Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-21
WHAT WAS READ TO THE JURY.
The Trial Of VIM. Dickson.

The Trial Of VIM. Dickson.
TESTIMONY TO-DAY OF HIS FELLOW JURORS IN
THE STAR ROUTE CASES, AND OTHER WIT
NESSES.
Matthew McNelly, one Of the Jurors in the
first star route trial, was the first witness called
this morning in the case Of VIM. Dickson, the
foreman Of the first star route jury, indicted on
charge Of corruptly endeavoring to influence
jurors by reading q statement to the jury, al
leging that an attempt. had been made to bribe
him.
Mr.. McNelly was examined by Mr.. Wells,
and testified to proceedings in the jury room
before ths jury retired. II didn't take any stock
In 1t, said the witness. 81 did not believe it,"
The witness said he belittled the matter when
!.r DICKSON first spoke to him and said to Dickson:
TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars will give 50 900
70 each juror and have $4,000 for yourself"
subsequently, but five or six days before the
jury went out, Mr.. Dickson said to witness that
he did not believe it was intended to bribe him,
but merely to find out how he stood on the case.
been taken, Mr.. Dickson produced this state
ment Before the jury retired the witness said
the judge instructed them to leave their notes
with the clerk. He noticed that when Dickson
took his notes from his pocket he left this paper
In his pocket. 81 thought to myself" said the
witness, "Now, Dickson is going TO use that in
the jury room, and made up my mind to OBJ
Ject.' When Mr. Dickson proposed to read the
paper and there was objection Mr.. Doniphan
said "0h let him read the ID thing; it don't
against reading the paper. He said that the
paper was read a second time after the jury had
gone to the National hotel.
HE THOUGHT IT ANOTHER SAFE BURGLARY
AFFAIR.
Upon cross-examination the witness said that
he meant, when he said he took no stock in this
matter, that he did not doubt Mr.. Dicksons
statement, but he thought that it was another
safe burglary affair-a device of the defense to
trap Mr. Brewster Cameron. During the cross
examination, one of the counsel having re-
marked that in the Police Court the hearing of
tine case occupied six weeks, Judge Macarthur
remarked: at will not take six weeks here
READING THE SCRIPTURES IN THE JURY-RooM.
The witness was most searchingly cross-ex-
amined by Mr.. Cuppy, as to various alleged
contradictory statements. He was asked if in
the jury room he had not himself read any
thing. The witness said he had not.
"Did you not read st. Paul's Epistle to the
Corinthians" asked Mr.. Cuppy, ION the subject
81 did not" said the witness. "That is some
OF Mr.. Dicksons getting up. Two or three of
them had the Scriptures there, and were read
"Did you not compare yourself to the Star of
the EaSt?''
mo sir" said the witness. ''that is false
mood. Mr. Dickson composed a piece Of poetry
Judge Macarthur remarked that the allusion
to the ''Star of the East was appropriate as
$50 was the poetry he composed" said the
witness. "It was among the Stars ,"
OTHER JURORS IN THE STAR ROUTE JURY Ex-
AHMED.
G. w. Cox, one of Mr.. Dickson's fellow jurors,
was next examined, and testified to Mr.. Dick
sons reading the paper before the jury. On
cross-examination he said that three or four of
the jurymen besides Mr.. Dickson gave in their
experience as to attempted bribery.
Henry \. OlcOtt, another one of the jurors,
also testified to the circumstances attending the
reading of the paper in the jury room. He said
on cross-examination that the reading Of the
He had voted differently from Mr.. Dickson,
except on two ballots.
Mr.. Dickson had voted for or against the con-
viction of Brady and Dorsey, urging that such
testimony was competent and necessary; but
the court ruled out the question.
Hugh T. Murray, another one of the jurors,
testified that when Mr.. Dickson first read the
paper to some Of the jurors, two or three Of
believe the government had anything to do
with the attempt on Mr.. Dickson.
Smith, said: II hope will be treated decently
when l am here. 1t is enough to be attacked
while am away"
81 am sorry you were not present yesterday"
said Mr. Smith.
'.You acted so," said Mr. Wells.
The witness said Mr.. Dickson had offered no
inducement to him to influence his vote.
Mr.. II. p. Goodwin, reporter for The STAR, testi-
fed that he had several conversations with
Mr.. Dickson after the jury was discharged, one
about three hours afterwards. This was at Mr..
Dicksons house. The witness gave full expla-
nation of what occurred.
The district attorney said he proposed to show
by Mr.. Dicksons admissions how he voted.
The court asked how this would affect the
case; if it would show that the jurors were in
fluenced.
BY Mr. Wells.-What did Mr.. Dickson say as
to the effect of the paper on the jury?
Mr.. Goodwin replied that Dickson said that the
account as to Bowen had its weight as to him.
self, and those voting with him. AS to Brady
and Dorsey, he said the jury did not consider
that any overt act had been proven as to them,
and the attempt had its weight. Mr.. Dickson
expressed his intention of laying the whole
matter before the district attorney.
Mr.. A. NJ. Lowe, formerly reporter of the
National Republican,, also testified to state
ments made by Mr.. Dickson after the jury was
discharged.
Ex-Narshal Chas. E. Henry, who has been
summoned as q witness in the case, was pres
ent to-day. Two eX-marshals, Messrs. Henry
and Douglass, sat in the courtroom during the
trial to-day.