The Portland daily press., 1881-05-10
THE STAR ROUTES.
Mr.. Dorsey Sued for Services in
in Securing Petitions.
SOME SIGNIFICANT LETTERS At
TRIBUTED TO HIM.
He DenOunces the Suit as a Blackmail.
ing Scheme.

DENVER, Col. May 9.-The Tribune saws on
Saturday it was discovered that proceedings
were begun in the district court in Arraphoe
county, against ex-senator Dorsey for money
promised the plaintiff for services rendered in
procuring petitions, creating interest among
the people, &c, in order to increase the mail
facilities in certain portions of Oregon.
The bringing of the suit here was about as
follows: Some months ago,a legal firm here re-
celved from an attorney at Portland, Oregon.
claim for Ecollection against Dorsey, The
claimant is well known politician of Port
land, whose name the Tribune does not state
The latter had number of letters written by
Dorsey promising him so much per day for
services and giving minute directions how to
proceed to get petitions, make contracts ETC.
These letters, with the claim, were placed in
the hands OF Denver attorneys, and last win
ter. when MIR: Dorsey came to Denver to look
attorney and a bundle of letters alleged to be
written by him shown him lin support of the
claim. Dorsey pronouced the claim fraudu-
lent and denounced the claimant as black
mailer. Proceedings were Immediately begun
in the District Court. Dorsey instructed his
counsel to enter a demurrer on the ground that
these contracts were illegal. Since then mat
tiers have remained in statu quo.
One letter is dated Washington, April 70,
1879, and tells the correspondent he wants him
to go to Eugene City and procure all the petit
tiOns possible for an increase of mail service
from Eugene City to Bridge Creek to daily in
stead of weekly, also to have the time made
faster The letter continues: 81 want 10 or
u on this route, and also get the eople to
write the Postmaster-Genera and their Sena-
tors. | also want prominent Democrats to
write Slater and Grover, urging them to see
that the increase is made" The correspond
ent is further directed to get 10 or ~ different
petitions on each route, to have a large num-
Der OF letters written to the Postmaster-Gen-
eral and Senators BE sure that all ask for
daily route and fast time Get State officers
and the chamber of commerce at Portland to
write. l will pay your expenses while gone,
and 80 per day. If you haven't any means,
will telegraph you sufficient
second letter, written four days later,
states that contracts for each road for the route
from Bridge Creek to Eugene City were then
in force for one trip week, and says: eff the
schedule time is changed new contracts will
have to be made" and continues, "the best we
can do land there must be a guaranteed bond
for the ful6llment of the contract] is $1,000 per
annum for three trips weekly. Time, 100
hours. which is slow walking time" The
writer further says: Make Make the contract thus:
trips weekly, $4,000; seven trips, SIC, 500; the
contract to run until July /, 1882, and not to
be filled in Washington" 1t says further:
1--WE must have new contract for the route
from Looking Glass to Cogvile Make the
contract in the latter route as follows: For
three trips, S25OO, you may go to $300O for
six trips, $500; for seven trips, 5000. No
contract to be binding upon us, but upon them
until approved by Mr.. Riddell, the agent here.
Mr. Fink has filed his contract. don't want
it fled will pay him monthly if he wants,
but don't want my contracts on file here" The
letter closes by exhorting the correspondent to
send petitions, ETC., by the carload to himself.
Slater and Assistant Postmaster General
Brady. Another letter of the same sort reIat-
ing to Washington Territory contract is pub
lished: These letters will be produced in court
as evidence to support the claims
The Arrests at Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, May 9-Joseph R. Black,
VIM. r. Cason and Joseph Blackmon, charged
with defrauding the government in mail CON
tracts, were arraigned for a final hearing be-
fore United States Commissioner Smith this
afternoon. Their counsel stated that he had
been informed that Henry c. Arbuckle would
also be present, but that defendant failed to
appear. The commissioner stated that it was
evident from the testimony that Black was the
principal in the transaction. but the others
were equally responsible. The prisoners were
thereupon held in $4,000 bail each for appear
ance at the term of United States District
Court, which begins on Monday next.
This afternoon Henry Arbuckle, charged in
the affidavit with being one of the conspira-
tors, surrendered himself to the United States
marshal, waived hearing and was held in
$1,000 for appearance in court.