National Republican., 1883-05-25
Col. lngersoll Continues His Review Of the
Evidence and Arguments,
Devoting His Attention For Day to a
Party by the Name Of Boone,
Who He Says Swore Under Great Pressurs-Allsged
inconsistencies in His Statements.
Several Tnts with Col. Bliss in Regard
TO Points OF Evidence.

speech. He instanced many alleged errors
on tho part of that gentleman, and said that
his object was to destroy his character as
an index. He wanted it understood that Mr..
Bliss did not know the contents of the papers,
and did not truly state them.
Boone's testimony was then taken UP and
analyzed. The government relied upon
BooDe's testimony, said Mr.. lngerscll, to
show that the conspiracy was born in the
brain Of S. w. Dorsey; that these other mon
were simply tools and instrumentalities in
his hand. Boone was swearing under
great pressure. His own testimony dis
closed that he held 1,100 contracts; that
he had been declared failing contractor;
that he had been indicted seven or ten times.
That man was swearing under pressure the
government had its clutch upon his throat.
1t s. w. Dorsey got up the conspiracy him.
self why did Peck write to him to engage
competent man to collect information about
the service. Boone saw that letter; Boone
explained why letters wero received in the
name of his stepson, James ii. Kotnor; why
secrecy had been observed. He showed that
these things were perfectly honest, perfectly
natural, and with the habits of men engaged
in the mail business. Tho next great point
made by tho government was the fact that
tho proposals had been signed in blank that
showed an intention to commit a fraud upon
the government.
We'll their witness, Boone, their main prop
until the paragon of virtue made his appear
ance on the stand, swore that ho left the
blanks; that IL was customary with all con-
tractors not to insert the figures until the
last moment. Then those Clendenin bonds,
Boone swore that Dorsey never told him he
wanted the blanks left. The expedition
clause in the subcontracts, even as described
by Mr.. Bliss was evidence that there was no
conspiracy. If il showed anything, it was
that the contractors could not get money out
of the United States, and So rigged purchase
to squeeze it out of the subcontractors. But
ms a matter of fact the clause was not cor
rectly described. A man who could make
conspiracy out of those things could do any
thing; he could make cover for Barnum's
circus out of postage stamp.
II was undoubtedly true that the contract
ors chose routes with slow and infrequent
service, because they thought that they would
be increased and expedited. Boone swore
that he did just that thing himself All pru-
dent contractors did il. Was ith crime to
make the best bargain you could with the
government? Was it not to be supposed that
these gentlemen (the prosecuting attorneys),
made tho best bargain they could with the
government? Was it not reasonable to sup
pose that slow mail service in new country
would grow with that country, and eventually
made faster, and the trips moro frequent?
The coat tails of that point hOrizontalized in
the dim distance The prosecution wanted
the jury to hold Dorsey responsible as
a copspirator for those blank bonds sent to
Clendenin, when Boone swore positively
that Dorsey gavo him no instructions in re-
gard to them, swore that they were to be re-
turned to him-Boone. When Brady threat
ened to declare Miner and Peck failing con-
tractors Dorsey was not hore he was in New
Mexico. He knew when he went away that
the service was down, yet he abandoned 1t.
If Dorsey had been the prime conspirator
would not Miner have said to him, This is
your child. / became criminal at your sug-
gestion, because you urged me, and now, after
we get the routes, you abandon us?"
Why, he would have said TO Dorsey, If
you arc not going on with this conspiracy, l
am going back to Sandusky." But Miner
knew that s. w. Dorsey was not interested in
the routes to the extent of one dollar. If he
had with the entire business trembling
in the balance, been in conspiracy with
Brady, after advancing $4,000 as security,
would he have left the business? Yet the
prosecution would have the jury believe that
Dorsey ran away from his conspiracy, and
that Brady would not attend to his business
The Jury must remember that Boone did al
of the work of making proposals; did it all
in his own way, and for the interest of all
concerned without instructions from Dor
sey, They must remember that when
the government asked them to be-
lieve that Dorsey was an active member
of the combination Boone swore that he
never knew of tho conspiracy. Look at that
"a government witness, in position where
the Postoifice department could strip him of
everything he had on earth, where the gov
ernmont could pursue and Eound him, caught
in the net of circumstances. Yet he swore
that he never knew or heard Of the alleged
conspiracy. Then they showed the Chico
Springs letter to Boone--the man with a
end in the hands Of Mr.. Bliss. He
spurned ii from him; he said IS. W. Dorsey
did not write that" Mr.. Ker consumed a
week in his closing argument, but he over
looked that Chico letter, Mr.. Bliss followed
in another weeks argument, but he didn't
have time to speak of it. Both of them were
as dumb as oysters after clap of thunder.
They did not have the courage to speak
about il; did not have the nerve. He would
either have admitted that Rerdell forged
that letter or swear that Dorsey wrote it,
Then they showed the celebrated pencil
memorandum to Boone, and he swore that
the criminating part was probably in kerdeils
handwriting. Then they dismissed him.
After he had sworn that their principal wit
ness was forger they dismissed him. Called
to the stand to brand Dorsey as a consprator,
he put the word forger" upon the forehead
of tho principal government witness instead.
Could the jury doubt that Boone knew every
thing that was going onp Was there ever a
conspiracy like this, the news of which ran
like wildfre through the west, yet of which
Boone in Washington knew nothing?
Mr.. Ingersoll then read from Mr.. BLISS
opening speech: "But We shall show TO you
that at least one United States senator urging
iucrcase was the paid agent of these defend
ants" Where was that evidenceH he asked.
Mr. Bliss. said that would do it If you would
Mr.. ingersoll (sarcastically). If we would FUR
nlsh the evidence. How could know the sena-
MIR. Bliss. Was there more than one?
Mr. Ingersoll. say that there was not one,
say that IL you knew OF such person IL was your
duty as United States attorney TO bring him 10
justice aud II you did not do 1t you neglected and
Mr.. Bliss. Whose name was on the pencil mem.
orandum?
Mr.. Ingersoll said that some such remark
was made the other day and stricken out OF
the record. That pencil memorandum bore
The name of Jas. IL. Mitchell. (Feelingly.)
| would not for the world stain the reputa-
ton of another when he was not present to
defend himself 1t is as bad TO stab o reputa-
ton as to kill flesh as bad to kill the honor
of man as to put dagger in his heart. He
wanted every fact in this case to stand out
like stars on a dark night, wnhouta doubt to
cloud them. When the verdict was given, he
wanted every juror to be able to say that II
was founded on the rock of truth; that
II was not tainted with misstatement
or falsehood. II he had to prose-
cute a man; to take him from
his home, leave his freside to desolation, and
he succeeded in his case If after that he
should find that he had used one misstate-
ment, he would endeaYor to set that man