Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-12

1hE STAR ROUTE TRIAL..
Testimony for the Goyernmeut ro-nav
When the Criminal Court was convened this
morning at ten O'Clock there was not a very large
attendance in court Nearly oil the defendants
and counsel engaged In the star route trial were
present
| THE FIRST WITNESS CALLED TO-DAY
oy MI ker for the government was Amos NJ Will
son, who was in charge OF the journal OF the Post
| once department relating to orders respecting
reductions and increase OF mall service &C., prior
70 July z, 1880 He testified that the Postmaster
General usually signed tho orders entered In the
| 1oHrnal az Intervals OF about two weeks.
When the witness was excused from the stand
MI Hfne introduced Mr.. Sol Henkle to the court,
VINO VINO ne said. would hereafter represent Mr.
Miners interest In the trial
"As there is no other Ohio man here" remarked
| the court dryly, 1--WE will be glad to see him"
you mustn't charge me to that state
NJ ~ leit ONO gooi many years ago." said Mr..
wilson, 'and don't charge me with it."
TESTIMONY AS TO OFFICIAL ROUTINE AT THE POST
OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
The next witness was Charles W. Morgan, who
succeeded Mr.. Wilson in charge or the journal and
gave s similar testimony except that he said it was
General t; Ior his signature once week and some
| DIVISION OF the Third Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eraps Office, testified to the routine relating to
| SUuutS-
RERDELL AND THE DORSEY CONTRACTS
| The witness testified that RerdeI came to his
onlce to make inquiry when certain warrants
% %Mouid De issued for certain person. Witness
Rerdell asked about Mr.. Miner made similar
| inquiries ABOUT his own and Mr. Vaile's conduct
nnrIs Mlrnsss did not remember having seen John W.
dell attending to the business the Dorsey con-
ofacts, getting the warrants, returning receipts.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr.. Wilson.
Ine purpot OF the testimony being that records OF
contracts were kept In four different of1ces OF the
| POST Office department; that there Was nothing
unusual IN contractor having an attorney or
agent to look after his business before the depart
decrease or service went through the Office OF the
second Assistant Postmaster General the Third
AS assistant Postmaster General and the Sixth Audi
Ior before they became effective The witness said,
SO lar as his observation went, Rerden and Miner
years.
LETTER OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
Mr.. Ker then offered In evidence letter OF the
postmaster General to the House OF Representa-
enTs, ves asking for an approximation Of to
portlng the mails for the fiscal year of 1879.
CLERK BREWER RECALLED.
MI. brewer, clerk In the contract ofice, who
was examined Friday was recalled and examined
briefly by Mr.: Wilson to show that papers relating
70 various routes had been taken away from his
MES for about year, and in possession for part OF
the time, at least, OF Mr.. Woodward Inspector OF
OoC oulCc UtpdIIuleuU Inc Witness Ilel
identified certain papers handed him by Mr.. Mer-
Kent.
TESTIMONY OF INSPECTOR WOODWARD
Mr.. p. H. Woodward, Inspector of the Post ONCE
department, was then called to the stand and tes-
thed that he received the papers in question from
Mr.. Brewer. He identified also three papers which
Mr. brewer could not recognize These papers. he
Sald, mad been In his custody ever since they were
delivered to him by Mr. Brewer and had not un-
dergone any change at all.
Mr.
the witness. The witness said these papers had
been handled considerably by himself but not 10y
others
"Don't you know asked Mr. Wilson, "that
divers newspaper correspondents have had access
10 these papers to write newspaper articles from.'
sotd NoS OF since they have been in my possession"
The witness said the papers had not been re-
arranged or rejacketed, except such as were not
in jackets when they were taken from the files.
The witness was asked by Juror Dickson, after he
had stated that no receipts had been given for the
papers taken from Mr.. Brewer, whether he did not
regard that as very loose and careless way OF
con- conducting business The witness said he had
than had been taken before.
MI. Merrick then offered the jacket OF a number
OF papers bearing date January 10, lS7 9, In evil
oence MT Ingersoll obJecting to 1t as fmmaterta!,
and saying he wanted to inspect IL together with
The rest or the clothes.
THIS CREATED A LITTLE GIGGLING IN COURT,
which called out a repr;mand from Judge WyIie
who said he would turn out and keep out any
person guilty OF disorder
Mr Ingersoll, having examined the jacket, said
that the indictment charged that the order was
made by Brady, while the Jacket showed that it
Postmaster General He therefore objected TO its
being accepted in evidence. Mr. Hine objected
That there had yet been no testimony TO show
Ar. Merrick, replying to Mr.. Ingersoll, said the
jacket did not show that the order was made by
FRENCH but had on II the words "Do this. Brady.n
French had only obeyed the mandate OF his supe-
rlor. inc representation was in keeping with The
defence. ~ 'n0
Mr.. Chandler argued that the act OF one of the
c0-detendants could not be introduced In evidence
now, before any evidence had been given to show
that that act was in pursuance OF an understand
Ing or conspiracy.
The court said that it could not go on with the
trial OF the case until
THE sUBJEcr OF THE CONSPIRACY
was presented.
Mr.. Merrick said that before he got through with
the batch OF papers It would bring valle, Peck
Miner and John W. Dorsey all together
The PAPERS ADMITTED.
After some argument, the court ruled that the
papers were admissible as testimony, and an ex-
ception was noted by the defence.
Mr. Brewer was recalled to the stand, ana iden-
titled the writing, " Do this Bradyn as In Mr.
Brady's handwriting. He was asked by Mr.. Wilson
to these papers wilhelm his ROOM Mr. Brewer said
that Mr.. Root, of the New York TtlneS made an
abstract OF seine OF the papers several cases he
spent altogether two or three weeks going the
papers.
The court, a few minutes before one O'Clock, took
a recess Tor half an hour.
CORRECTING THEIR TESTIMONY.
Upon the reassembling OF the court, Mr.. Nor
gan, who was examined this morning, took
the stand and corrected his testimony, so as to
say that the journal, OF which he had charge was
signed by the Postmaster General sometimes once
a week and sometimes once in two weeks
Mr. Bliss said that MI. Norton had correction
to make In his testimony.
Mr.. Norton was then further questioned as to
the powers he had OF revising the orders that came
to him, and again explained that his powers only
extended to examining the figures He could not
change the order.
A "JAcKET" WITH IT'S ENDORSEMENTS.
Mr. Merrlck then read the jacket In route 331 39l,
which said the teSmni of the route were
Kearney and Kent, the length I31 miles, service
trip week, contractor j. N. Peck, pay $3.50 "a,
and contained the following endorsement: "Tion.
A. saunders forwards and urges granting petition
for times per week service to Loup City and ex-
pedftf0n OF the schedule to l3 hours The Sena-
tor says that the section is rapidly being settled
and that the service should be increased" Then
there is another endorsement In blue pencil: "Do
this Brady"
An OBJECTION OvERRULED.