Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-27
Star Routes.

WASHINGTON, June 26.-In the star route
trials to day Ingersoll resumed the cross
examination of sub-contractor Anthony Jo-
seph. Several letters from the sub-coptractor
to Dorsey were read. Nearly all were appeals
to have the service increased to six trips per
week. The weight of mail is represented as
excessive and the condition of the roads ex-
tremely bad. He also complained that he was
compelled TO carry the accumulated mail of
several other snow bound routes without ex-
ira pay.
Pedro Jaramillo, a Mexican SUBJ
contractor, testified he had made a
contract with John W. Dorsey, in
the latter part of the year 1879, TO car
City. Owing to the excessive weight of the
mail he had often failed to make the trip on
the schedule time of fifty hours. The snow
at the time was up to his breast on portions
of the route. His fines in one quarter amount
ed to over $500. For quarter ending June,
1880, he had not received one cent for COM
pensation. He paid $500 to get release from
the contract.
The Court-Let me understand you. Did
you carry mail for nothing and pay $500 in
addition.
Witness-Yes sir.
Teller objected that the evidence was irrele-
want because these matters referred to a SIM
pie business agreement between John W. Dor
sey and witness.
Bliss replied that he wished to show that
81 800 of $4,000 fines imposed for the two
last quarters of 1880 had been remitted by the
department, and that the sum RENTED had
been kept by Dorsey.
After some further argument the court said
inasmuch as the evidence might tend TO show
that the expeditions ordered were shams and
fines were RENTED IN the interest OF the ring,
he would admit it.
Bliss read q number of orders for fines and
remissions and discussion sprang up as to the
necc ssity for their introduction.
Judge Wylie said the Indictment charges
that a number of contractors in the city of
Washington banded together to secure unnec-
essary expedition on certain routes. The ex-
petition was ordered and when shown to be
impossible the sub contractors were forced
into utter ruin and these fines sub
sequently RENTED. If it be the case that
these men were in combination to have ex-
petition ordered where impossible and have
The loss thrown upon the sub. constructors,
then securing remissions and pocketing them,
the papers are good evidence in the case.
The necessity for reading all these loose pa
pers does not, however, appear.
Ingersoll asserted that nothing OF the kind
had yet been shown by the testimony. After
long debate the court decided to admit those
papers which were directly applicable to the
route under discussion.
Mr.. Bliss then read the endorsements upon
the orders. Deep snow, no forage obtain
able, no trail, stock gave out, were the
reasons usually assigned for the failure.
Judge Wylie remarked that in his opinion all
of the fine should have been remitted. He
had strong doubts as to the competency of
this kind of evidence, or If competent, whether
It was necessary to spend time upon it. He
thought the prosecution should go back of
the orders and show that expedition had been
ordered by Brady. Knowing it to be impos
sible, he therefore decided the papers were not
competent evidence.