Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-14
kilograms to The Star.
THE STAR ROUTE SCANDAL,
Da amaging Developments in q
Special from IkansRs.


CHICAGO. May IA special TO the Inter
Ocean from Little Rock say that the frauds OF
the star route ring which are attracting the at
tenuon OF the country are no news IN Arkansas
where ex-senator Dorseys connection VITA
them has long been more than suspected. He
procured the appointment OF ex Governor GA.
Had!ey as postmaster at Little Rock, supposing
ne could count on his assistance in forwarding
DIS schemes on the Treasury In connection
WIN the star routes. Knowing this, in Jan
SaIy, vary, ls.s, he sent to Hadley about six hundred
had printed for their own use, and which wer5
olnerent In some respects from those
pIi1ted py the government and forwarded to
curities on the bonds, have them signed I'm
plank, approve them as postmaster, and return
them to him. This was done, and the bonds
to the number OF four or five hundred were
the terminal points. the amount OF the bid and
the name OF the bidder were not inserted as
re- required by law before being approved
then approved by Postmaster Hadley In
direct violation OF law. and then sent by ex-
press to S. w. Dorsey, then Senator OF the
United States, for such use as he might make
OF lnem. They were not even straw bonds.
The blank bonds were approved Lere on the
Igta OF January, ISIS; shipped by Postmaster
Haoley HHa per southern express, January 20, to S.
roop In the Capitol January %. Tn,
NUMBERS OF the routes. the terminal points
the amounts OF bids and the pld1ers' nam
lures attached. ana the acknowledgment
taken by notary public, one A. I. Boone,
GWho was member OF the ring.) and dated
those upon which the bonds were dated and
approved. To the most OF these bids the name
OF John NJ. Peck, Dorseys brother-in-law, was
attached, and acknowledgment was taken by
Boone as notary public, but II was atterward
discovered that Peck had not been in Washing
ton for over year, and that the signatures
were forgeries. Dorsey himself stated that the
signature was not Pecks, but that he believed
it was written by Joseph r. Richards who he
said had been Dorsey's clerk, and he presumed
was authorized to sign his name. Parties VINO
nee S,s say the Signature
and Peck suddenly put In an appearance
here a day or two since. and 1t Is thought
for the purpose OF covering up some
In close consultation with Postmaster Hadley
and others, but their plans are not known.
Aoout the time Dorsey sent the blank bonds
ming. postmaster at Fort Smith, and requested
him to procure sureties, approve In blank and
return to him. This Postmaster Clenoenning
refused to do, and so wrote Dorsey, and quoted
the law making 1t penal offence punishable
with imprisonment In penitentiary for one year
or more, for postmasters to approve bonds be-
fore the number and description OF the route,
amount OF bid, and bidders name were inserted
and the bidder had signed the proposal and
made acknowledgment before an officer quail.
hed 10 administer oaths Dorsey has ever since
Uccu du cutIIlt vi ClcEuouuluR. ClcQQeQQlQy
has preserved Dorsey's letter and his reply
thereto. 1t is now said by the knowing ones
here that Jack Kerratt, assistant postmaster
who left here suddenly q few days ago. and is
charged with being defaulter, did not leave
on that account, and is not q defaulter, but
because he was In possession OF a great many
facts which the star route ring did not care TO
have made public, and that they induced him
to leave the country and then started the story
that he was defaulter.
Mr. Dorsey Gets Possession Of the
Denver Documents.
DENVER. COL, May IA The Tribune contains
the following: Immediately after the exposure
or Dorsey's completely In the star route ring
as telegraphed over the country, attempts were
begun to Quash the suit which had brought ou5
the letters and obtain possession OF the dOcu-
ments- Yesterday it was successful The let
tiers were surrendered, and Dorsey paid the
money to Wilcox. for which the suit was to be
brought. This money, as is known, is for VIII
coXs work securing petitions for expeditlng
the routes and subletting the smaller contract
oTs. The same day on which the papers were
surrendered Postmaster General James tele-
graphed to Denver for either the letters, certi.
fed copies or photographs of them. The tele-
gram came after the papers had been surren
dered, and the registers probably concluded
they were safe, but they are mistaken. TaeTe
are certified copies In existence, and they will
be used In connection with the documents In
Portland, oregon.