National Republican., 1883-06-06
LOSING MONEY RY FAITH.

The Curious Way In Which Nnho In
vested Money in Losing Star Routes
Dorsey and RerdclI-Tho "Don't Re
llnenbor" Testimony.
In the star route trial yesterday Mr.. Mer-
rick resumed his address to the jury. He
entered into a long explanation of tho laws
bearing on conspiraces, and quoted legal de-
cisions in support of his declaration that the
charge in the present case had been fully
established. He asserted that Miner had
committed crime--forgery- signing an
other mans name to a petition.
Judge Wylie said that IL was wrong; cer-
tainly It wn' fraud, but technically it
would be di' nlb'so sustain the charge of
criminal furg,..
Referring TO the division OF the routes in
April, 1879, Mr. Mcrrick characterized 1t as
an agreement to divide tho plumber, but to
keep up the crime After that division, he
said, the burglary went on just us enor-
getCally and successfully as before.
Vaile came into the business from high
philanthropic motives. lie pitied Miner Ho
loved him because he was son of Adam.
There had been no relations between them
before that, but he embraced him rs n long
lost brother. Wales own testimony would
show that he had an agreement with Brady
and an UNDERSTANDING WIN MINER. JuhV llo
service should be manipulated and made
profitable. Vailo was an astute business man,
of life long experience in carrying the mails,
yet he went on paying out money on losing
contracts without an assurance that he would
ever be repaid.
He was as innocent rs rs child unborn,
although rs rich as Crpsus. He took these
losing contracts upon his shoulders ho car
ried that burden by Brady's suggestion, hav-
ing no contract with the original contractors
until the following October and meanwhile
oxpending $4,000 without security for its re-
payment except Brady's telegram TO put on
the service. Could any ono believe that a
man would make such an agreement Was
it within tho range of human cro-
dulity? Vaile quarreled with Dorsey
of course he did. IL was rs im-
possible for such men to agree. ms for
two women with equal authority TO keep
house together. Such charity, such philan-
throphy as Vaile showed was beyond COM
pruhension, and above all was II incompre'
hensible that a man of wealth should peril
his substance. 1t might be natural for pool
man to do that, but rich man loved hi:
money, and when he cast it into his chest,
and ratified it againstitho sides, 1t sung to him
the hymn of wealth to tho god of avarice
In answer to Mr.. Merrick's declaration thai
Vaile had agreed with his fellow conspirator
Brady, that he should be secure in his rights
Judge Wylie said that under the circum
stances no executive olficcr would havo per
formed his duty if he had allowed the maj
who put OH service to be cheated out of hi
pay.
Mr.. Henkle asserted that there was not th
shadow of case against Vale.
Mr.. Merrick replied that he (Mr. Henkle
was good church member, and should no
hurt his conscience by making such state
ment. According to Nailes testimony h
had knowingly assumed charge of these los
ing routes-paid out money uselessly for tn
benefit of the United States. That was enougl
to shock any mans understanding.
Mr.. Merrick next turned his attention Il
the testimony of Dorsey and Rerdell, tn
master and pupil. Many years ago, said he
S. w. Dorsey, then rising man o
great ability, took this young man by th
hand, brought him from the wilds of Arkan
sas to Washington, and led him in ways o
iniquity and crime. Mr. Merrick compared
the evidence given by Dorsey and by Rer
dell, commenting in the most severe term
upon that given by Dorsey and upon por
tons of Mr.. IngersoPs speech which, 1t
said, were unfair to Rerdell. He read al
extract from Mr.. IngersolPs speech, whicl
that gentleman declared had been perverte'
in meaning by an error in punctuation
Mr. Merrick replied that in punctuation
Mr.. Ingersoll was as vague as Dorsey whel
he and the learned counsel helped TO writ
that affidavit.
Judge Wylie having corrected the counse
in reference to disputed point Of evidence
Mr.. Mcrrck remarked that he had the mos
extraordinary recollection of the details of
case of any Judge who ever sat on the bench
lie believed that the court knew more abou
the case than all the lawyers engaged in it
When Mr.. Ingersoll was speaking of the pen
ell memorandum, Mr.. Ingersoll expressed hi
belief that Rerdell had written all of it. MI
Merrick replied that such BELIEF woul
81, all 10 ha In InUnrgDll
not contented himself with charging dow
the governments witnesses, but was no'
making an onslaught upon his own witnesses
Mr.. Merrick then read copious extracts froI
the report of Dorsey's examination, callin
attention to the number of 81 don't remcn
ber" answers returned by the witness. At
journed.