The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-15
The Sfar-ROute Frauds.

| RX SENATOR DORSEY'S CONNECTIONS WITH
THEM-NO NEWS IN ARKANSAS-INTEREsT-
ING DETAILS.
DENVER, COL, May 1.-THE Tribune
contains tue following: immediately after
the exposure OF DOrsey's completely in the
star-rOute ring, as teegrapbed over the
country, attempts were made 10 quash
the suit which brought out letters, and
obtain possession of the documents.
| Yesterday 1t was successful. The letters
were surrendered and Dorsey paid the
money TO Wilcox for which the suit
was to be brought. This money, as
! is known, is for WilcoX's work in
securing petitions for eXpedlting routes
and sub.elting TO smaller contractors. The
same day on which the papers were sur
rendered POStmasteI-GeueralJ James tele-
grapbed 10 Denver for either letters, certi-
fed copies, or photographs OF them. The
telegram came after the papers bad been
surrendered, ard the registers probably
concluded that they were safe, but they are
mistaken. There are certified copies in eX-
istepce. and they will be used in connection
with documents in Portland, Oregon"
CHICAGO, May IA special TO he inter-
Ocean from Little Rock says the frauds OF
the star-route ring, which are attracting the
Arkansas. where ex-senator DorSey's con-
nection with them has long been more than
suspected. He procured the appointment OF
Ex-Governor o. A. Hadley as postmaster at
Little Rock, SuppOsing he could count on
bis assistance in forwarding his schemes on
the Treasury in connection with the star
routes. Knowing this in January. 1873, he
sent Hadley about six hundred blank prOpo-
sails and bonds which the ring had printed
for their own use, and which were different
in some respects from those printed by the
Government, and forwarded 10 the bidders,
with instructions TO Hadley TO get securities
on the bonds, have them signed in the blank,
approve them as postmaster, and return
them 10 him. This was done, and the bonds,
10 the number OF four or five hundred,
were fixed up in this way. The nun.
Der OF route, terminal points, amount OF
bid, and the name Of bidder, were not
inserted, as required by law, before be-
iug approved by the postmaster. These
bonds were then approved by Postmaster
Hady in direct violation OF law, and then
sent bv express TO S. W. Dorsey, then SEN
ator of the United States, for such use as he
might make OF them. They were not even
straw bonds. Blank bonds were approved
here January 10, 1873, shipped by Postmas-
fer Hadey per Southern Express January
goth TO ;. w. Dorsey, and delivered at ms
committee-room in the Capitol January 2od'
Numbers of routes OF terminal points,
amounts OF bids and bidders names, were
then filed in and the bidders signatures
attached and acknowledgment taken oy
notary public zone A. L. B0one)' VINO was
member OF the ring, and dated ashlng-
ton, January 5th, and the other da's prior
TO those upon which the bonds were ddteu
and approved. To most OF these bids the
name OF John NJ. Peck, Dorsey's brother.
in.law, was attached, and the acknowledge
ment was taken by Boone as notary pu0ilc,
but il was afterwards discovered that Peek
had not been in Washington for over one
wear, and that the signatures were forgerles.
Dorsey himself stated that the signature was
not Peck's, but that he believed 1t was writ.
ten by joseph Il. Richards, who, he said, had
been Peck's clerk, and that he presumed
was authorized to sign his name. Parties
who know Dorsey's handwriting say the
signature resembled bis more than Rich
ards's. Richards and Peek suddenly put
in an appearance here day or TWO sisce,
and, It is thought, for the purpose OF cover
ing IN some OF the operations OF the ring.
They have been In close consultation WIN
Postmaster Hadley and others, but their
plans are not known. HAL,
About the time Dorsey sent the plank
bonds here to Hadley he sent blanks 10 ..
IT. CIendenning, postmaster at Fort smith,
and requested him to procure sureues, TAP sp,
nroye in blank, and return 10 him. Io's
postmaster CIendennpg refused 10 40, and
So wrote Dorsey. and quoted the law max
ing It penal offence, punishable with im-
Of Is. mept 10 the penitentiary for one year
or more, for q postmaster to approve oonas
before The number and description OF tue