The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
An Eloquent Peroration of the Usual De.
scription, Which Causes the
Ladies to Shed Tears.
Mr.. Voorhees, Ventures an Opinion
Concerning Ohio Politics.
An Attempt to Check the Importation of
Adulterated Teas-CapitaI Notes
and Gossip.
INGERsOLL's ELooUENCE.
Hns Exhibition of 1t to the star-Route Jury
Yesterday,

LcbteEQays
WASHINGTON, May 25.--Mr. Ingersoll con-
tinued his argument in the star-route case
to-day. He took up one OF the affidavits and
endeavored to show that it could not have
resulted in loss to the government. He prom
lsed to show that every erasure or change in
the afidavits was evidence of honesty in
stead OF dishonesty. ii the jury listened to
superstition; if they allowed the snake of
prejudice to whisper in their ears, they
would think every man a rascal; they would
think, whenever man did a good deed, it
was but bit of velvet on his hand to
disguise its deviltry. If these men
were guilty did any one imagine
the papers would not have been absolutely
correct upon their faces2 Would Brady, in
his high official position, have kept papers
that would have been eliminating evidence
against him? Was not the congressional in
yestigation warning enough for conspirators?
Could not every suspicious paper have been
destroyed or others substituted? They were
absolutely in his power; at his disposition
Was it conceivable that General Brady, under
the new administration, after the threats of
the government, would have left these papers
as weapons for his enemies, if he had even
dreamed they were dishonest? Would not
SAAN efAAO oAN 6O1oSg nave dShOQ IOI
them?
Mr.. Ingersoll made a rapid summary of
the evidence as it appeared to him, and con-
cluded as follows: NOW, gentlemen, the re-
sponsibility is with You; the fate of these
men is in your hands. In your keeping is
dear is in your power. With this fearful re-
sponsibility. you have no right to listen to
whispers of suspicion; you have no right to
hearken to the promptings of fear Beware
OF prejudice. Look to the testimony alone
Be not convinced by the last argument listen
motif epithets instead of facts. Recall every
srgnment made in this case; put the evidence
III the scale, ana then have the honor and
manhood to say which scale goes down. We
ask from you mercy and an honest verdict.
That is all we ask-the verdict of your hon
esty. 1t is for you to say whether these
defendants shall live with honor among
their felloY-citizens whether they shall live
in free air, or be taken from their wives, from
their children, from their firesides, from all
they hold most dear 1t is for you to say
whether they shall be clothed with honor or
with shame; whether their days shall set
without single star in all the sky of eternal
night; whether they shall be branded as
criminals after all they have suffered, after
they have been pursued by the government
as no defendant has before been pursued. 1t
is for you to say whether their homes shall be
blasted by the lightning of false verdict
1ou must say Whether their future shall be
one of agony grief, tears. Nothing beneath
the stars of heaven is so profoundly sad
as the wreck of a human being; moth
ing so profoundly mournful as
a home covered with shame
1t is for you to say whether this shall be
such verdict or one in accordance with the
law and facts. The prosecution is heated
with the chase, they are excited by the hunt,
but will say that in the end they will be a
thousand times better pleased with a verdict
of not guilty than with what they ask They
would enjoy their victory, they would like
success, and they would have you give to
these aspirations greater weight than to
homes and wives and children. l want
verdict that will relieve my clients from the
agony of two long years. that will lift from
them a cloud-a verdict that will fill the
coming days and nights with joy; verdict
that will fill their minds with a sense of Joy
and gratitude forever to you, one and ALL"
Many ladies were weeping quietly when
Mr.. Ingersoll sat down.