Evening star., 1939-03-05

dllO tdhcll
into custody by Col" Perry Carson,
celebrated local colored politician.
who served as co-delegate from the
District of Columbia to several Re-
publican presidential conventions,
with Andrew Gleason. Just what
happened in this particular case the
writer is not prepared to say; per-
haps it was quashed.
Prominent Jurist.
On December S, 1882, The Star
Route case again came to trial, this
time before Judge Andrew Wylie,
an outstanding Washington jurist
of his day. For many years the
judge resided at 1905 Vermont ave-
nue., just to the northeast of Thomas
Circle. where so much excavating
is now being done for the Massa-
chusetts avenue tunnel, at this
point.
The judge took part In many
famous trials, but perhaps he will
be most often recalled for the part
he played in the unsuccessful at
tempt made by the lawyers of Mrs.
Surratt, to save her life if but for
few days.
1t will be recalled that the Lin
coin conspirators were tried before
military court-martial, and Mrs
Surratt and three others were con-
demned to be executed on July Z,
1865. AS a last move her lawyers,
by the advice of Reverdy johnson,
sought out Justice Wvlie at his res
idence for writ of habeas corpus.
Says an old account:
Our hearts fell within us as he
closed the door behind him, as we
conceived the idea that he was
about to reject the petition and, be-
ing in an unclad condition, had
gone to put on his clothes. In a
few moments, however, he returned
with the papers in his hand, re-
marking: Gentlemen, my mind is
made up. I have always endeavored
to perform my duty fearlessly. as
1 understand it, I am constrained
to decide the points in your petit
ton we'll taken. I am about to
perform an act which before to-
morroW's sun goes down may con-
sign me to the old Capitol Prison.
I believe it to be my duty, as a
judge, to order the Writ of issue;
and (taking up his penD I shall so
order it,"
Presidents Order.
Before the execution, the writ
was properly served, but. during the
meantime President Johnson had
ordered the writ to be disregarded.
in consequence of which Mrs. Sur
ratt passed into the great beyond.
In the last of the Star Route
trials, the one which began De-
cember 5. 1882, the following per-
sons composed the jury: John H.
Crane, foreman; John H. Vernon,
o. c. Green, George B. Sheriff.
Michael Harrigan, Ed. C. Gill, Reea
Evans, Mason Lowery, Frank Rem
shaw, Clarence Shields, John Hughes
and Jackson Howard.
There was much interest in this
case from the start. First when
Juror Vernon went to sleep and
had to be aroused by one Of the
bailiffs. A little later, Juror Gill
became sick and the case had to
be adjourned for the day. Then
came about the biggest surprise of
the trial when Montford c. Rerdeli
withdrew his plea, threw himself
upon the mercy of the court, and
offered to testify to all facts within
his knowledge touching the con-
spiracy. In his subsequent testi-
mony he gave an account of an
interview. with Dorsey, whose secre-
tary he had been, when he told
the latter he would do everything
to help him but commit perjury,
to which he said Dorsey replied:
What does that amount to when
a friends fate is at stake? Rer.
dell, for Gods sake, don't ruin me
and my family"
On June 13, 1888, the day before
the case ended, Juror Vernon, when
the jury entered the box, looked
wildly around and then, turning
about with a sickly groan, fell in
At. He was placed in charge Of
DR.. z. T. Sewers.
The following day a verdict Of
not guilty was rendered and the
Star Route case was brought to a
close, for although other indict-
ments were brought in, no further
court action eseems to have been
taken, and even a nolle prosequi
was entered in all the Boone straw
bond cases.
Editorially The Star said: "The
verdict of acquittal rendered by
the jury was unexpected, although :.
it was supposed probable that't
would be a disagreement upon COM :.
viction. While the verdict is In the
nature of a surprise, the result does
not justify any censure Of the jury
Is having acted otherwise than
cOnScientiOllSlv in their conclusions