The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-23
THE spAR-RouTE VERDICT.
Press Opinions.

/
The acquitta of the star-route thieves, nm
der the very shadows of the fountain of our
national laws, stamps the republic with an
indelible impress of shame. Had such
verdict been rendered in one of the primitive
tribunals of Justice OH the outskirts OF civil
ization, where the glaring theft of the defend
ants were committed, it would not have star
tied the country and the world; but YER
dict of acuuttal in the capital OF great tree
government whose honor and safety are III
the majesty of law, is the most profound hu-
initiation ever inflicted upon the nation by
court of Justice. Even with all the technical
tiles of the law exhausted to shield the star
route defendants, there was no plausible eN-
cuse for verdict of acquittal.
From, the Ne,c York EceI,ing Post (Rep.)
The escape of Brady and Dorsey is most
unfortunate, but what is more unfortunate
still is that the effect of the two star-route
trials has been, not to make an example OF
ANYBODY, but rather to draw people to the con-
clusion that the attempt to secure convIctlon
for anv of the offenses with which they are
charged is hopeless, and that Brady and
Dorsey, in their brazen defiance Of the gov
eminent, and in their prediction that no
Washington jury would ever convict them,
were perfectly right.
From the Baltimore San (Lnd.)
In spite of the complexion of the case
public opinion has settled down very gener-
ally, on the strength of the testimony for the
government, to the belief that the charges
against the accused were proved by the testi-
mony adduced, in spite of the verdict OF the
Jury to the contrary.
From the Ner York Times Rep
The verdict of the starroute jury Is one
that will give comfort and encouragement to
all who think it is no sin to steal from the
treasury of the United States. 10 the honest
people of the nation it is a result unexpected
and undesired, grievous disappointment,
and fresh revelation of the power of wealthy
and INSCRIPTIONS graduates of the school OF
practical politics. when confronted III the
courts of Washington by the proofs of their
villainy.
From the Netc York World (Dem.)
The false verdict rendered by the jury IN
the star-route prosecution is more than fail
ure of Justice 1t is public calamity. The
fact that the government has been robbed OF
more than S2,000,000 i'll the star-route
contracts by fraud, forgery and perjury Is as
clear and as well known as the fact that
Dukes was shot and killed in the streets OF
Uniontown last Wednesday evening 1T is as
we'll known that Dorsey, Brady and their as
!
the SLAYER of his father murderer.
From the Ne,C York TjibmRe (Rep.)
A disagreement would have been regarded
| as probably natural result OF the situation
in view of the apparent inability OF some OF
the Jurors to comprehend the bearings OF the
evidence they were listening to, the probable
ity that there were some worthless characters
among them who were open to brides, and
| +Lo intalliOpnpp and bile
| GOOD character of others. But verdict
of mot guilty. following the confessions OF
Rerdell and the array of cumulative evidence
of a conspiracy, so far from raising Il pre-
sumption of the innocence of the accused or
satisfying the public that the evidence was
defective, will be thought only to show that
corruption and ignorance have combined to
do a perfect work.
From tie PHILADELPHIA Telegraph (Rep.)
The star-route jury, with its dreamer-o of
dreams foreman, and its delrlum tremenS
Vernon, has brought i'll verdict OF acqnlttal
This verdict cannot be called an unexpected
one: and about all we care to say concerning
the matter just at the present time is that
there is an urgent necessity for Congress TO
take take some positive action, at the earliest
| possible moment, to have political offenders
and public thieves tried somewhere else than
! at w aSnlnStOn.
From the Philadelphia Record (I"d Dem)
| While there is little doubt i'll most minds of
the guilt of the parties accused-especialy of
the guilt of Brady and Dorsey-the prosecu-
ton failed to bring home to them the proofs
of criminal conspiracy to detraud the gov
eminent under the Indictment. OF corrup-
ton, of perjury and of fraudulent affdavits on
the part of the star-route contractors there
was a riotous excess of evidence. Of eXtrav-
agance, of waste and Of criminal disregard OF
the public interests there was against Brady
enough proof to fix upon his brow forever the
stigma of Il corrupt official. There was in.
direct proof, too, of the large profits earned
by his corruption during his term of Office as
assistant postmaster general. There were
innumerabe facts before the jury showing the
enormous extent to which the government
was pillaged in the letting and performance
of the star-route contracts.