Frostburg mining journal., 1883-05-19
RESPON D e n CE
An INTERESTING LETTER.
The Star Route Iridt-Personetie
of Court, Counsel and
Defendants.

The Star Route trial enters upon
ito sixth month to-day and the end is
not yet. The defendants affect to
view the result without fear, and
probably have good reasons for the
faith that is in them. The expense
on both sides is enormous, but, az US
nal, in the long run the funds will all
have been furnished out of the poo
plo's pockets, whether paid by the
government on the one side, or by the
defense with their stolen wealth on
the other.
No great ability has been shown on
either side in this case. The counsel
for the government are the same as in
the preceding trial. R. 7. Merrick,
the leading one. is hard to beat in the
conduct of a case in court, being full
Of wit and sloquencs and we'll versed
in the general principles of the law.
It is said, however. by those who
ought to know, that the deep legal
lore Of the firm ia furnished by his
law-partnsr, Martin F. Morris, who
is rarely ever heard of outside their
Office, and that it is his plodding legal
mind which has enabled the more
brilliant Msrrisk to mount so high on
the ladder of fame.
George Bliss, of New York, is ac-
tive and energetic. a most rapid talk
or and has the most nasal voice ever
heard.
Ksr, of Philsdelphia, a heavy,
aull-faced man, who takes little part
In examining witnesses or arguing
points Of law, but whose great
knowledge of pleading and skill in
drawing up legal papers made bis
presence in the case q necessity
completes the trio of government
counsel.
A formidable array confronts them
on the part of the defense. l will
commence with the lightest weight
In all desperate csses we find stuck in
among q list of able lawyers some lit.
tie fellow Of renown in police court
circles at whose employment "all the
world wonders" He is of use, how
ever, and for purposes which, in the
opinion of criminal defendants al
least, justify his retainer. Such one
is A. B. Williams, a slender youBe
man, sharp-faced but dull-syed, with
small round head, reminding ono ol
aturtls's-sand-papersd, . as the boys
call it-and who moves uneasily amid
his more reputable colleagues. He il
under indictment in connection with
the detective scandal, and will soor
figure as defendant in criminal case
himself.
Gen. Hsnkle and Judge Carpenter
both attorneys of some repute, are
large. military looking gentlemen
and the latter figured in the politics
of South Carolina, being governor o.
the State during the period of recon
struction.
DAvidge, the Nestor Of the District
bar, is we'll known to the public, hav.
ing been one of the prosecuting coun'
sci in the Guiteau trial. He has a
most classic face; his well-formed
head adorned with short, curly gray
hair, reminds one of the picture o.
some Of the old Roman Emperors,
whose heads, wrsathed with laurel
leaves, are familiar to all students oi
history. he has fne voice, which
he can change at will from grave te
gay, and is noted for his power Of ar
sumsnt and his facility to make "ths
worse sppear the better reason"
Jsre NJ. Wilson, once q member o.
Congress from Indiana, is a small
spare man, extremely narrow looking
about the head and shoulders. His
chin (upon which goatss attempts to
thrive and forehead both retreat
leaving large nose and cheek bone'
his most prominent features. Hii
speech is slow, hesitsting and of q con.
vsrsational style, but he never speaks
that he is not listened to with the
greatest attention, his reputation as 8
lawyer being frst-class and his mod
est manner impr essing every one with
the idea that whatever he says il
honestly and truthfully as it is frank.
ly stated.
JEFF. Chandler, late of st. Louis, i,
one Of the most unlswyerlike men in
appearance imaginable. He is short
and atumpy, a rough.and-tumble
looking person, with hands like a
plowman and dressed like a drover