Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1882 — THE STAR ROUTE CASES. [ARTICLE]

THE STAR ROUTE CASES.

Alleged Attempts to Bribe the Jury—Sensational Disclosures by Foreman Dickson. Foreman Dickson's attention having been called to a published, interview with Merrick, in which he made remarks reflecting upon his integrity, Dickson replied: “Well, it may suit Merrick to fret and fume and say unkind and unjust things about men who were sworn to perform their duty and performed thatrtrust in a fearless and conscientious manner according to their honest conviction of law and evidence. But if he will turn his attention to the Department of Justice, of which he is now an officer, and purify the atmosphere of that institution and aid in exposing attempted bribery charges and the corrupt practices of his subordinates, he will do the Government good service. No one has a higher appreciation of Merrick than I have, and I have ever prized his friendship, and doubt if he is aware of the damnable transactions which have occurred since the commencement of the star-route cases. A system of espionage was established by the Department of Justice, and in that employ were a number of disreputable persons, prominent among them a man under indictment for robbery, and a selfconfessed participant in three-card monte cases lately punished in our court by* the conviction of the men against whom this party turned State’s evidence. The jurors were followed, and decoys of various kinds adopted to insnare them into the commission of a wrong act Efforts were frequently made to draw them into conversation upon the merits of the case. I have received a number of anonymous letters, and marked papers were daily sent me, all containing matter intended to influence the mind. “Malicious lies were circulated and published about the jury being seen lunching with defendants and drinking at their expense, all of which werOtfalse. Intimidations of every character were resorted to, and systematic attempts made to terrorize the jury by threatening them. Some of them were charged with drunkenness. One of them, Holmead, informed me early in the proceedings that a lawyer named Falls had interviewed him, telling him he was an officer of the Department of Justice, and had desired him to ascertain by watching my notes, as I jotted down the salient points of testimony, and report to him their import He told Holmead he was authorized to act by the Attorney General, and was assign'd to look after him; that it was a question whether Judge Freeman or Falls •should be delegated to take care of Holmead, and finally it was decided to appoint Falls. He urged Holmead to act with him and aid him with information, and said it would result in his (Falls’) advancement, and that Holmead would lose nothing by it I cautioned Holmead when he told me, in June, to pay r no attention to Falls, or any one who attempted to mislead him. Falls repeated his visit to Holmead at intervals and renewed his efforts to inveigle him until Holmead threatened to kick him out of his store. Our places of business were invaded by ‘spotters;’ our employes were solicited to tell who we conversed with, and what our sentiments were on the subject of the trial; and our wives were not safe from interviewers and overzealous agents. The first personal knowledge I had of the presence of a‘jury-fixer’ was when Henry A. Bowen made a proposition to me to convict the defendants, ana promised me $25,000. His cool audacity was charming, and he unhesitatingly exhibited to me his letters of appointment as a Special Agent of the Department of Justice.” A Washington telegram states that Attorney General BreWster has directed the Government counsel, by a telegram from Newport, to make preparations for a speedy retrial of the defendants, upon whom the jury failed to agree. He also authorized the recall of Mr. Brewster Cameron from San Francisco if it was found necessary to clear up the alleged bribery of Foreman Dickson. AccoßDiNa to tfarpefa Weekly, .fa* legitimate business of 'tie New York Stock Exchange amounts to a little over li per cent, of its sales. It estimates that the people are risking in New York alone some iSJQ/MWXXI.a year on I*—r gins."