National Republican., 1883-05-10
BRADY'S DEFENSE.
Commencement Of His COunsers Address 10 the
Star Route Jury.
The Prosecution Taken to Task Tor
4 Certain Sins Of Omission.
Rerdel Denounced and The Conduct Of Government
Counsel Severely Criticised.
The Speaker Threatened with Rcbuke-
The Court Holds Him 10 the Record.

When the star route trial was resumed this
morning, some debate occurred in regard to
the method of submitting the prayers, and 1t
was decided that they might be presented to
the court at the conclusion Of the argument.
Mr.. Merrick desired to be informed how
long the defense would argue
Mr.. Davidge rather brusquely answered
that they would go on, and stop when they
thought they had said enough. Mr.. Merrick
resented this remark and declared that 1t
was almost ungentlemanly.
Mr. Davidge said that at any rate none of
the counsel for the defense would speak for
more than one week referring to Messrs.
Bliss and Kerl
The court Are you sure7
Mr. Davidge Very sure. . .
The court. Then l will hold you to that
promise.
Mr.. Wilson then began the closing argu-
ments for the defense. According to the
present arrangement he will be followed by
Messrs. Carpenter, Williams, Henkle,
Davidge Chandler, Ingersoll, in the order
named.
Mr.. Wilson began by saying that some
malicious newspaper paraprapher referring to
the opening argument was mean enough to
say that there was nothing on earth to which
it could be compared except the crater of
Vesuvius. If length Of speech made lawyers
fame the two gentlemen who had preceded
should be immortal. Their arguments had
been too long for honest arguments; but il
their object was to mislead the jury and dis
tort and pervert the evidence then they were
not too long. For the testimony in this case
had been scandalously msrepresented and per-
vertod. A newspaper in Philadelphia (where
Mr. Ker lived) had enormously exaggerated
tLaa Nnft tha faac hn Mr Wilgnnl
receive. 1t was IL great comfort to him to
know that among his other troubles Gen.
Brady would not suffer in that way. Mr.
Ker had made great point OF the fact that
Gen. Brady was here during the summer
months. Ii would be an interesting calcula-
ton to figure out the cost to the government
of arguments such as that.
Why had the government failed TO call
John II. Mitchell to prove that his name was
on that memorandum and that he had re-
ceived money from Dorsey
They had taunted the defense with their
neglect in that matter, yet when the defense
called Belford, the count refused to allow him
to say anything in answer to RerdelFs
charges, and had said that the matter had
nothing to do with the case.
Mr. Bliss had told the jury that the eyes of
the country were upon them. Well, the
country had not heard the evidences it knew
nothing of the case, and ii would be sad
and lamentable thing If the jury were to be
led by popular sentiment instead of by the
evidence, and Mr.. Ker had adiured them to
help the government. Let them act as indc-
pendent men and not be persuaded to help
anybody. The government did not want and
had not sought fair and impartial trial in
this case. Rerdel had agreed with the gov
ernment to challenge Jurors in their interest
while he sat with the other defendants. Jury
fixing, indeed what was that? Mr.. Ker .in-
terruptcd to demand u reference TO that evil
dence, and Mr.. Ingersoll turned to Rerdells
testimony and read the passage where he
said that he made some such agree
ment with Blackmar. MIR. Ker declared
that Mr.. Ingersoll had suppressed ar impor-
tant passage, and he did not regard it as fair
to thus cast structures upon the prosecution.
He read from the record RerdelPs statement
that Woodward knew nothing of the agree
ment with Blackmar, Mr.. Wilson then con-
tinued his address He said that he had
waited in vain to see Backmar called to the
stand 1t was a scheme of unparalleled in
fanny, and Rerdell had tried to carry out his
part of the agreement.
The court challenged the truth Of the state
ment.
Rerdell had attempted to challenge juror,
but his right to do so had been denied by the
court, because he was unsupported by the
other defendants in his challenge.
The court remembered that its mind had
been much relieved at the time to find that
jury. 1t was conspiracy without an overt
act
Mr. Ingersoll. "As wicked as 1t was malicious" {"
The court. " II did not result In anything. II
was not very creditablo to the defendant Rer
Mr.. Ingersoll. " Nor to the government"
The court. "Nor to the government agent"
MIR. ingersoli. 1.-THE government acts through
agents" Sps "our, az sno0,a certainly not Dre,um,
that any one employed by the government should
be authorized to attempt ANYTHING Of that sort
Mr. Ker From your honor's knowledge Of the
gentlemen engaged in this prosecution believe
we had no knowledge OF that conyersatlon-good
bad:or indifferent be it-and If the gentleman
persists in his statements to the contrary he VII
who follows him that he will not soon forget. Il
VIII be unmerciul."
Tho counsel for the defense greeted this
remark with burst of laughter. Mr.. Wilson
said that he was about to explain the circum
stances when interrupted. The court sale
that Mr.. Ker was justified in making his ex
PLANTATION because Mr. Wilson had declared
that the government counsel had not dis
claimed their knowledge Of the matter. A:
n matter of fact the redirect examination o
Rerdell had proved that they had no sucl
knowledge-that it did not extend even t.
Woodward. Mr.. Wilson again resumed hi
argument. The work of the divisions Of thu
second assistant postmaster generals ofic'
was explained IN detail, particular attOntlOt
being given to the inspection division will
the view of showing that the head and EN-
ployes of that division were responsible fO
the imposition and remission of fines ant
penalties, and that the second assistant post
master general was compelled TO accept thei
Judgment in those matters.
Mr.. Wilson minutely described the method
of awarding star route contracts, and asked !
the Jury had heard particle of evidence Il
show that Gen. Brady had the slightes
knowledge at the time of the letting tha
any other defendents had anything % d.
with the routes. ~
Speaking of Vaile, Mr.. Wilson said tn
prosecution seemed to think that if maj
did decent, generous thing-if he helped
his fellowman-he must have been influences
by base interested motives. Vale had helpe
Miner when he could have combined wit
other contractors to crush him and secure hi
contracts.
OF Brady, Mr.. Wilson said that he woul'
venture to say that nine hundred and ninety
nine out of one thousand business men woul
have done just as he did, if they had been Il
his place
The breach between Dorsey and Vaile wa
dwelt upon, and Mr.. Wilson said that Vail
could Justly have told Dorsey that he ha
been forced to protect himself by filling tn
subcontracts Still Dorsey was aggrieved bt
cause his interests had not been protectet
and when he came out of the senate he a.
ranged with the others to divide routes. Th