Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-08
The StRr Route Irial.


the star tkOute rial.
THE SICKNESS OF JUROR GILL CAUSES POSTPONE
This morning when the Criminal Court, Judge
Wylie, was convened to resume the star route
trial, the petit jurors not engaged In this case
were excused until January ed When the petit
jury trying the star route clse was called Mr.. L
c. GIL did not respond to his name.
"The clerk informs me,n nil Judge Wyli,, "that
messenger came TO his house this morning and
| said that Mr.. Gill was confined to his bed, and
that he would send doctors certificate"
Mr.. Merrck entered the court room at the mo-
| ment and Saluted the court with "Good morn
iny."
"Mr. Gill is SICK" said Judge wylie
"Oh, myI" exclaimed Mr. Merrick as he sank
into his chair with digusted air.
There was some talk then between the counsel
and court, Mr.. Merrick observing that he sup
posed the malady was the same as that which had
kept Mr.. Gill from the court on former OCCASION
an affection OF the kidneys.
Judge Wylie said he would wait few minutes
Tor the doctors certificate.
Juror Vernon, who sat next II Mr.. Glll'S empty
chair, rising from his seat got permission to speak
TO Mr. Merrick, and whispered something to that
gentleman which Mr.. Merrick whispered to the
court.
Judge Wylie then announced that Juror Vernon
had some deiicacy about making his statement
| open court, but had gi-en Mr.. Merrlck some par
ticularS regarding Mr.. Gill'S alineat
Mr.. Vernon nd he did not think Mr.. Gil, would
come to court to-day.
FOREMAN CRANES REQUEST
While the court WAS awaiting the arrival OF the
physicians certificate, Foreman Crane arose and
said he understood the court had held that 1t was
not proper for the jury to have copy OF the evil
dence taken. He held up a volume and calling at
tention to its size (as large, he sad as Bibie),
said that 1t embraced evidence pertaining to only
one OF the nineteen routes. The min Is OF the jury
might become somewhat dim as To the evidence
before they reached the end OF the trial, he said,
and thought they should be allowed a copy OF the
evidence.
JUDGE wYLIEs ANSWER
Judge Wylie.-"'Tis better to bear the Ills we
have than fly to others we know not Of" He then
went On to point out the difficulties that would
arise IL the request was granted .."If you had
that book" he said, 'you might break up into
! sects Past experience showed that the evil
counterbalanced the advantage to ne gained.l One
man would pick out one piece of evidence for one
purpose, and another man would select a different
piece TO suit his belief.
Mr.. Ingersoll.-"when the proper time comes,
evidence, and also OF the daily papers published
during the trial" [LaughterI
thing or that kind"
Foreman Crane-"Can we take notes?"
The Court-"Arter the experience gained In past
trials think not" [Lauchterl
Mr.. Ingersoll-SA man is liable to be arrested II
he takes notes"
AN EXPLANATION AND AN ADJOURNMENT.
The court explained that they were waiting for
the doctors certificate. II there appeared to be no
would come up as to what should be done.
Juror Vernon suggested that he be allowed to 60
to see the sick juror but the court said he would
be excused.
After a few minutes delay the court said there
was no further au thentic information, and an ad-
Journment was had until tomorrow.
Mr.. wALSH's CRITICISM OF Mr.. BLISS.
Mr.. John A. Walsh, who has figured prominently
as star route witness, has given to the public,
through the Associated Press a long letter written
by him to the President and Attorney General,
dated New York, December IS, 1882, and up to this
time, as Mr.. Walsh complains. unanswered. Mr..
Walsh in this letter. sets forth that the Attorney
General had taken no notice OF a letter addressed
to him on the Sd OF November, for which reason
he asked the President to take official cogniZance
nicition to Mr. Br wSter He then narrates the
manner in which he came TO be a witness against
Brady ct al declaring that he had simply
0beyed the law. 81 am not prepared" he says, sstO
be treated as though We're yed against the
government. The time has not yet arrived when
am disposed to rest supinely, Willie conSpiratorS
as grand jurors assemble together with their
Official allies, fmpeach my veracity, thus defeating
the ends that justice ought, and Is poDulary sup.
posed TO have In view" Mr.. Walsh the deyotes con-
siderable space to criticism OF the conduct OF the
star route prosecution by Mr. Bliss. He alleges
that the government counsel did not present the
strongest case TO tie court, and that II it had not
been FOR "chance testimony" 1. e., testimony not
In existence so far as the knowledge OF special
counsel went when he selected the Brady-Dorsey
case as the strongest, even the ''pitiiu and dis
graceful" results OF the first trial would not have
been reached He comments upon the fact that
Brady and Price were indicted by the grand Jury
ana the charge against Senator Kellogg ignored,
though his (WalSh's) testimony bore more strongly
against Senator Kellogg than the others.