The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-01
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
Star Routes.


tion of Petersen was continued. He
was mail contractor, and knew the
witness Walsh. He had heard a
portion of his testimony and read
the remainder. Witness was asked
if he had ever given postal drafts to
Walsh. The question was objected
to by the prosecution. In the argu-
ment which followed Ingersoll said
it might come to light that Petersen
paid Walsh as his attorney, but that
General Brady knew nothing of the
transactions. If they could prove
Petersen never paid money to Brady,
as testified by Walsh, it would de-
stroy the foundation OF that state
ment and tend to discredit the en-
tire conversation. a long argu-
ment followed upon this point,
which was interrupted by recess.
After recess Bliss took up the
argument, and said if the state
is were admitted government
would have to produce documentary
evidence which would show the
disposition of the draft was totally
inconsistent with the story which
he assumed Peterson would tell.
The long investigation which would
follow would drag in another gentle
man, whose name had already been
mentioned in this case, but whom
he desired to leave out of it alto
gether. 1t would compel the govern
ment to supplement Walsh's testi-
mony by evidence which would
show his, and not Peterson's was
the correct statement. He therefore
believed it best to exclude the testi-
mony. The court said it seemed to
him the evidence not admissible.
The evidence to be given by Peter
son did not seem to contradict any
thing said by Walsh. His statement
might be true so far as he was con-
|cerned, and yet Walsh's story of
what Brady did might also be true.
Brady might have been lying when
he told Walsh of Peterson. The man
who would seize notes and commit
a highway robbery, would not
hesitate about lying. If all men
would tell the truth perhaps this
testimony could be received.
McSweeny asked, what would
lawyers do in such a state of society.
The court said if this testimony
was received it would open up a
subject that might be gone into
indefinitely. 1t was a question of a
truth between Brady and Walsh,
and Brady was a competent witness.
Wilson then noted an exception,
in which is stated the offer OF the
defense to prove the drafts alluded
to by the witness Walsh were given
to Walsh by Peterson in return for
services rendered as attorney, and
that Brady had no connection di-
rectly or Indirectly with the tran
sacti0n. The form Of objection was
objected to by the court, who said
the defense had the privilege of
proving by the witness, if they
could, that Brady had no connec-
ton with the transaction.
The witness was then asked If he
ever paid Brady any money for ex-
petition. This question was OBJ
jected to and sustained by the court.
Peterson's route was not included In
the indictment. After another I'M
successful effort to put tie question
in another form, the witness was
directed to stand aside.
J. L. French, chief clerk in the
Office Of the second assistant post
maSter-generai, testified that it Was
an unusual circumstance for per-
sons to combine for the purpose of |
bidding for contracts, and this was
a practice well known to the de-
partment. 1t was unusual for par
ties to bid over their own names
and not the name OF combination.
The witness then detailed
the practices Of the contract
Office, saying tie old contract used as
guide in preparing advertisements
for new services, md new routes
usually started with a slow sched-
ule, and increased as seemed neces-
sary. Witness said it was fire.
queEt occurrence 10 change service
under a contract after its execution
and before the beginning of the SER
vice under it. 1t was invariably the
custom to allow the contractor
months extra pay, even if the or
der for service had been revoked be-
fore the date had arrived for putting
on the service. Witness believed
the second assistant postmaster
general was called upon to sign his
name about 500 or 600 times every
day. After describing at length the
business of the contract office, the
conclusion OF witness testimony
was postponed till tomorrow.