Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-27
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
The Rerden Trial In the Police Court
Statements Made by the Accused to
Messrs. MacVeagh and James.

The Rcrden Trial In the Police Court
Statements Made by the Accused to
Messrs. MacveaSh and James.
In the case Of Montford c. RerdeTl, charged with
| conspiracy in connection with the star route mail
service, as stated in last evenings STAR after the
clerk OF the Police Court concluded the reading OF
the Indictment at O'Clock yesterday, ex-Attorney
General MacVeagh was the first witness placed on
the stand He testified that he had O meeting
with Rerdell, at the request OF the Postmaster
General, 70 hear what he had to say. In this
conversation Rerdell implicated J. W. Dorsey, 8.
w; Dorsey, Vafl, Peck, and possibly Boone, and
others In the star route frauds He said that
ialse set of books had been made at the time OF
Ihe CONGRESSIONAL investigation and that Dorsey,
Brady and the rest were cogniZant OF this and
other matters He also produced papers in Dor
Sey'S writing, which he said would fully connect
| him with the schemes Brady regarded it as ne
cesSary TO obtain petitions and affidavlts as a
plausible s excuse for the expedition, and a man
half OF the fines remitted went to the contractor
and the other to Brady and the Post Olce officials
connected with him. There were routes whereupon
the lawful service was not performed, and others
upon which, absolutely, no service was rendered.
Upon cross examination by MT. Williams, he
SAID that he knew OF no inducement offered TO
Rerdell to testify. Rerden he'd asked ex-senator
Clayton for an interview with the Postmaster
breast OF the whole matter. Clayton was taking
no active part in the affair; he only acted witness
supposed, because he knew Rerdell Clayton did not
State Why he was mixed up I'm the matter. Had
no doubt Rerdell would have been protected from
prosecution had he assisted the government In the
Of any arrang sment to f this efrex having been been
made. Heard Rerdel had retracte1 all this State
ment In subsequent affidavit Resuming, the
witness said he had never sent agent to Dorsey.
Had several interviews with Mr.. Torrens OF
Arkansas, and was satisfied he was Dorsey's
agent
Mr.. Macveagh was excused, and promised to
attend again.
Mr. JAMES ON THE STAND.
Ex-Postmaster General James was the next
witness. he stated that Rerder was introduced to
him by Senator Clayton. RerdelI showed the
witness books and transcripts Of the transactions
of Dorsey and others. Among them was balance
sheet with the name OF William Smith on it. This,
Rerdell said, was the name under which Brady
was known In the combination. For increasing
33 or S4 per cent. Turner was known as /" Jones'"
The money paid to the Post Offiee officials
carried into the bogus books intended to be seen,
as profit and loss. The original book was In Dor
seys Office in New York, and later Rerdell said he
was going there to fetch it. He afterward met
the book.
After cross-examination, the court adjourned at
80 p ~ until to-day.
Proceedings To-day.
The hearing was resumed to-day little after 12
O'Clock, Messrs Merrick, Bliss and Ker being
present for the government and Messrs Ingersoll.
Chandler, Wilson and Williams for the defendant,
when the proceedings opened Mr. French, late
Chief clerk Of the contract Office of the Post Office
Department.; ex-Deputy 9Th Auditor Lilly, and
Mr.. Turner, were among the spectators.
INSPECTOR WOODWARD TEsIIFIEs AS TO WHAT RER-
DELL TOLD HIM.
Mr.. p. Il. Woodward, Post Office inspector, was
first called to the stand He testified that he had
interview with Rer;len at the Arlington, In the
presence OF Postmaster General James and ex-
Senator Clayton, an another at the house OF Attor
ney General MacVeagh. At the first interview
Rerdell gave biographical account of himself say
Ing he was once q clerk Of the board OF public
works here, and afterwards a clerk to Senator
Dorsey; that while in the latter capacity num-
afterwards displaced BY H. N. VaiD. agreed to-
gether to make certain bids on mail contracts, and
he (RerdelD with others were up all one night
preparing the papers. That after Mr.. Dorsey's
Senatorial term expired there was a division OF
investigation he was called upon % testify
6 the SEEK time and ;sn orss
books were prepared. He did not prepare the
books but Indicated how they should be pIeparea
therefore, exhibited. He said he had a balance
sheet made up from the correct books and one
payment OF $37 600 to Brady, who appeared un-
der the name OF Smith, and payment OF $500 to
Turner under the name OF Jones; that in the icti-
tious books these payments appeared under the
head OF profit and loss; that at one time
he went to the bank with s. W. Dorsey,
who drew s. 900, which Dorsey said was to be paid
to Brady; that when remissions were made to the
firm One-half OF 1t was credited on the books and
the other half went to Mr.. Brady. Mr. James ad-
vlsed him to see the Attorney General right away.
Witness told Rerdell that he would try to manage
an interview between him and the Attorney G. n
eral at as early day as possible. Witness was to
drop him letter through the mail signed with
the initial "h," when the Attorney General,
Mr.. Woodward went there and met Rerdell on the
steps with couple OF preSS-cOpy books on his
arm. They saw the Attorney General, and Rerdell
went over substantially the same ground as with
Mr.. James Some of the letters In the books, he
said, We're written by himself and some by Senator
Dorsey. One was to a man named Wilcox, in
or ugg him to send on petitions for In
view Rerdell spoke OF three routes in Tennessee,
and one in Colorado, on which the Dorsey
combination had received pay for quite a
rendered for a long time. When the Post Ofice
inspectors went west they looked up these routes,
and 1t was found that On the Colorado route end
ing at Ouray there had been no service for two
weekly service. He said that about 500 or 1000
shares of mining stock had been given to VIM. II.
Turner by Dorsey for ''Oflicial services Subse-
quenty witness had an interview with Rerdell at
his {witness) lodgings. Rerdell then expressed
great qualification in taking the course he had
taken; that he felt great relief since
the officers OF the government; that he he felt
from Senator Dorsey, and that he had gone to
suade him to do as he had done and save himself
At neither of these interviews had Mr.. Rerden
asked witness for Information He was giving, not
receiving.
Mr. woodward was cross-examined BY Mr.. In.
gersOlL
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