The Evening critic., 1883-06-12

IA perfectly plain case, which would only
occupy two or three days In court" Mr.. Brews-
ter thought 1t necessary to mako a dashing
array Of learned men during these three days.
He thought best TO employ Mr.. Merrick, Of this
city, as another staG offlcer. SO Merrlck was
employed at the homely figures OF $50 day
and expenses. That is
Salary Observation-Disclosures. $54,750
Expenses, about. ut........................ 5000
Total. s63,75O
MFR. Brewster, with his ten asslstants-we
moan assistants who are right here in Wash.
1ngtoD, employed these special attorneys at
Sundays and all, and whether there was court
or not, as the records of the Treasury Depart
ment Will show, the following petty sums per
annum, viz
her, apout ......,., .,.,.......,............. 6l,5OO
Merrtck, about.................... l..... 63,750
Total....... .........................$1 $1S0,250
Messrs. Bliss and Merrick have frequently
expressed In open court the regret they felt at
leaving their private practice In order to de-
fend the rights OF the people, and stated that
their desire TO bring robbers of the public
Treasury to Justice induced them to devote
their time to this case. After looking at the
figures, they have nay sympathy.
Mr.. Brewster had a plain case. 1t was so
plain that he found It necessary to employ
Pinkerton's whole detective force to send de-
tectives % an over the country to interview post
1t was so plain that Brewster found 1t neces.
sary to send his special agents to every point OF
the country where 1t was known that Dorsey
had personal FREUD or correspondent, with
Instructions to obtain any letters wrltten by
Dorsey that could be procured py lattery,
bribery or threats.
twas plain case, no doubt about 1t; In fact
so plain that Dorsey was guilty that II poor
clerk In one OF the Departments, or a soldiers
widow, who held place on his recommenda-
ton, and who Jailed to come out and denounce
him as scoundrel, he or she was at once
kicked out. 1t was 30 plain that men holding
high office under the Government who dared
express an opinion not.indorsed by Brewster
Cameron, their official heads were immediate-
ly chopped on. Marshal Henry, Postmaster
Anger and Mr.. Parker fell under this scythe
of persecution.
1t was plain case. The scales OF Justice
were hanging in equal balance, so equal that
II an honest clerk was called upon the stand
truth, he was Immediately dismissed
from the Government service; SO
equal that Government clerks were
called into dingy-room In the Postofice Do
partment where aflldavits were written out for
them TO sign,. covering subject matters OF
which they had no knowledge. and were told
to sign them and go upon the stand and testi.
~ to their truth or be at once dismissed from
their offlces.
These were equal scales OF justice, as held
by Brewster. Balancing them on his fingers
end, he would write to other Cabinet oficers,
demanding the removal of this or that man
because he would not swear to q lie to serve
there are two members OF the Cabinet whom
Brewster could not terrorize-Teller and
Chandler.
These are the scales OF Justice that Mr.. Mer.
rick has spent nine days in trying to balance.
Well, what more? There was trial that
lasted four months instead OF three days. A
over the country at cost Of hundreds OF thou.
sands OF dollars, and not breath of suspicion
or word OF evidence was given against s. W.
Dorsey. He did not testify In his own behalf,
n hnr apyna q \,
ing to answer.
There was mistrial. The mon who voted
for conviction have all been rewarded. The
men who had the manhood to vote for acquit.
tai have all been indicted. With an open
hand agents OF tho Department OF Justice did
all they could TO buy the jury. Those to whom
they offered bribes and who refused to accept
them were at once indicted for not accepting
them. William Dickson, than whom no more
upright and honorable man exists, was offered
bribe OF $4,000 by a special agent OF the
Department OF Justice and reported the fact
at once to the court. He, OF course, was In
dicted because he told without taking, instead
To carry their terrorism still further, on
the day the present jury was empanelled the
Jurors who voted for acquittal on the last trial
were arraigned to plead.
Then came the second trial, beginning about
December ], 1882, and not yet closed. 1t was
thought that the lowest recess OF infamy had
been reached in the first trial, but that was
only gaslight OF falsehood to glowing sun
OF perjury, when compared to the present trial.
The managers OF "the plain case sent out to
oregon and brought the keeper of a "aoatlng
hotel" here to swear to conversations he had
had with Dorsey. According to his own state
ments, made to eminent lawyers In this city,
every word he swore to was a lie, and his whole
testimony was prepared by Woodward, the de-
tective. Next, according to public rumor, and
as believe, they bought Rerdell for 10000.
II Is the worst bargain anybody ever made.
Another army OF witnesses were dragged
here from the distant Territories to give what
somebody may call testimony; but, as the
rnaaA F0 n IA IaA naII TO- a..I.r a
mitted this chan because the prosecution
pledged themselves to furnish wheat kernel
OF evidence.
This wheat kernel has never been forthcom.
ing. More than three months were taken up
In Introducing and reading what was called
"documentary ,eyidence"-that is, the papers
relating 10 each route, with thorough knowl
edge by the postoffice Department that any
nineteen routes could not be selected of the
ten thousand In the United States which the
same sort OF evidence did not cover. The docu-
mentary evidence business was mere bOsh
and nonsense-there is nothing to 1t.
Another point which seemed to escape the
attention OF the attorneys for the defense: A
great deal Of stress has been put upon petit
tions and anidavits, and both sides have ar
gued the point with apparent earnestness for
the the purpose OF , showing that one was
is no law requiring a petition nor
an afidavit to be dled in order to secure the
increase or expedition OF mall service. No
such law ever existed. The Postmaster
General has the right now, and always has
had, TO Increase or expedite any route without
petition or aflldavitfrom any one.
The second trial of this plain case has now
gone on for six and a.haif months. Every
thing that power could do, every thing that
genius could devise, all he tricks that craft
and low cunning could suggest, have been
brought to bear 10 secure the conviction Of the
defendants.
To my personal knowledge, the lowest aud
most revolving methods have been adopted by
the prosecution. From the day that the jury
was drawn, up TO and including the present
moment, not single minute, night nor day,
has passed that sleuth hound, IN the form OF
a Government detective, has not been on the
track OF each Juror. Juror could not
speak 10 friend on the street;
could not 60 to baker 70
buy his bread; could not talk with his
family In the sacredness OF his home; and, as
Colopel Ingersoll said, 'COuld not cross his
fthreshold without-the shadow OF spy falling
or him."
Not only that, this spy and detective infamy
has not been confined 10 Jurors; It has reached
and covered, as have reason to know, not
only the Jurors and the derendants, but every