The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-06-23
A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
Entered I'm the Case of the Ntar
Route Defendants.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June 14.-From
the first these dispatches have de-
clared that there could be no convic-
ton of the star route defendants.
The Indictment charged a conspiracy
when it was plain conspiracy could
not be proven. For this reason the
position was early taken in these dis
patches that the government was not
sincere, that it did not desire a con
yiction. The verdict of to-day was
a just verdict. 1t does not settle the
question ofindividual guilt. Dorsey,
Brady, and their coadjutors may
have lined their pockets with money
belonging to the people, but it was
an absurdity to indict them for that
most difficult of all crimes to prove,
4 conspiracy to commit felony.
This was the only question consider
ed by the jury, and the fair minded,
who have kept even with the evil
dence, will not deny that their YER
dict is the only one that could justly
have been returned The scene in
the courtroom when Foreman Crane
announced the verdict was indescrib-
able. 1t was clearly apparent that
the audience were pleased with the
result. You will hear no more en-
thusiastic cheering in the Ohio cam
paign than greeted the announce
ment of "not guiltyw The court was
dazed and disappointed. Perhaps
there was no individual more conf
dent of conviction than Judge Wylie.
His instructions, though large and
liberal OH minor details, were broadly
and palpably incisive in the summing
up against the defendants. During
the whole trial he had taken the
government side, not because of any
personal feeling against the defend
ants, perhaps, but because of the
mistaken idea that the judiciary OF
the district should respond to the
clamor of the press for conviction.
There will be small difference Of opin-
ion as to the guilt of Brady, Dorsey
Il Company. Doubtless they have
feathered their nests at the cost of
the people. If the government had
completed its trial Of the case within
a fortnight, the chances of conviction
would have been in it's favor. But
the per diem salary paid to that fell
low Bliss" as Mr. Hendricks phrased
him, and to Merrick, who was lugged
into the case, confessedly for political
reasons only, led the public to believe
that the chief conspiracy" in this
ostentatious attempt to demonstrate
the virtue of the administration, was
organized by Attorney General Brew
ster for the benefit Of these two dis
tinguished attorneys. "That fellow
Bliss" has received about $4,000 for
his "divy," and Merrick about half
that sum. The bone has been left to
poor Ker, but there was fat picking
on it nevertheless. When the verdict
was announced, Mrs. Dorsey, who
is a lovely little woman, and who has
been present daily during the trial,
went off into Mysteries in the most
charming way. 1t was jolly to see
her, after her brave bearing while the
trial was on, let down completely
when the foreman Of the jury an
nounced that her husband was inno-
cent. TWAS the finest testimony you
would wish to see to her high esti-
mate of her husbands character,
however widely her imagination may
have wandered from the path Of cold,
nnsympathetic public opinion in
sizing him up. Judge Wylie was
thunderstruck when the verdict was
announced, but recovered himself in
time to say pleasant things to the
jury. Mr.. Ingersoll gives grand
reception to everybody and their fam
lilies tonight at his residence, and it
is idle to- deny that the sympathies
Of almost every body and their fami
lies in Washington have been with
the defendants from the first.