New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-13
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.

THE PROSECUTION FAIRLY BEGINS TO PRESENT
TESTIMONY AGAINST TIE ALLEGED CoNsPIiA-
TORS.
WASHINGTON. June 12.-In the Star Route
cases tins morning A. NJ Wilson. journal clerk In the
Post Office Department, testified that under General
Bradys administration the journal was kept Just ~ IL
had been under previous administrations c. W. MOT
gan Wilson's successor. testified to about the Same
thing.
H. d. Norton. Chief of the Finance Division OF the Post
Office Department described tho methods OF pre-
pairing and signing postal warrants Witness knew
Rerden and Miner Rerdell had often been IN nus
office Rerdc came 10 inquire when warrants would be
issued j. W. Dorsey and Peck Miner appeared IN DIS
own interest and for Vale. The warrants were usually
sent by mail to the payee. with an enclosed banK re-
ceipt TO be signed and returned. Upon written re-
quest from Dorsey, his warrants would nave Deeh
delivered Rerde but witness could not say that TINS
had ever been done I'm DOrsey's 1t Wa not III
sidcred an unusual circumstance when Rcfdeu ana
Miner appeared in behalf of j. W. Dorsey anu Nh'Ie'
1t was the practice Ill former years for TIC dlhhIeht
divisions to communicate freely with ono announcer
He did know whether or not Rcrde held power Oh
attorney from j. w. Dorsey His division had oil 81 the
data relating these contracts and II the warrant had
not appcared 10 be correct II would have been returned
to the auditor comparison md correction The or
ders for expedition signed by the Second Assistant
Postmasterienera were examined, and. If they were
found not TO be in accordance with law their correction
by the Second Assistant POsmasterGeneral would have
been necessary before they could have been paid
Inspector woodward identified several papers. All of
the papers received 10y him from Mr. Brewer had been
kept without change, in his custody. Very few persons
had handled tho papers, and newspaper man had ever
seen them OF written article in his since he had
| taken possession Of them
Mr. Merrick then offered the papers, orders petitions
and afndavts referring the different routes in owl
III, thcu led
first being an order increase and expedition upon the
route from Kearny TO Kent Nebraska Argument en-
sued rs 10 tho admissioity OF ths particular set OF
papers The Court ruled that the papers might be al
mittcd matter explanatory OF the allegations In the
indictment. An exception was noted.
Mr. Brewer was recalled and said That Mr.. Root n
correspondent OF Ihc AeD YORK Iimes hhd Drch IN ms
room several tmcs, ana hil examiner we piPo5' ScF
ora weeks had been spent ID this examination 49,,
Acknowledged that he had talked with Mr Bliss SINCE
giving his testimony, anu Mr. Bliss had told him that ne
had made mistake in his testimony as to the REVISION
power possessed D. me pay DIVISION oyer tne orders
TOR Increase and expedition. They could not correct
the second Assistant Postmaster iencrals Office They
did however, go over the calculation III cases OF
Mr. Merrick proceeded with the Introduction Of papers.
the back Of OF INC orders for Increase aud expe-
| aud this. M Merck asserted was Bcady's usual
method OF signing the orders. The next paper was a
| IN winch sets forth the need OF the IN
habtanls OF the Lonp Valley for increased
mail service This letter datc1 February o. 1879.
petition concerning the same rOut0 followed aud Mr.
MerTick called attention of the Court 10 TIE inter
nneatOns and cTlsurc5 upon II, Ihc words schedule
thirteen hours" according ~ Me- Mcricks stdcmu nj,
having been inserted after the atuIe Uf the petition
and before it, Ming. Pccks Oalh to tie number Of
men nccIrd To run tho route AT the increased
speed ordered admitted Letters from persons
| in Kearny, Nebraska, to senator Saunders, asking
whether could not be increased, were lad
by Mr. McIrck, and attention directed 10 the TACT
| that increase and not expedition was asked Tor.
The Grand jury rccOnNcnud to-day and proceeded I'M
mediateiy with the consideration OF The star Route
cases. taking No 35,OlO under The contract oi
| j. NJ Salisbury, from Pembina to Fargo Twentyone
witnesses part o, the country were sworn and
! went before them