Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-05
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
A JUDGE TALKING VERY FREELY.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 81
One of the judges Of one of the Wash
ington courts to. day expressed the
opinion that there would be no YER
dict In the s%tar-route cases, and that
If there was q verdict 1t would not be
guilty of conspiracy. "They have
proved" he said, ''unqusstionably q
crlme-gross maladministration and
the corrupt 8 of money-and they
have been for a year trying to fit that
crime into o conspiracy. They do not
seem to have been successful. The
star route knavery was unquestionably
a piece of thieving without any de.
liberate concert of action, but there
was no organized conspiracy-eaoh
man stole on his own account"
"Why," the question was asked of
the Judge, "did not the Government,
If It had evidence Of crime, proceed
then against the guilty persons indivi-
dualIy for ~malfeasanoe, or bribery, or
embezzlement, and not attempt to
make out a eonspiracy7"
"That Is what would have been the
wiser course unquestionably, and I
understand some Ct the later indict-
ments are on that basis. Probably
some of those will hold, but the con.
spiracy In the present case does not
seem to be made out"
WHAT THE LAW YRRs SAY OF KELLOGG.
A gentleman who has had inter
views with Attorney General Brewster
aud Star Route Counsel Merrick and
Ker gives the following a. an author.
lied statement of the circumstances
which led to the recent presentment.
The only testimony placed before the
former grand jury did not think this
evidence sufficient, and asked for the
additional testimony just now given,
which the government at that time
was unable to furnish. Price was Q
fugitive from Justice, seoreting him
self In Canada, and refused to appear,
Since that time arrangements were
made by which his presence was Sc
cured. He appeared before the CRANE
Jury, corroborated the statements
of Walsh, and personally identified
the drafts upon which the charges
against Kellogg were based. Will
this evidence before them the CRANE
Jury had no difficulty In finding a bill
and had 1t been accessible the forme
grand Jury would, 1t is believed, hav'
found Q bill. The statement that thes
new indictments are In the nature O
o political move, in which Meriick per
sonsl'y interested himself Is equal,
incorrect and unjustifable. Merricl
has never been before the grand Jury
and has never taken the least persona
interest In the case whatever. At
consultation with the Attorney.G len
ersI, Ia which b iss, Merrick, and Ke
, were present, the Attorney'G ,nera
himself positively directed that tn
, case be again laid before the gram
jury, and Ker by his direction up
neared before that body. Bot
b i,s and Merrick were l
the courtroom where Brad
and Dorsey were to be on tn
= witness stand during the whole tim
Q of the grand jury deliberations. ]
Is utterly absurd to give the indict
. ment of Kellogg any political signif
canoe. 1t was asked for because tn
Attorney. General thought the cyl
a dence sufficient to prove that q Grim
had been committed and 1t WA nc
O delayed until after Kellogg's term Q
senator had expired, but only becaus
the government did not, within . fe'
weeks obtain the requisite evidenc,
Kellogg may have been dealt u~nJustl
with, a. he says, but his own politics
and party friend, the Attorney-Gene
. al, is alone responsible for the indie
ment."
WHAT KELLOGG SAYS.
- Senator Kellogg does not seei
greatly disturbed over his indictment
but maintains q confidential air, an
says that he will have no difficulty
% refuting the crime laid to him whe
the case reaches q trial. He ente
N sains no doubt but that back OF til
y transaction Is a scheme concocted b
some Of his political enemies to bres
him down. He insists that his case
"a a clear one, and that he will hav
"a nothing to fear by a trial The onl
bad features about it to him are thi
n his reputation will for a time SUITE
b. aud he will be forced to oonsiderab
ID expense to pay lawyers fees.
lie