The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-11
THE sTAR-RouTE TRIAL.
The Arguments Suspended that Blackmar
Might BE Examined


The Arguments Suspended that Blackmar
Might BE Examined.
WASHINGTON, May l0.-When the star
route trial was resumed this morning, Judge
Wyiie said he wished to qualify his remark,
made yesterday, that seemed to censure
Blackmar. As matter of fact, the evidence
showed clearly that Blackmar had made no
proposition to Rerdell but had merely lis
tened toa proposition coming from him. The
court wished now to conliue its censure to
Rerdell.
Mr.. Davidge said he believed the court did
not fully understand the matter. 1t was not
a mere proposition. but an infamous bar
gain between Rerdell and a government
agent to affect the composition of the jury
He was willing to suspend argument in order
to let Blackmar take the stand and say
whether or not he acted under orders.
Blackmar then took the stand and Mr..
Ingersoll conducted the examination. Wit
ness said he was present in courtroom
when Rerdell testified in regard to the sub
ject
Ingersoll-You can state what YOU know
about the matter.
Witness-I made no arrangement of the
kind with Rerdell; he said he was willing TO
go on the stand and testify
Odd he say he would sit with the de-
PENDANTS and challenge jurors at the govern
mencs SUGGESTION
Ale said he would exercise his priv
ilege as defendant to challenge jurors
Q.-How; for or against the govern
ment?
Al was 20 communicate that to the
government He gave me list of persons
he would challenge; l have it now at my
house, and would have brought it with me
if had supposed l would be examined. |
communicated the proposition to Mr.. Mer-
rick, Immediately, long before the trial be-
gan. don't think gave that list to him,
but cannot be positive.
Mr.. lngersoll inquired if witness knew
Rerdell had attempted to carry out his propo-
sition.
Witness said his only knowledge on that
point had been derived from the record. 1t
was not understood that Rerdell was to chal-
ienge jurors for the government. When
witness reported to Mr.. Merrck, be was d.
rected to listen to Rerdell. and cautioned
what to say in reply. Mr.. Merrck ordered
witness to say to Rerdel that the proposition
could not be entertained; it would not be
proper for the prosecution to enter into it,
nor would it be honorable toward the coun-
sci for defense Witness had conversation
with S. W. Dorsey, yesterday; did not tell
him he made that arrangement with Rerdell.
and did not think Dorsey would say that,
either
Odd you not say to Dorsey, yesterday.
that you ought not to be blamed for this Rer-
dell matter; that you had taken every step
under the direction OF Mr.. Merrick?
Al said that in everything had done in
this trial my hands were clean. and that the
rlyd If Mr. Ytnfn hot
had been instructed TO do whatever | did.
Witness said.he would say now, and to the
day of his death, that he made no such ar
rangement with Rerdell as charged.
MIR. lngersoll asked some questions which
the court considered foreign to the subject
under examination, and Judge Wylie de-
clined to allow an extension of the scope of
inquiry. 1t must, he said, be confined to the
simple question whether there was an
agreement between Rerdell and BIackmar.
Witness said he now remembered that he
had not shown list of names to Mr. Merrick
when he reported to Mr.. Merrck that Rer-
dell wanted to challenge for the government.
That gentleman was very much offended
but witness must listen to Rerdell while re-
fusing to entertain the proposition.
The court said il had been surprised at
Mr.. Wilson's defamation against the
prosecution, and had referred TO the
evidence TO ascertain if he was
justified in it. careful consideration of
the testimony led the court to the belief that
Backmar had only listened in silence TO
RerdelPs suggestion, and although perhaps
he (Blackmar) had not done his whole duty
in failing to denounce Rerdell at the time
yet the court failed to see any ground for the
indignation expressed by the counsel at the
course of the government. The court de-
cidedly refused to go further into the subject,
and Mr. Wilson resumed his address to the
jury.
The prosecution, he said, had made a great
point out of the fact that some of
the routes ran through vast soil
tudes and across wel-ngh impassa-
BILE mountains. Well, Congress and
not the Second Assistant Postmaster-general-
was responsible for that They specified the
routes the mail should traverse, and the Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster general carried out
their laws. The jury could not Draw an in
ference of criminalty from the charge OF the
judge who sat upon the bench; they must
look to the evidence alone. No matter If
iiradys orders were not WISE il would be a
iuonstrons thing for the jury TO convict an
executive officer of crime, because his judg-
ment had not been wisely exercised.
Mr. Wilson had not concluded his address
When the court adjourned.
A COLoRED MEMS CONVENTION.
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