National Republican., 1883-06-02
,PAPrR WALLS OF PETITIONS
Made by the star Route Contractors 10
Protect Brady-NIr. Morrick Devotes n
Day 90 the Blank Afiidnvits, sc.

Made by the star Route Contractors TO
Protect Brady-nIr. NIorrIck Devotes n
Day 20 the Blank Anidnvits, sc.
1t was just one year yesterday from the be-
ginning of the first star route trial when Mr..
Merrick began the fifth day Of his address to
the jury. He recurred TO the departmental
method Of calculating the allowance of pay
for expedition, and made detailed and COM
prehensivo explanation of the subject Again
he declared that John Dorsey had beon guilty
of deliberate perjury upon the stand, in con-
nection with the duplicate afhdavits upon the
Pueblo. Rosita route, and maintained that his
periured narrative was equivalent to con-
tession Of his crime.
The foreman asked why John Dorsey's afi-
davit had been accepted when it appeared
that he was neither contractor nor subcon-
tractor.
Mr. Wilson asserted that John Dorsey was
the subcontractor, but Mr. Merrick insisted
that he was not.
He said that tho answer TO the question was
the indictment on trial the charge that these
men were co-conspirators; that they tramplcd
on the law to defraud the government. The
answer was, guilty rs charged in the indict-
ment. John Dorsey had made four blank
nfIidavits on the same day. He made them to
spirator-for what, he knew and cared not
That exhausted his moral nerve and he laid
by for five days, when he made another batch
The affidavit on the route from Trinidad to
Madison had been changed, and he would
show that Rerdell had written in the word
twelve" at Brady's suggestion, after tho
paper had been fled In the department.
Mr.. Merrick asserted that on this route pay
had been given for service never rendered.
Mr.. Wilson denied this statement and said
that deductions had been made for all fail
ures.
Mr.. Mcrricl replied that the pay had been
given and recoupcd only after this invosti-
cation began; alter Brady had gone out of
the postolfice.
Judge Wylio suggested that Mr.. Merrck
explain TO the jury the nature of Dorsey's
instruction to Rordell, to preserve a proper
tionate increase of 100 to 200 per cent. upon
the original contract price in making the
expedition atlidavits.
Mr. Merrick accepted the suggestion and
made an explicit explanation of the meaning
of the instructions. Ii meant he said, as
much as he (Rcrdoll) pleased use all the false
hood he wanted. If 100 horses were used on
the present schedule, he might say one if 800
were needed for the proposed schedule, he
might say 1000. Money was the fish and
Brady the giller. Scatter truth to the winds,
but bring him Dorsey the amount of money
he wanted. Mr.. Merrick held up another
affidavit and asserted that Rerdell filed it in
by Dorsey's direction.
Mr.. 1ngersoll wished to know how Dorsey
could have directed Rerdoll, when he was
working for Naio and Miner. Mr. Merrick
replied that he had been forced to do it.
Naio and Miner had threatened Dorsey, even
while ho was a. the scnate-n January 1879
His was the n'ttcr spirit of thought that
guided the conspiracy, as Brady's was the
master spirit of action. Never fear, he would
take care of Dorsey. These men were to
build up paper walls of petitions and atti-
davits to protect Brady's record from toe
manifest disclosure OF his inefficient rascaity
Everything tended to cOrrobOrate Rerdcll in
reference to every material fact that the jury
need believe.
The whole afternoon was devoted to a crti
cism of the various afiidavits in the case, the
testimony being quoted by Mr.. Merrick in
support of his declaration that they were
stepped in perjury.
Adjourned until Monday.