Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-05-27
IMPALING BLISS.
LAWYER kER ON raE STAR ROUTES.
como Inside Testimony OF the Famous trials
rhst Explains How tho Robbers
FsCspei IustiCe.

somo Inside Testimony OF the Famous trial.
rhst Explains How tho Robbers
Escaped Justice,
MIR. W. w. Kcr, of Philadelphia, ono OF
tho counsel in tho prosecution OF the star
Route cases, was examined by Mr.. Spring.
cr's committee ON Monday. lie said he
was employed January 81, 1852, by the
attorney general to prepare indictments.
81 told tho attorney general, he con-
tiuucd, that was Democrat. The
attorney general replied that 1t was not q
question Of politics, but Of the administra
tiou OF justice and he asked me to under
take the work. About two days after
received my commission | met Colonel
Bliss. He told me that must not con
verse with Mr.. Cook and that must not
allow him to see the indictments. lie
also said that should not converse with
Mr.. Gibson nor Mr.. Corkhill. Colonel
Bliss gave me the abstracts Of papers
prcpared by Mr.. Woodward aud said the
indictments must be prepared before the
ith OF March or the parties would es.
cape"
Mr. ker referred to the iudctiuG Of two
Of the defendants by their initials. lie
said &" wanted the full names Of Rcr-
dell and Saudersou. Colonel Bliss said
he did not know what they were and tha!
il vas impossible to get them. Mr.. Wood
ward could not give them, nor could post
ofiSc inspectors, told Colonel Bliss
there might be trouble about il. lie re-
Piled that tho Christian names could not
be found. On the books Of the postotfice
department the initials alone appeared
and those were taken. When tho indict.
ments came up in court they were quase
cd for this reason. There were also IN
di,tments for p'JuTy against one Charles
II. Dickson, who is now holding conf
dental position in the department OF the
interior. He swore falsely as to the value
Of property. The indictments for perjury
are still standing.
" Could those against whom indictments
have been filed be convicted ?" asked Re-
preventative Stewart.
They ought to be and they undoubt
edly would be ou fair trial. All OF these
indictments were prepared by March "
Why were no other cases than those
OF Dorsey aud Brady taken to trial 2
asked o member of the committee.
couldn't tell without drawing on ms
Imagination.
bliss peclinos KeF's Help.
Nr. Eer then entered into the history OF
the trial Of tho cases. He said tho attor
ney general told him to go into the trial
that it would last \ month or SIX weeks
He continued : The attorney general
wanted me to examine witnesses privately
and prepare brief of their testimony, TO
be given 70 Colonel Bliss | went 10 Col.
Bliss and told him what the attorney gem
eral had said. He replied Never mind ;
that he would look after them. Il is his
nature to shoulder moro than he can
carry. had nothing to do then with the
witnesses.
After the court quashed the indictments
against Vale, Rerdell and Sandersou, be.
cause Of the Christian name Of Vale being
wrous and because we did no; have the
Christian names OF Rerdell and Sanderson,
we determined 10 make new indictments.
Colonel Bliss said Sanderson's namo ought
to be dropped out. The matter was left
with me. Sanderson had previously said
to Colouel Bliss that he did not care e
much about the indictments as he did
about being mixed up with such GROVE
as that. | left his name out because th,
evidence was insufficient. He had only
been connected with ono route. think i
was right that his name should be lef
out. IL has been charged that he paiC
money to have his name omitted. No
one cent was paid TO me.
pIsr Tryi0g to save Dorsey.
about this time Walsh aud Moore wert
spoken Of as witnesses. Colonel Bliss
told me that Walsh was man of bad
character aud not worth while having
anything 10 do with. He also said the
same thing of Moore. Merrick, who had
previously been appointed one Of the
counsel, afterwards found out that both
men were very angry that ueithe. had
been subpUnaed. One day about the
middle of the first trial the other couLseI
and myself were at the postofiics depart
ment was waiting outside Of one room
for Merrick. He came, aud, as We walkeC
towards the door, said, in an excited
manner What do you suppose Bills
wants ? He wants US to let Dorsey 20.
! suggested that he might hav
thrown that out as an eYpedient
'Oh, no. he replied he meant it
lie wanted TO let Dorsey go. He ais
wanted me to go TO the attorney genera
and say that three lawyers were too man,
II the case and advise the attorney genera
to dismiss you and let himself aud me re
main told him TO go and tell the at
toruoy general that | was anxious TO q
cut OF the case. Merrick replied that b.
would go out il left. lie said he wante,
me to stay aud help him watch Bliss. Th
attorney general was not told Of this in
| toTyiew until told him myself. When
did tell him he got up, walked the iloo
aud accused me Of dereliction. Ia closinl
| the first trials the attorney general mad
az alignment, There had been desperat
ciioIt 10 save Dorsey by showing that b
wa' not in as deep as the rest. The attoT
ney general showed that Dorsey's nam
appeared ninety six times in the cases.
The second Trial
" At the beginning Of the second trial
was told 10 take charge Of the witnessc
and examine them before they appeaEe
on the stand. Bliss acquesced. tool
them and found that Bliss on the firs
trial had not brought out half that the
knew. Then we had new witnesses. Th
testimony Of all was 80 strong aRains
! Dorsey that there was no doubt of col
viotiOn.n
- Its strength does not appear in th
result" interposed Nr. Sewart.
" had nothing TO do with the result
The first jury would have convicted if
had not been for the foreman. On th
second jury there were men who could nc
read or write. In the first trial we had 7
witnesses, 300 papers and 2S6 pages
printed testimony. In the second trial "
had 100 witnesses, 3,76l papers and 4, As
pages Of testimony"
" No wonder the jury didn't convict,
said Mr. Stewart.
There WAS no disagreement among th
counsel in the second trial" the witnes
continued. Bliss made nm his mind