
were about the case, but he could not remem-
Der exactly. Rerdell told him what the de-
PENDANTS were doing.
The court directed Ingersoll to confine his
questions to the subject of the selection of
the jury.
Davidge attempted to address the court,
but Judge Wylie refused to hear him.
Ingersoll--I want witness to produce that
list.
Witness-I will do it.
The COURT don't know that will allow
that even. The inquiry must be confined to
the question of whether Rerdell was in collu
sion wi tn the government regarding the jury.
IngersOll-l want to show that; that he
agreed with them and further that he acted
on that agreement.
The court-The field is too large. The
witness can testify in regard to what was
said yesterday about the selection of jurors
The simple question is whether there " as
any agreement between Rerdell and Black
mar.
The witness said he now remembered that
he had not shown the list of names to Mer-
rick. When he reported to Merrick that
Rerdel wanted to challenge tor the govern
ment, that gentleman was very much offend
ed, but said that the witness must listen to
Rerdell while refusing to entertain the pro-
position. When the jury was partially Sc
lected, Rerdell came to tbs witness house,
wrote out the list and said he was going to
challenge persons named therein.
Odd he not offer to challenge such
names As the government would select?
Ayes, but his answer was positively I'M
true when he said was to select them.
The witness continued, saving that Rer-
dell's superstition was that he should chal-
lenge four jurors, exercising his privilege as
defendeDt and that the government was to
have the benefit of the challenges. Witness
implici lilly objected to Merrick; never re-
served list of names from any government
TO be submitted to Rerdell; was sure that
he had not given list to the prosecution
but was not so sure that he had not men,
tibbeu " titihs was thCu CltIk III
the postotfice department detailed to assist
the counsel.
To the Court--It was not stated who was
to select them, but supposed they were to be
challenged in the interest of the government.
Messrs. Davidge and Ingersoll desired to
call Boone to contradict the witness. but the
court refused to allow it and an exception
was noted The corrt explained that it had
refused to hear other witnesses, because it
was irregular and Blackmar had only been
examined by the prosecution.
Davidge replied they had not refused to
hear other witnesses and this infamous mat
ter had not yet been cleared up.
The court said it had been surprised at
Wilson's declarations against the prosecu-
ton and had referred to the evidence to as
certain if he was justified in it. careful
consideration of the testimony led the court
believe that Blacknar had only listened in
silence to Rerdelfs suggestion, and although
perhaps he (Blackmar) had not done his
whole duty in.failing to denounce Rerdell at
the time. yet the court failed to see any
ground for the Indignation expressed by the
counsel at the course of the government.
Backmar had told his tales to the govern
ment counsel and had not asked to GO
further. The court did not think it of i'm
portance. If a government agent violated his
duties that was no reason why case before
court should be damaged by his misconduct.
The government was not bound by the acts
of its agent when they entered into matters
outside oftheir duties, as in a fall of bust
ness and transactions of that kind
Ker was willing to go further if the court
thought proper, but did not himself see the
need.
Rerdell was then training with the other
crowd, and made proposition to show his
good faith when he offered to come over to
the government.
The court emphatically refused to go fur
Their into the subject and Wilson resumed his
address at the point where he stopped yes
terday.
Wilson made an attack upon the sufficiency
of the Indictment.
A long exposition of the regulations of the
postoffice department followed, particular
attention being given to the regulation pro-
vding for the allowance of one months ex-
ira pay when the service upon route is dis
continued
Wilson defed the prosecution tn instance
single of improper acton by Brady in that
connection.
The official routine of establishing new
offices upon star routes was then described
at length. Speaking of the charge that
Brady has been criminally negligent in not
stating upon his orders the amount to be paid
for expedition, Wilson declared that a boy