Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-14
MIR. MERRICK,S TESTIMONY.
EARNESTNKss AND SINCERITY OF THE ArroRNg



EARNEsTNEss AND SINCERITY OF TIE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
Mt. Merrick bore high testimony to the earnest
ness ana sincerity OF Attorney General Brewster In
the whole prosecutions, saying he was untiring and
unfailing In his efforts to serve public Justice He
atso spoke OF Mr.. Lyman, now Second Assistant
postmaster General and Mr. Woodward, and said
tnat no government ever had or could have more
faithful and honest servants. Mr.. Merrfck read a
letter nom himself. announcing his withdrawal to
Distrlct Attorney Worthington and the reply, and
SAID that ended his connection with the star route
cases
KE1LooG's ADMISSION.
Inc chairman inquired about a conference be-
tween government counsel, testified to by Ker in
which Bliss stated that Kellogg had admitted to
him that he did receive the money from Price, but
not for personal use; that was for political use
conversation.
MI. Bliss who sat by, spoke I'D. saying Kellogg
old make such a statement TO him He said he
Bliss called upon Kellogg in pursuance of letter
from the Attorney General. Kellogg admitted
uses; that Price claimed he had no money, but
finally said he had some post Office drafts and II
kellogg could get them cashed he would let part
or the money go for the political use desired KEEL
logg maintained that he got no benefit from the
money, Dut ne took that means OF getting money
esed in the poa object iTee wss
Mr. Merrlck, resuming, said those declarations
Were made by Bliss to him in a conversation
L
That would be kellogg's Defense"
Mr.: Merrlck assented to this, saying Mr. Bliss
was wa correct He said there was no disposition on
MS part 10 suspend or let up in the prosecution be-
cause OF this statement by Kellogg.
MR. MERRIcK DENIED wALsHs STATEMENT
That he CMerrick) had said Secretary Chandler
approached him in behalf OF Kellogg. Chand-
Ter had never spoken to him on the subject.
HELM, CoRKHnL AND HENRY.
MI Merrick said the Critic, managed by Helm,
In,
was unpardonably virulent, and he (Merrick) told
Bliss that Helm ought to be removed. AS to Col.
Corkhll The witness Said he was not brought In
contact with him Officially, but 1t was understood
cases. The witness also thought and said that Mar
shall Henry ought to have been removed. He said
henry was openly In sympathy with the accused,
ana Wmle out west, during the trial, published a
bitter attack upon Col Bliss He (Merrick) openly
declared in favor OF his removal.
Col. Bliss again 1nterposed, and said that Mar
and Helm were removed at his request and that
the eX-pOStmaSter revenged himself by getting on
the committee on resolutions OF the Michigan re-
publican convention and insisting that the admin
1stration should not be endorsed.
Mr.. Merrck said that he had borne evidence to
the and sincerity OF the administration
In the prosecution OF men SO closely allied to II
politically.
MR.. MERRICK DENIED
that he had spoken to Walsh OF the case against
Brady and Dorsey as being Sin extremis,n and then
Ae weHt On 10 ueScflpe the dilcutfeS In the way OF
making up the case. He said 1t was generally
thought that the court was averse to the prosecu.
ton, because 1t did notregard the evidence as posi-
lively involving Brady.
COL INGERsOLL's OFFER OF COMPROMISE
Mr.. Merrick said that during the first trial Bliss
told him that the grand jury would not indict In
the Parker and Salisbury cases, and that he had a
proposition from Col IngersoIl to submit those
cases to arbitration, Elmer Bliss and Ingersol TO he
the arbitrators. Witness replied that that would
Qvldf
be good thing to secure several hundred thousand
dollars from the Parkers and Saulsburys In case
being prosecuted, and Bliss repeated the declara-
tlon that the grand jury would not indict. Bliss
mad then Just come from the grand jury. Mr.. Mer-
rick declared that the arbitration could have been
legally brought about and the result made to stand
In law. Witness was not consulted because he was
not counsel in the civil cases.
Col Bliss once more interposed, SAYING the grand
jury had notified him that they would not indict
When he spoke to Mr.. Merrick OF the matter.
THE GOVERNMENT BETRAYED.
Walsh's testimony to the effect that Merrick had
told him that Bliss had betrayed the interest OF the
government was referred TO, and Mr.. Merrick was
asked If he had said that. The witness said that
when Walsh first disclosed to him the evidence he
nad given to the grand jury about Kellogg he {Mer-
rlck} was very much surprised that he had not
been told OF 1t by Bliss. He might have said In
substance to Walsh that if his statement was cor
rect and true the government had been betrayed
or something to that effect.
MR.. MERRICK AND Mr.. KER.
With regard to Kers testimony that Merrick with
Indignation told him that Bliss wanted to let Dor.
sey go and convict the others, Mr. Merrick said he
did not recoilect any such conversation with Ker,
and he did not believe any such conversation ever
occurred. The witness also denied that he said to
ker he wanted him (ker) to remain In the case to
watch Bliss. "And Mr.. Ker. think, wants to cor
rect this testimony" said Merrick turning to Ker
The latter said "YeS," and then took the stand.
Aers correction was more verbal than otherwise.
He said the word "wantS' should go In SO as to
make his testimony read: "He (Blissl wants to let
Dorsey CO."
Mr.. Stewart said Ker's correction did not make
any material change. 1t left the allegation as
strong as ever.
BLISS FRIENDSHIP FOR DORSEY.
Mr.. Merrick, resuming, said that Bliss had not
thought the testimony as strong against Dorsey as
against the Others and had said that If Dorsey was
out the others could be convicted. The witness
aam,ted mat ne Ielt some suspicion growing out
Bliss and Dorsey. He did not believe that Bliss
would be delinquent in his duty, but he did believe
that in his heart Bliss did not want Dorsey con-
yictei. Witness knew OF no testimony that could
have been adduced which Bliss did not produce.
DORSEY, THE MASTER MIND.
Mr.. Merrick referred to the omission OF Dorsey's
name by Bliss In the closing argument Of the latter
in the first case and said that might have been by
nadvertence but that he (Merrick) alluded to that
omission in his closing argument. and paid special
attention to Dorsey. Unfortunately he said at that
time an interview with Bliss appeared, in which he
said the evidence against Dorsey was not strong.
"NOt so strong as against the Others, said, put
in Mr.. Bliss
Mr.. Merrick said he looked upon Dorsey as the
originator and center of the whole scheme; that
he inspired it and was the master mind.
Mr.. Bliss.-"Well, Mr. Merrick, did not describe
Dorsey in the same way in my opening address to
the jury?"
Mr.. Merrick admitted that he did.
Mr.. MERRICK SAID MR.. KER WAS WRONG
In stating to the committee that Dorsey would have
escaped In the closing arguments had not the At
torney General made it prominent in his speech.
Mr.. ker denied that he said that Mr.. Merrick re-
peated that he had not impeached or suspected
Bliss fidelity, though he did think his feelings more
lenlently inclined towards Dorsey than the Others
and as. his conversations with Ker were frank and
free he might have suggested something of the
kind.
MIR. BLISS EXCITED.
Mr.. Bliss excitedly asked permission to read from
the record, and without waiting for permission he
read, showing that Judge Wilson wanted to read
the Herald interview to the jury, but 1t was ruled
out
COL. BLISS TO APPEAR AGAIN.
Col. Bliss asked to be permitted to appear again
before the committee and answer testimony taken
since he had given in his 1t was agreed that he
should be heard next Wednesday.
->>s
Bavard's Dover Speech.
WHAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY-TT PUTS HIS
CANDIDACY OUT OF THE QUESTION.
The publication Of the revised and old edition of
Senator Bayards Dover speech has renewed, with
considerable warmth, the discussion as to whether
or not it expressed secession ideas which would SO
riously affect his presidential aspirations The i'm
preston left upon the minds OF the majority OF the
democrats in the House seems to be that 1t would
not be safe to stake the chances of the party upon
ia midi I'm hn fpl nf fhnto t.