The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-26
STAR ROUTE ROBBERS.
INTEREST IN THE lNlovlrY REEVES.
I1.Attorasy General Aaeyt,sh Relates the Sab.
staaes Of Rssrdslli Confession the
ComblnAtIoa Effected Their Schemes OF
Plundsr-BrAdJ'sH Had In the Pie. =. 2. i

MacVeagh was called 10 the stand and
asked II he had ever had conversation
with NJ. G. Reerdell on matters set out in
the indictment. SIacyeagh said he had
such conversation in Juue 1881. lie was
asked to repeat the substance Of Reeriell's
remarks. An objection was made by
Ingersoll who proceeded to argue that this
conversation didn't fall within tho rules OF
law on evidence. 1t could not be received
as evidence even against Reerdell. The
theory Of conspiracy had not been estab-
lished.
The Coutt said the question had al.
ready been discussed and decided. The ie-
arguments had not shaken his opinion US
already expressed. No extra judicial con.
fession could establish the corpus deleeii; no
man could be convicted OF murder before
the body had been found or the crime other.
wise conclusivcly established, then his nd.
missions would be strong evidence agains.
him. So in conspiracy the combination
takes the place Of the dead body in mur.
der; it makes out the corpus delscii. In the
present case it couldn't be denied that sew.
eral contractors had n mutual interest in
different contracts. The evidence showed
there was great abuse Of discretion and
power in the Office OF the Second Assistant
Postmaster General in making increases
and expenditures. Here were enormous
expenditures made without ADEQUATE re.
turns; contracts awarded for few hundred
dollars without apparent reason swellcd
to 100000 or $4,000. These things
couldn't be pooh.poohed away. They
were worthy Of serious consideration. This
combination may have been legitimate
combination. 1t may have been innocent
enough, but then it may suddenly have
changed its character and have become
corrupt through the use ofimproper means.
Men do not hire town hall, when they
intend to conspire, and invite all their
friends. 1t WAS necessarily secret net.
Finally the court said he thought he was
expressing himself mildly when he said
the evidence already intended strongly to
establish the corpus deficit OF the comnina.
ton, and he should admit the evidence as
showing the character Of that combination.
Of couge it would only bind Reerdell HIM
self, but he was not prepared to soy it
would not also tend to establish con.
spiracy. Exception was Immediately
noted by the defense. gllzt.f
Nlacfeagh was then summoned. He
said he had had more than one interview
with Reerdell.
The'latter told him he intended to make
4 clean breast OF these Star route matters,
and in consequence Of conversation with
Ex.Senate Clayton he had been to see the
Postmaster. General who had sent him TO
witness. Reerdell said he became connect
cd with the business while Dorsey was a
member Of the Senate. ]. W. Dorsey,
Miner, Peck, and for while Boone, who
was afterwards dropped and succeeded by
Nailc, constituted the combination. Their
plan was to send out blank bids to post
masters in the West who returned them
certified. lie had spent IN entire night in
Dosey's committee room at the Capitol in
the preparation OF these bids. The idea
was to take the contracts at very low fig
urcs, which would keep Off other bidders
and they have them increased and ex-
pedited by General Brady. 557
This statemnet, as far rs it related
to Brady, was objected to aud stricken out,
but the Court refused to exclude the refer.
ence to Dorsey, Vale and other parties, be-
cause Reerdell then spoke OF his employ.
ers. The Court said upon reflection he
would admit the evidence against Brady,
because the weight of practice tended to let
in the whole OF such confession, with the
understanding that the Court would limit
its application in his charge to the jury.
The witness then concluded. Reerdcll
said they had secured nearly hundred
routes through these bids through asso-
citation with Mr.. Bosler and Senator Dor
sey. There had been division OF profits.
Speaking OF petitions, Reerdell said Brady
required them SO rs to be able to Justify
his orders for the expedition il called upon,
They were furnished whenever necessary
by employing persons to get signatures.
When that was inconvenient they made up
petitions themselves. Brady was to receive
30 or 40 per cent of the expedition ordered,
and as contracts were usually sub.let the
sub-eontractor was heavily fined, and of
remission Brady secured another per cent
age. This was larger per centage, the
witness thought, than Brady received for
expedition. When the Congressional in
vestigation began Reerdell said he was
afraid he would be called before them to
produce his books, wherein Brady and
Turner figured under assumed names.
Consequently when he was summoned he
feigned sickness for a few days while
bogus set OF books could be prepared.
Upon appearing 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 20
and get it. 1t would be found TO corrobo-
rate his statement in every particular.
Reerdell showed the witness papers which
he said contained fictitious names BY which
Brady and Turner had been known. Reer.
dell said OF course it was never intended to
render full service upon the routes and told
him upon one route for while they had
been paid they had never even begun ser.
vice. Reerdell did not question the wit
ness nor seek to obtain any information
from him so far rs he could perceive. The
witness was then turned over to the de-
fense for CroSs.examination. f,n naF
Mr.. 1ngersoll asked the witness whether
he had ever given any opinion upon the
validity Of Jennings claim against the
AoStohSS iCPai ttuCut. = 1uSeIbUll Slilu
certain portion OF that claim was to be sc.
cured by Reerdell, and he wanted to know
whether anything had been said about that
claim. "a ga - Z, 8 l3itslt,f Il
The witness answered that Reerdell had
said nothing Of Jennings claim, nor was
anything said about place in the Depart.
ment for Reerdell. Something was said
about Auditor McGrew and Turner and
Lilley in connection with the unlawful
handling Of money. Mcyeagh said he
had no special feeling against Dorsey, and
when Ingersoll suggested Dorsey's opposi.
ton to his securing a Cabinet position
might have influenced him, he declared
he had never before heard OF that.
opposition. He disclaimed positively ever
having directed the detectives Of his De.
watch Dorsey. Reerdelli was brought to
see witness by Woodward at the first in.
stance by direction Of the Postmaster Gen.