The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-08
THE STAR ROUTES.
Beginning Of the Testimony for the
Defendants.
CONGRESSMAN BELFogD FINED 800
FOR CONTEMPT.


trial this morning, lngersoll began the case for
the defence by calling Representative James
Is. Belford of Colorado, 10 the witness stand.
The witness said that he called many times
upon Assistant Postmaster General Brady and
urged, the multiplication of routes in that
State on ground of it's rapid growth and needs.
The witness continuing said that he came
here to look after tne interests of his consult
uents to carry out their requests and if they
asked him to do the same things again, he
would.
A long debate ensued upon an effort of the
defence 10 have the witness testify as TO the
alleged check received from Dorsey. but the
court ruled it out.
Mr.. Ingersoll then asked the witness il he
had ever received any property for the use of
nls lnnuence at the post office department. to
secure an increase of service upon these routes
he said tie prosecution ought not deprive MIR.
Bedford OF an opportunity to deny this state
ment
The Court said that the witness could vim
alcate himself by making an affidavit before a
Justice of the peace.
The cross-examination was confined to The
question concerning the hand writing of the
letter. The witness said it had been written
by his clerk, Delavan w. Gee, but it had been
slgned by himself. Belford was then directed
TO stand aside. He appeared someN.~ at agita-
ted took up his hat, walked to the counsers
table and turning to the Court said with much
feeling, Your honor, / wish TO ask the indul-
gence of the Court aud courtesy of the bar to
make personal statement in regard to the
charges affecting my honor" Merrick at once
objected
Give me the poor privilege pleaded Bel
ford "of making statemen6."
This is not public meeting" replied the
Court, I'VE are trying case judieially.
Il state before the living God" said Belford
solemnly and Indignantly THAT I never saw
such check"
Turning on his heel Belford started for the
court room but was recalled by the Judge, who
exclaimed angrily, 'Come here sir. Bring
Belford here" Belford having returned the
Court inquired what he had said, and Belford
repeated it with emphasis.
This is contempt of court exclaimed his
honor" and the Court imposed fine of 500
"and YOU stand committed until it is paid
Il will pay $500, retorted Beford defantly,
"but no man shall stab my character
This Is a degree of impertinepce and inso-
lence which the Court will not permit to take
place in its presence" Indignantly continued
his honor.
Carpenter inquired whether the Court had
jurisdiction to impose fine without issuing
rule to show cause.
Certainly it has, replied the Court. SIT is
disorder in Court of which the Court can take
notice Immediately
lngersoll and Davidge asked that the Court
might let the fine go and urged that there
might be something pardoDabe in the natural
indignation of one whose fair fame had been
assailed
The Court said Belford had occupied place
OF consequence before the country many years
lBelford arose but the Court hastily bade him
be seated, saying he was not addressing him)
The Court proceeded to review Rerdel's testi-
mony upon the point itqoestion and said Bel
ford could not but know tn proposed explana-
ton could not be allowed. There was nothing
wrong in his request but after il had been re-
tueed it was gross violation of the authority
of the EOuFf in dativariDn nj
as he had done. The Court therefore declined
to remit the fine.
Ingersol-"Will the clerk accept my check
for the amount
Court-"Oh certainly"
Ingersoli turned to Belford and said s'You
can 60 | believe"
The gentleman Immediately aVailed him
self of the privilege
''Your honor ruled in the MacVeagh case
that lawyer was bad witness" growled
Carpenter.
THAT was an expression OF opinion, not
ruling" replied the court
Secretary Teller was then called 10 the
stand. He testified that while IN the Senate
ne had frequently called upon Brady to secure
Increase or expedition Of mail routes in Colors-
do. He never went except to further petltions,
OF which he received large number. He rep
resented TO Brady the people out there (Col-
orado) were mostly settlers from the East, peo-
pie pecliariy desirous Of communicating With
the government TO furnish these people ade-
qnate mail facilities. He had complained FREE
duently that postal facilities did not keep pace
with the development of the country and its
immigration. He told Brady he thought
wherever there was a settlement of twenty
people they were entitled to their mail. He
should not have asked to have the mail expe-
dited il he had rot believed it TO be public
requirement. At Ingersoll's request witness
described the railroads constructed in the
ciprn 1879 oud fhsaf fy0 s,f
Witness was asked what had been the degree
of improvement in the state since 1873 Bliss
objected, but the court said it was hardly
worth while to object to a question that might
be answered from the census tables. Witness
said there had been a. large increase OF populd-
tion and an unusual development Of mining
industry.
Ingersoil asked if undue mail privileges had
been granted to Colorado.
The prosecution objected.
lngeTsoll said it was matter of Judgment.
The second assistant postmaster general had
only his Judgment TO depend upon
The Court said that of course the second ss-
sistant postmaster general would not be held
responsible for a mere error of Judgment. L.
was cOrruution that was charged.
Ihgersoll said that if the prosecution
was prepared to allow that the increase was
needed, but had been made for a money con.
sideration he would combat that view. He
would meet first the point now that the in
crease was needed and the others when he
came to it,
The Court however refused to allow the in
quiry.
Davidge maintained that tho whole indict-
ment was based upon the motive and that it
was right that it should be shown up.
The Court refused to go into the subject and
defense noted an exception. The crcss-exam-
ination was very short
Corresponding clerk Olcott of the second
assistant postmaster generals office, testified
that certain papers called for were not in his
poss ession. Thereupon the old struggle over
papers was renewed, defense charging that
they had been denied access to the papers and
the prosecutors dedying they had endeavored
to suppress them. After the exchange of a
few caustic remarks between the counsel the
Court adjourned.
S. W. Dorsey Denies Giving Belford q
Check.
S. w. Dorsey is out with card denying
that he ever gave Belford check as testified
to by lterdell.
FOREIGN.