Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-06-15
Mr.. Merrick'S Great Argument

Hon. Richard T. Merrick concluded his
mastery nine days argument in The star
route cases on Friday last. At The com
mencemeut of his great argument Mr..
Merrick was suffering SO much from nerv-
Gus prostration, induced by his unremit-
ing responsible labors during the pro-
tracted trial, that his physician deemed it
necessary to be present with him in court
to promptly administer retoratives in
case of a sudden collapse of the systesm.
Notwithstanding this great physical di.-
ticulty under which he labored, he has
delivered an argument which in the force
ofits logic, skill in analysis, depth of learn
ing, holiness of thought, briliance of CON
ception, elegance of diction, rhetorical
excellence and commanding eloquence
will take the very highest rank in Ameri-
can forensic discussion. Mr.. Merrick 5
argument was remarkable throughout for
the wonderful power of analysing and
elucidating the voluminous mass of evi-
dence in these remarkable cases. Mr.
IngersolI, who preceded HIM had made an
argument OF conceded force and skill,
and it seemed that up to the commence
ment OF Mr.. Merricks argument the for
ensic skill in summing up was in..favor
of the defense. Mr.. Merrck, however,
took up Mr.. Ingersoll's argument and fol
lowed it through its various ramifcaticns,
meeting it at every point, exposing is
fallacies, refutiug its arguments, eluci-
dating its decisions and parrying its
skillful strokes of sarcasm and irony. \
climax was reached on Thursday after
noon when Mr.. Merrick reached Mr. Inger-
soils burial of Rerdell," which he had
depicted with such telling sarcasm and
powerful denunciation as TO maxi f3rci-
bic impression upon the minds of the
jury and discredit the statements of that
accomplice and witness Mr.. Merrick
addressed himself to this point with his
characteristic magnets and skill. He
said he would make Rerdelrs grave wide
enought to hold two, and side by side he
would bury Stephen w. Dorsey and his
tool and accomplice. On these two graves
be would erect an arch upon which should
be inscribed the words: In their lives
they were inseparable, and in death they
are not divided" And if" said the
orator Notwithstanding the counsels
1ngersolrs) prayers, Gabriel when he
passes over those graves should blow, and
the corrupt and buried Dorsey should
rise an immortal spirit and come into
that last grand Court before the Great
Searcher Of all Hearts, and the Great
Searcher and All knewer should ask him,
were you not in the flesh known as
Stephen w. Dorseyl' the spirit would
answer. Il don't remember" This palpa-
BILE hit at the non-commi;tal evidence of
Dorsey, and the skiliful coupling of the
guilt of Rerdell, SO heavily denounced by
Mr.. Ingersoll, with that of Dorsey his
principal and retainer, ELECTED unbound
ed manifestations of approval and admir-
alton throughout the large audience IN
the midst of which the court adjourned
Mr.. Merrick has by his great effort in
this case added new laurels to his already
wide and enviable reputation as one of
the mJsy UTiIlIant adv0clfes at the Amer
lean bar.
The New York Times, Republican pa
per, speaks of Mr.. Merrick's services in
the star route trials as follows:
The government was fortunate when it
induced Richard T. Merrick to assist in
the prosecution of the star route defend
ants. From the beginning of the proceed
ings he has devoted all his rare ability and
energy TO the work, and his closing argu-
ment to the jury has shown how forcibly
a great lawyer can present the salient
points of great mass of evidence and
brush away the ingenious peas by which
skillful apponen's have endeavored to oh
scure the facts. Mr.. Merrick has faith
fully served the people as we'll as the gov
eminent that employed him."