The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-07-26
LATEST KILOGRAMS


eral James we're ia attendance At the
star route trials this morning. McVeagh
was called t. the stand and asked il be
had ever had 8 conversation with Mr..
herde.l on matters set out in the lndict-
ment. McVesgh said be had such con-
versAtion 10 June, 1881. de was asked
10 repeal the substance Of Rerdell,s re-
msrkA 6us objection was I'm mediately
made by 1ngersOll, who proceeded to ar
que toat THIS conversation did not fall
within the rules OF law as evi.
dence. Il cou'd not be u,eI
IS evidences even against RerdsIl.
cause 3 conspiracy had not bsen
established. The court said the question
nad already been discussed and decided.
Inc reargument had not shaken his
opinion a. already expressed. Ne extrs
JudiciAl confession could establish the
corpus dettctt. No man could be con-
victed OF murder before the BODY had
been found or the crime othorWi,e
cOnclusiyely established when his sdmjs-
sion would be strong evidence against
him. So in q conspiracy, the com hinstion
takes the place OF the dead body in a
murder; il makes out the corpus delicti.
10 the present case il could not be denied
that several contractors hsd intimate
and mutual interest in different contracts.
The evidence showed there was greet
abuse OF discretion and power on the part
OF TIE second assistant postm aster-
general IN making an increase
OF expenditures. Here were enormous
expenditures made without adequate re-
turn contracts were awarded for few
hundred dollsrs and without apparent
reason within q few weeks swelled TO
500, OO0 Or $4,000 contracts. These
things would not be pooh poohed away.
Ihey were worthy serious consideration,
This combination may have been legit-
innate; It may have been Innocent enough.
but then 1t may have subsequently,
changed its character and may have be-
come corrupt through the use OF i'm
proper means Men 10 not hire town
halls when they intend to conspire and
invitile all their friends and scouaint-
ances. l: was necessary O secret act.
Finally Court said be thought he was
expressing himself mildly when he ssid
that evidence already introduced
strongly established the corpus deElcte,
the CON bination and he should admit
the evidence as showing the character Of
that com bination. On course il would
only bind Rerdell himself but he was
not prepared to say il would not also be
received IS tending to establish q con-
spirAcy. Exception was Immediately
noted by its defense. McVeagh then
resumed. He said be had moro than
one interview With Rsrdell.
McVesgh then testified that he had
more than one interview with Rsrdell,
who said he intended 10 make q clean
breast OF these star route matters, and
had been sent to witness By ex-senator
Clayton and General James. Rerdell
said he bscsme connected with the bust
meas while Senator Dorsey was . MEM
Der Of the Senate.
J. w. Dorsey, Miner, Peck and
Boone, who wAs dropped later. and sue
ceedSd by Vale, constituted the combi-
nation. They sent out blank bids to
postmssters in the west, who returned
them certified. He had spent an entire
night 10 Dorsey's committee room at the
cspitsl, preparing bids. The idea was
to take contracts at any low figure to
keep of bidders, and then have them in
creased and expedited By Brady. So far
as this testimony related to. Brady it was
stricken out, but the court refused 20 ex-
clude the reference to Dorsey, Vale and
others, because Rerdell then spoke Of his
employers. and on reflection the court
also admitted that against Brady, and
limited its applications the jury charge.
Rerdell said they secured nearly fly
routes through association with Dorsey
and A. III. Bossler. The profits we're
divided. Brady required q petition JUS
tifying the orders for expedition il uuss.
toned. They were furnished wherever
necessary by employing persons ~ get
signatures or make up the names them
selves. Brady was TO receive 20 OF 30
per cent. OF the expedition ordered, and
rs contracts were Hsuslly sutlet and con-
tractors heavily fined, then il there were
rsmistions, Brady secured another per-
eentage, even lHrger-witness thought
than for expedition. Re:1ell said when
summoned for examination by the con-
gressional committee, that be feigned
sickness for few days. While prepar-
iDR his books he intended to get the orig
inal book from New York to corroborste
bis statement. All the conspirstors we're
known by assumed names on one route
for which they were paid. The service
was neves even begun. Rerdell didn't
try TO get any information from witness.
The defenIe then cross-examined wit
ness. Ingersoll asked witness whether he
bad ever given any opinion upon the
validity Of the Jennings claim saainst
the psslotice department Ingersoll
said certain portion Of shat claim was
to be secured by Rerdall, and be wanted
TO tnow whether anything hal been said
about that claim. Witness answered
that Rerdell had said nothing about the
Jennings claim, no. wa, he pro ni.sd a
place In the department. FOR Rerdell.
Something vas said about Auditor Nc
0rew. md Turner and Lilly, IN connec-
ton with unlawful handling OF money
Witness said bis recollection was not
clear upon thst point. Turner was TO
receive srn al percentage. Rerdell did
not attempt TO tx any date for toe be-
ginning OF the conspiracy He says no.
thing OF ths price to be received by
members CT the combination except IN
Brady's case, nor tell what bis own
! percentage. WAS 20 be. Rerdell told MIN
i there were only one or too suasll route
in which he was personally in, e-ss,ed
beyond bis salary. he repeated 10 VII
! ness part Of his testimony before the
congressional committee, wnereio &c b
said bis cou2ec,ion With certai- routes
was nomlnol, and That the real contract
ors were ). ". Dor.ey and J. w Bos.er
Witness believed Brady's share OF re-
missions was placed st City Per
cent. by Rerdel. His share Of the
expedition witness Gid not positively
remember, bat he b lieved II
4 Lo4-r 4 Al