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

ersl james we're 10 attendance at the
star route trials this morning. McVeaRt
was called t. the stand and asked IL bt
had ever had q Conversation With Mr.
herde.l on matters set out in the Indict
meni. McVesgh said he had such con-
versation Ia June, 1881. He was asked
TO repeat the substance Of Rerdell's re-.
marks but objection was Ina mediately
mace by 1ngersOll, who proceeded to ar
que that this conversation did not fall
within the rules OF Law "a evi
dence. It cou'd not be use
as evidence even against RerdsIl,
b cause conspiracy had not bsen
established. The court said the question
had already been discussed and decided
The reargument had not shaken bis
opinion a. already expressed. No extrs
Judicial confession could establish the
corpus dettcti. No man could be con.
victed OF murder before the BODY had
bean found or the crime othorWi,e
conclusiyely established when his admis-
sion would be strong evidence against
him. So In conspiracy, the com binstiou
takes the place Of the dead body in a
murder; il makes out the corpus deLictt,
In the present case it could not be denied
that several contractors had intimate
and mutual interest in different contracts.
The evidence showed there was great
abuse OF discretion and power on the part
Oh tce second assistant postmaster
general in making an increase
OF expenditures. Here were enormous
expenditures made without adequate re-
turn contracts were awarded for few
hundred dollars and without apparent
reason within q few weeks swelled to
500, OOO Or $4,000 contracts. These
things would not be pooh poohed away.
they were worthy serious consideration.
This com binAtiOn may have been legit-
innate; 1t 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 scduaint-
snces. l: vas necessary O secret act.
Finally Court said be thought he was
expressing himself mildly when he said
that evidence already introduced
strongly established the corpus deElcte,
the com binRtion and be should admit
the evidence as showing the character Of
that combination. OF course il would
only bind RerdeII himself but he was
not prepared to say 1t would not also be
received as tending to establish q con-
spiracy. Exception was Immediately
noted By its defense. McVeagh then
resumed. He said he had more than
one interview with RsrdelI.
McVesgh then testified that be had
Eore than one interview with Rsrdell,
who said he intended to make a clean
breast OF these star route matters, and
had been sent to witness By ex-senator
Clayton and General James. Rerdell
said he became connected with the bust
ness while Senator Dorsey was Q MEM
Der of the Senate.
]. 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 in 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, becsuse Rerdell then spoke of his
employers. and on reflection the court
also admitted that against Brady, and
limited its application. in the jury charge.
Rerdell said they secured nearly fifty
routes through association with Dorsey
and A. M. Bossler. The profits were
divided. Brady required petition US
tifying the orders for expedition il uuss.
necessary by employing persons u get
signatures or make up the names Them
selves. Brady was to receive 20 OF 30
per cent. Of the expedition ordered, and
IS contracts were Hsuslly sublet and con-
tractors heavily fined, then if there we're
rsmissions, Brady secured another per-
eentsge, even larger-witness thought
than for expedition. Re-iell said when
summoned for examination by the con-
gressional committee, that he feigned
sickness for few days. While prepar-
ing his books he intended to get the orig
inal book from New York to corroborate
his 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. InEersoll asked witness whether he
bad ever given any opinion upon the
validity Of the Jennings claim against
the pestofice department IngersOll
said certain portion Of that claim was
to be secured By Rerdall, and be wanted
to knaw whether anything hal been said
about that claim. Witness answered
that Rerdell had said nothing about the
Jennings claim, no. wa, he pro ed a
place IN the department. for Rsr1ell.
Something vas said about Auditor Nc
0rew. md Turner and Lilly, In connec-
ton with uni awful handling Of money
Witness said his recollection was not
clear upon thst point. Turner was 10
receive SIN al percentage. Rerdell did
not attempt 10 tx any date FOR toe be-
ginning oil the conspiracy He says no.
thing OF the price to be received By
members CT the oubination except IN
Brady's case, nor tell what hia own
percentage. was 10 be- Rerdell told MIN
there were only one or too suasll route
In which he was personally in e--s,ed
beyond MS salary. He repeated 10 VII
ness part Of his testimony before ;he
congressional committee. wnereio &c + /
said bis connection with certai2 routes
was EomInai, and that the real contrsCL-
ors were :. ". Dor:ey md J. w Bose
Witness believed Brsdy's share OF re-
missions was placed at fifty PER
cent. py RerdeH. His share Of the
expedition witness cid not positively
remember, bat Re b-lieved it !
was between ~ ald 40 per cent.