National Republican., 1882-07-26
THE sTAR-RouTE TRIAL,
Testimony OF Messra. Macv cnGb, James
md clayton.


In the star-route trial yesterday ex-Attorney-
General MncVeagh was the first witness placed on
the stand and was asked as TO the conversation
he had with NJ. C. Rerdell in June, 1891 Mr.. In.
gersol objected to the admission of this testimony,
as there was no evidence to show that the COM
bnation was corrupt or that any one Of the par
ties had done anything wrong. Judge Wylie,
after listening to Mr.. Ingersoll said there is evil
dence before the court sufficient TO show that the
several contractors had mutual and intimate re-
lations with each other in the several contracts.
There is evidence to show that there was great
abuse OF power by the Second Assistant Postmas-
ter.General in regard 10 these orders for eXpedi-
ton. Here Is money paid without adequate com.
pensNton, paid to all these parties, aud the ex.
pedition increased by the Second Assistant Post
master General, so that n small contract assumes
large proportions. These are thugs not to be
pooh -poohed away. Here are facts going to es.
tablish corpus deficit and establish a charge of
criminal conspiracy. This combination may be
innocent enough yet by the confession of tile par
Ties II may be converted into crime.
THE EVIDENCE WAS THEN ADMITTED,
and an exception WAS noted by Mr.. Tolten. Mr..
MacVeagh then related his conversation with
Rerdell, substantially rs has already been pub
lished, in which the latter told him. of his com.
binalion with Vaile, Dorsey, and others, and that
Brady was interested IN procuring CONTRACTS and
their expedition. The introduction Of Mr., Brady's
name was objected TO- but the Court decided to
admit IT, and instructed the Jury not TO accept the
nesIv o TSes throusS an %c9nantapce
with Mr.. BoStler, of Pennsylvania, and Senator
Dorsey. Rerdel said Brady required petitions to
justify the expedition They procured signatures,
and when that was inConvenent made them UP.
Brady got 30 or 40 per cent ofthe expedition. The
routes were sublet and the fines fell ON the sub.
contractor When the fines were remitted
Brady got certain percentage. When the
Congressional investigation was started in 1880
that he (RerdelD was called to produce book
showing payments to Brady and Turner. Those
payments could not be accounted for, and so he
feigned sickness aud prepared the book so that 1t
Ingersoll-Rerdell never said anything about the
Jennings claim or the appointment of any one TO
office. Mentioned that the Sixth Auditors office
was assisting in the combination and gave Tur-
ners name as having received money. He the
witness had no acquaintance with ex-senator
Wilson then continued the cr,ss- examination
and in answer to Foreman Dickson the witness
said RerdelTs confession was voluntary and, as
fur as he knew, without hope of reward.
EX-PosTMAsTER- GENERAL JAMES
was the next witness, III june 1881, NJ. C. Rerdell
came TO him and, in the presence of ex-senator
Clayton and Mr.. Woodward, said he wanted to
make a clean breast of the whole affair. He de-
scribed his connection with ex-senator Dorsey,
showed what purported TO be transcripts of books
lie met Rerdell on the train, who said he was 60
ing to New York for the original book. On the
train Rerdell received two dispatches and he said
he would go through and not leave the train al
Philadelphia, as he had intended. Witness had
putting upG job. Ex-senator Clayton was then
examined and testif I'd to Rerdells telling him
about the cOmbinati IN and wishing to have an
interview with the Postmaster General, in conse-
quence of which he made arrangements for the
interview. The court then adjourned for the day.