The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-01
THE srAR-RoUrE TRIAL
Exciting Scene Tn Court Yesterday.
Questionable Compliments Interchansed n.
tween Counsel Mr.. Nierrick mud Az Ia.
Fersoli Enanae In Personal Alteration.
and Then Express Mutual Regrets and
Make Rctraction, &c.

WASHINGTON, February 2s.-In the star.
route trial this morning Mr. InPersoll con.
tinued his cross examination OF Rerdell,
beginning first with questions CONCERNING
the various papers which the witness iden.
tilted In his examination as having beeu
written by Dorsey, who.she witness testi.
ned signed the name of J. NJ. peck 10 d
number OF papers.
Ine WITNESS said he thought Il was In
the month OF June that he went with Dor.
sey to Middle.on's bank before going to
Brady's office.
Mr.. Ingersoll having pressed question
about the checks before the witness had
finished his reply, Mr.. Merrlck said: ~
object, your Honor"
:" don't care about your objection.
am through with that" said Mr. Ingersoll
sharply.
- object to it, repeated Mr.. Merrick to
the Court.
Were youinterrupted in your reply -
asked the Court Of the witness.
eyes. sir" said the witness.
81 don't WISH" said Mr.. Ingersoif, ito
be interrupted by the prosecution"
81 don't regard the wishes of counsel
IN making objections" said Mr.. Merrick
"And.H- said Mr.. Ingersoll, "the coun.
sci does not wish your regard"
ole can't have it," said Mr.. Merrick.
"IIe would" said Mr.. Ingersol very
slowly, "consider it an insult"
Mr.. Merrick, turning in his chair so as
TO face Mr.. IngeTsoll. said with great dis
tnctness, 81 never give my regard TO pup.
pies"
"Yoa don't" exclaimed Mr.. Ingersoll,
trembling with indignation, and Selling an
inkstand;
"Y0U ARE A DIRTY DOG"
Judge Wylic had while these remarks
were being made pounded upon his desk
and endeavored to restrain the gentlemen.
Mr.. Merrick. now turning TO the Court,
said: "May it please your Honor, the re-
marks Of counsel pressed me beyond Ill
human endurance. | was doing nothing
but exercising the privilege of counsel,
and an attack so wanton-"
"The language" SAID Judge Wylie, sis
ineXcusable under any provocation."
81 am sorry" said Mr.. Merrick, that
was provoked TO use such language. No
man respects the dignity of the court more
than do. and no living man has endeavor-
ed more than l TO conduct himself in ac-
cordance with the rules OF professional
courtesy. ] bow with humble submission
TO the court
81 think" said Judge Wylie TO Mr..
Merrick, "that it is due to yourself to
RETRACT THAT EPITBET."
III your Honor says So" Mr.. Merrick
answered, E" i will retract it with submits
sion to the court. Now, make the counsel
l.. xx-l,ot Io .af1 \ mol,
retIaction from respect TO the court, and
under the instruction OF the court"
"From the first" sIid Mr.. Ingersoll.
rising after Mr. Merrick had taken his seat,
II have deplored the fact Of the slightest
feeling between counsel for the Govern
ment and counsel for the defence. / have
regretted il from the first. | will say that
this is the first trial | have ever been en-
gagged IN where such feeling has existed.
have endeavored to be kind and
TO be fair. If / have done any.
thing that could be tortured into
disrespect to your Honor l am glad to
take that part back. All else said was IN
reply to remarks of such character that
could not but retaliate on the spot" Mr.
Ingersoll, continuing, said that he wanted
no personal difficulty, but he proposed 10
defend himself. 81 would do it," he de-
clared, bringing his band down, "at the
day of judgment were / aSSalled by God
| would defend myself with all my little,
puny power" No man, he said, could run
over him. He hoped that this personal
feeling would stop, and promised from this
time out 10 endeavor to conform TO every
rule.
WHAT THE COURT THOUGHT.
Judge Wylie said the Court had been
obliged to look upon the occurrence as an
alteration between counsel, and the Court
did not feel called upon TO yindicate Itself
from any act Of contempt any further than
any disorder is technical offence against
the Court. He regretted exceedingly that
there was any bad feeling against counsel.
1t seemed here, TO speak fguratiyely, to
he word and blow, and that was not
the kind of spirit to prevail in trial.
If counsel would only put ny.
draulic-press upon their tempers they
would all experience an advantage from
it. lie thought the counsel for defence i'll
error in pushing another question before
the witness had finished his reply to the
first, and counsel for the prosecution was
right in protecting the witness. lie thought
counsel for the defence was in a false posi-.
ton, but after the quarrel begun he must
say that the epithet used by Mr.. Merrick
was one not TO be used in court. Mr.. Mer.
rick had magnanimouSly Withdrawn the
epithet, and the counsel for the defence
had in a general way disclaimed all inten.
ton of disrespect TO the court. He urged
hereafter that they might have at least al
armed neutrality.
Mr.. Ingersoll made another speech, say.
ing that if Mr.. MerIick's remark was with
drawn, not by order Of the Court, he would
gladly withdraw anything he said, as nc
man had to 20 more than half way to meet
him.
Nlr. Merrick said the unpleasantneS be
tween counsel was inaugurated after the
close Of the last trial by an extremely harsi
speech by the counsel who had just taken
his seat in reference to one OF his (Air
Merrick's) colleagues.
1--WE can't 90 into that" said Judge
Wylie hastily.
Mr.. Merrick then, reviewing the re
marks OF counsel, said that
TIE FIRST INSULT
was offered by Mr.. Ingersoll in saying thai
he would regard his (Alr. Merrick'sl regard
as an insult. When the counsel who thus
began blotted out his remarks he would
withdraw what he had said with pleasure
Otherwise he would only withdraw bi:
words out Of respect for the Court.
81 ask now" said Mr.. lngersoll, "tc
have all the record of that colloquy blotted
out"
- second the request most heartily
said Mr.. Merrick, with smile, "and ioir
the counsel in the request to blot out tht
past"
LET Us HAVE PEACE.
"Then," said Mr.. pgerSoll, LET u'
have peace. Let us blot Out the past"
Mr.. Bliss read from the record what
MIR. Ingersoll made about him i'm his open
ing address. when he (llr Bliss was not in
court, statement that he (Mr. Ingersoll
would not believe such n man when he told
60 l. n.