Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-06
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
THE WAYS OF CONSPIRATORS
SHOWN UP.
Some Specimens of fraudulent
LiHes-The ROgues Graded as 30
Responsibility.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 5-Attor-
neY Bliss resumed and completed the
opening argument for the government
In the star route cases to day. Attorney
General Brewster appeared in court to-day
for the first time, but took no part in the
proceedings, as Mr.. Bliss occupied the en-.
tire day. Tomorrow the defense will
open. In the course Of his speech
to-day Mr.. Bliss classified the de-
PENDANTS as follows: ExAssistant
Postmaster General Brady was high public
officer, and was regarded as the most guilty
of the defendants Stephen w. Dorsey was
a Senator, and at one time Chairman Of the
Senate Committee on Post Offices a0d Post
Roads. His brother, John w. Dorsey, was
an agent of some mercantile concern in
small New England town. Peck was a
brother-in law of j. w. Dorsey, and
WAS in poor health suffering
from consumption. Minor was
friend OF Dorsey living IL SanduskY, o.
Rerdell came originally from Arkansas,
figured In certain Investigations IN no en-
viable light, was afterwards a post Cffice
clerk, anf fiualIv clerk and general heuch-
man to Stephen W. Dorsey, whom Mr.. Bliss
characterized as the leading spirit and guide
OF the conspiracy. Vale was the only
regular contractor in the combination,
the only one Of them who ever
carried the mail. Boone was brought
In because he had brains and through his
knowledge of the business of the Post Office
Department was fertile in expedien's FOR
the evasion Of penalties for non-perform-
ance of contract. Dorsev might have
bought his men, might have set
up his dummies, bat Brady could have
overturned everything, and his assistance
was indispensable.
Speaking of Peck, Mr.. Bliss said he sup.
posed him to be dead, but from the fact
that money due TO him had been regularly
drawn since his alleged death, and because
powers of attorney, which are rendered void
by death, are still being used in Peck's
name, there was a reasonable doubt
Mr.. Bliss described the large number of
specifications upon which these suits are
based. Among the cases taken from ran
dom from his eli iatiOns are the following:
On one route terminating at Lake City,
CAL, the mail carried in one year amounted
TO two circulars, two newspapers. two Off
cial letters and one ordinary letter,
and for this service the government
paid $23 .43l year. Animos City, Cal, was
directly on route. The stage passed by
the very door of the post office, yet COM
pensation for ten miles increased distance
was allo ~ed for stopping at Animos City
In his confession r rdel has told
them of route upon which no service had
been performed, but had failed TO describe
it so that 1t might be located. An Inspector
had at last found it, however. It. was from
Los Pinos to Ouray, Col, and was already
included in anO her route. After earnest pro-
tests against its maintenance this route was
finally abolished, but in cutting it off
Brady had allowed the contractor pay
for one extra month, although he had
already been paid for nine months when no
service had been performed. Here is a
Postmaster, said MIR. Bliss, who writes to
the department, saying there had been no
through mails for over year, asking that
the service be reduced to once a week be
cause he had got tired OF sitting up at night
TO open empty mail bags. One OF the petit
handwriting Of John r, Minor, one Of the
defendants. The first name was that of
Edward Hall, Postmaster at Canon City.
This gentleman had seen that signature FOR
the first time since this trial began, and the
other names were forgeries or names Of
persons who did not live wi hin thousand
miles of the routes. Upon such petitions
increases were allowed No wonder,
said Mr.. Bliss, that, after such display of
mupificence, Bcady insists that any ordinary
tribunal OF justice cannot try him: that he
must he impeached by the House and Sen
ate. Petitions had actually been filed In the
department with a full list of names, and
the blanks untitled. Oae undated letter,
signed ty Sidney Dillon, President of the
Union Pacific Railroad, had cost the gov
ernment $50, 600 year until an honest ad-
ministraliOn came in.