Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-07-28
Brady's Bonanza.
4 MILLION PER ANNrM

Brady's Bonanza
A MILLION PER ANNVM.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-Ex-Attorney
General McVeagh and ex-Postmaster
General James were in attendance up
on the star route trials this morning.
M'vEAGH OF THE STAND.
Mr.. McVeagh was called to the
stand and asked if he had ever had
any conversation with Rerdell
on the matters set forth in the indict-
ment. McVeagh said ttat he had
such conversation in June, 1881. He
was asked to repeat the substance of
Rerdel's remarks, but objection was
Immediately made by Ingersoll, who
proceeded to argue that this conversa-
ton did not fall within the rules of the
law, as the evidence in it could not be
received in evidence, even against
Rerdell, because the conspiracy had
not been established.
THE COURT SAID
that the motion had already been dis
cussed and decided. This argument
had not shaken his opinion as already
expressed-no extra judicial confession
could establish the corpus delicti. No
man could be convicted Of murder be-
fore the body had been found or the
crime otherwise con clusively establish
ed. Then his admissions would be
strong evidence against him. So in
conspiracy, the combination takes the
place of the dead body in the murder.
1t makes out 8 corpus delicti. In the
present case, it could not be denied
that several contractors had intimate
AID mutual interests in different con-
tracts. The evidence showed great
abuse of discretion and power on the
part of the second assistant postmaster
general, in making increases of expen-
dltures. Here was enormous expendi-
lures without adequate return; con-
tracts awarded for few hundred dol
lars, and then, without apparent rea-
son, within few weeks swelled to
| SOC, 900 contracts. These could not be
poohooed away; they were worthy of
serious consideration. This combina-
ton may have been legitimate; it may
have been innocent enough; but then
it may suddenly change its character,
and have become corrupt, through use
| of improper means. Men do not hire
town hall when they intend TO con-
spire, and invite all their friends and
acquaintances. 1t was necessarily a
secret act. Finally, the court said he
thought he was expressing himself
mildly when he said that the evidence
already tended strongly to establish
corpus delicti combination, and he would
admit evidence showing the character
of that combination. OF course, it
would only bind Rerdell himself, but he
was not prepared to say that it would
not also be received as tending to es-
tabllsh conspiracy.
Exception was imm ediately taken by
the defense.
RERDELL's CONFESSION.
McNeagh then resumed. He then
said that he had more than one inter-
view with Rerdell The latter told him
that he intended to "make a clean
| breast of these star-route matters"
and IN consequence of the conversa-
tion with ex-senator Clayton, he had
been to see the postmaster general,
who had sent him to witness. Rerdell
said that he became connected with
the business while S. w. Dorsey was a
member of the senate. There were
also J. w. Dorsey, Peck, and for while
| Boone,- was afterward dropped,
and succeeded by Eaille. The plan
was to send out blank bid to the
postmasters in the west, who returned
them certified. He had spent the en-.
tire night in Dorsev's committee-room
in the capitol, in the preparation OF
| these bids. The idea was to take con-
tracts at very low figures, which would
keep off other bidders, and then have
them increased by Gen. Brady.
AN OBJECTION ovERRrLED.
This statement, so far as it related to
Brady, was objected to and stricken
out; but the court refused to exclude
the reference to Dorsey, Naille and
other parties, because Rerdell then
spoke of CHS employers" The court
said that on reflection he would let in
evidence against Brady, because it was
right in practice to let in the confes-
sion with the understanding that the
court would limit its application, in his
charge to the jury.
Witness then concluded: Rerdell
said they had secured nearly 100 routes,
| through the association, with Mr..
Bossler and Senator Dorsey. There had
been division of profits Speaking Of
petitions, Rerdell said Brady req uired
them, so as to be able to justify his or
ders for expenditures, if called on; they
xIyxar F..,- \
essary, by employing persons to get
signatures, and when that was incon-
venient they
MADE Up PETITIONS.
Brady was to receive 80 or 40 per cent.
of what the expedition ordered and as
the contracts are usually sublet and
contractors heavily fined for remission.
he generally secured another per
cent; this was larger per cent, witness
thought, than Brady received from the
expedition. When the congressional
investigation began, Rerdell said he
was afraid that he shonid be called
before them to produce his books,
wherein Brady and Turner figured un-
| der assumed names; consequently he
| feigned sickness, when he was sum-
moned, for few days while set of
books had been prepared. Upon ap-
pearing, however, his books had not
been called for The book from which
THE BOGUS BOOKS
had been prepared was in New York
and he intended to go and get it. 1t
would be found to corroborate his
statement in every particular. Rerdell
showed the witness papers which ne
said contained the fictitious names by
which Brady and Turner had been
known. Rerdell said that Of course it
was never intended to render full ser
vice on these routes, and told him up-
on one route for which they had been
paid, they had never begun service.
Rerdell did not question the witness
nor seek to obtain any information
from him, so far as he could perceive.
The witness was then turned over to
the defense for croSs-examination.
/ NoTE - The cross-examination was
by Ingersoll and very lengthy, taking
until after midnight to get over the
wires. No new points were made and
it Is therefore not published I-Eps.
The directors of the mining expo ST.
tiOn at Denver Col say that President