The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-02-03
STAR ROUTE TRIALS.

u
insight of the disgusting spectacle and
witness the degeneracy of cur courts,
we give the following extract of the
proceedings contained in the dispatches
of last Fiday.
A. E. Boone was called in the star
route trial. He had . conversation
with Miner, Stephen Dorsey, and per-
haps with John Dorsey. In the con-
versation with Stephen he recommend
ed Meore. Miner called at witness of.
fee next day and saw Moore. Moore
insisted on a ealarv of $3.50 month,
which Miner agreed to allow. After
Moore left the city he called Miners
attention 70 the fact thas check had
not been sent to his wife according to
promise. He also saw Stephen Dorsey,
who promptly sent the check upon
Moors's request. In connection with
Stephen Dorsey, in November, 1877,
Dorsey produced letter from Peck,
desiring him to secure an experienced
man to get up bids for next letting.
He offered witness the position, but the
latter declined to accept salary, de-
manding an interest in the business,
which Dorsey finally agreed to give
him.
Witness was asked who received the
proposals. when they were returned,
but objection was made and another
discussion followed. Bliss said Inger-
soil was right in his statement that
the government assumed that Stephen
w. Dorsey was the root of the concern,
lin fact he sent out the proposals and
received them. The court allowed the
question, and witness said: The pack
ages were returned to him throug,:
Stephen w. Dorsey. Three postmas.-
ers responded,-the postmastsrs at Lie
tie Rock, Hot Springs and Helena, and
the proposals were used in bidding at
the letting, all that could get in, said
the witness.
In response to question for identi-
fcation of the letter. Bliss read as fol
lows: "U. s. Senate Chandler, Wash
ington, D. c., Dec. 9, 1878"
| care you Sure 1t Is the United States
senate chamberao said Ingersoll, with
savage emphasis on the quoted words
Then as the court raped for order
"Oh, only wanted that to be empha-
sized properly"
| Merrick immediately presented an
other letter to witness, and inquired
"The Stephen w. Dorsey who signee
that was United States senator, was b,
notl"
| Ayes, sir"
The letters were then offered in ev-
idence as showing Dorsey's connsctio,
with the transactions to which witncs
testified. "In other words" Merricl
said.
Witness on the stand was tempora
rlly placed aside while S. w. Dorse,
himself spoke to the jury on .shat h
had written with his own hand.
The defense objected aud pointed t,
the record of the last trial, when th
court rejected the profered evidence
In the course of argument Ingersol
used the expression, "Where will this
end.
"In the penitentiary," promptly in
interrupted Bliss.
Ingersoll, shaking his finger at Bills
said, "You will be there as soon as m.
client"
! The court-This Is entirely unpro-
fessional.
| Ingersoll-Did I provoke-isl
The court-No.
! lngersoll--I represent a gentlemen
and do not purpose doing anything
Il S0AkA0tAssA 8OI uCs
| The court said-At the last trial /
seemed to have gone off with the ide,
that it was an attempt to prove som,
sort of official misconduct on the rart o.
Dorsey, aside from the routes in thi,
case. In that instance it overloc kee
entirely the other question, whether The
evidence did not tend to show con-
nection between Dorsey and the de-
fendents in the preparation of bids fol
a letting soon to be made. The court
then got certain view Of the case and
then ran off on that line. It might as
well be understood the questions arising
in this case would be decided without
bias from any other decision. Sudden
ly and with great indignation, he said
to Williams, who was smiling, what do
you mean by thac sirl What do you
mean by sneering and gigling like a fool
at: the decisions Of this court1
Williams-"I don't understand you.
don't believe the courts language is
warranted. I was talking about an
other matter and did not hear you."
Tfs court-"Yon should have been
listening"
Williams-"You our honor had not de.
cided the question yet, and could not
have expressed any opinion upon it.
The court--svTbe court accepts your
disclaimer and owes you an apology
for the severity of its language"
| The delivery of the opinion was re-