Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-04
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.

THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
More Testimony for Defence To-day
Vale, One of tlle Defendants on the
stand.
Mr.. John B. Sleeman, chief OF the pay division OF
the sixth auditors oflce, was the first witness
called to the stand in the star route trial this
morning. He was examined by Mr.. Henkle and
produced from the files OF the Office a power OF
attorney from John NJ. Peck to John X. Miner,
dated January 10th, 1873, authorizing Miner to
sign his name and transact business for him be-
fore the Post Office department.
ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS A WITNESS.
Harvey N. Vale, one OF the defendants, was then
called to the stand and examined by Mr.. HIne.
He testified that he became acquainted with Miner
in July, 1878, and transacted business with him
business with Stephen W. Dorsey in December,
1873. He thought he met John w. Dorsey first the
last OF December, 1878, and met Rerdell in that
month. Witness never really had any business
with Rerdell. Witness said he never paid, or
ion to Mr. Brady or any other pubic oficer. to in
fuence, or in consequence of, their action. Wit
ness first acquired interest in the routes mentioned
IN the Indictment In the last days OF August 1818
Witness thought the agreement was finally re-
dueed az ee to writing That agreement continued up
agreed that there should be
DIVISION OF THE MINER, PECK AND DORSEY
ROUTES.
There were over 100 routes. First there was
drawing, penny being shipped" or straws being
used. Then the value of the routes was estimated,
and the one who got the largest share paid the
others. Witness took out 40 per cent from. the
concern, Miner 30 per cent, and John W. Dorsey
ana Peck, through their representative, S. w.
Dorsey, 30 per cent.
Mr.. Henkle then submitted the partnership
agreement entered into in. August, 1878, Vaile
being designated as treasurer OF the combination,
and j. H. Mircr secretary.
n IT.
vldlng the profits and other details of business.
Upon the division OF the routes in the spring,
the witness were the routes from VermlliOn to
Sioux City, Kearney to Kent, Bismarck to Tongue
river The ID tlleS to Baker City, and c imp McDar-
mott to Canyon City. Since April 4, 1879, the other
defendants had had no interest whatever in these
routes. Witness had 10 interest after the division
In any other OF the nineteen routes. The witness
sail he mad never presented any claim dgainStthe
government that he did not believe was proper
and honest claim. He had never received any
thing directly or indirectly from any OF the routes
Other than those that fell to this lot. He had
never met Mr.. Peek in his life, never met John w.
nerShip until this trial, and had never met Stephen
w. Dorsey but once since that time, AMI had not
mad any cOrreSp0n leace with them. From De-
cember. 1873, down to the beginning OF the trial,
witness AMI S. w. Dorsey were very unfriendly.
They quarrelel when they first met, and had
been untri n1y ever since. "Sipce this trial COM
menced," said the witness, eve have been more
friendly, but think soon this trial is ended
we Shall Ge far apart"
the witness saia lie did not know when the con-
tract OF partnership was m1de; that the losses ex-
ceeded the profits; 10 living man could know what
the expense OF running tae routes wOuli be. Some
OF tae routes were long ones, in country with
which the witness was unfamiliar and had never
been opened. Witness dill not go to the depart
ment before he took the Subcontracts to learn
whether there were other contracts on file. AS he
distruste1 that some OF his investments might be
Jeopirdized by rreviously-eXecuted contracts
witness contracts were anteditei. Witness did
not inquire or his co-contractorS as to whether
there was any previous contracts Witness having
said that he way away. Mr.. McrricK asked him II
he was away when he made the contract.
The witness said he left for his home In InIe-
pendence iii the middle OF August. and did not get
back until October The contract was drawn UP
witness for his Signature in October. He did not
think it was probable that he had signed the con-
subcontracts, but lie could not remember having
made such inquiries. Mr. Merrick asked the wit
ness how he came to sign an agreement for the
distribution OF
THE PROFITS OF A LOSING BUSINESS,
and to invest his funds in such business
The witness said he did not know at that time
that the losses exceeded the profits. On or about
the Goth OF August, at Independence, Mo-, witness
received dispatch from Brady, asking him how
witness would see started Witness after consulta-
tion, In two or three days, replied that he would
start al! OF the Miner, Peck and Dorsey routes and
not the Watts routes Prior to leaving Washing
ton witness had visite1 Brady for Miner to get an
extension OF time for executing contract. Witness
told Brady II he would extend the time he would
go home, consult his friends, and possibly Join
Miner; Brady extended the time. There was no
the service on quickly as possible At the inter-
view mentioned Brady did not grant an extension
tha me sort OF granted, as he usually does" said
the WlCneSS, 'and didn't give me any answer 1t
was not until December or January that all of the
service was put on. He did not know why Brady
did not declare the contractor failing contractor
He was liable to be declared such at any moment
Witness was willing to invest in the contracts be-
clared falling contractor. because he knew that
he could make an offer to perform the service at
the same rate 1t would have been bad faith in
Br0dy not TO accept such an offer. He knew also
that no one would be fool enough to underbid him,
for the service was taken SO low.
witness was examined as to the route from Fort
McDermott to Canyon City. He did not remember
whether 1t was expedited before the service was
put on or or not ON the Tongue river route the In
crease OF service was an oppression to the con-
tractor The expedited price was $4,000, but that
did not not make It paying route. It cost $4,000 or
get expedition on that route. Miner had not
sought 1J SO far as witness knew. He did not know
whether Peck had OF not. witness tried to get
Brady to discontinue the routes The records he
thought showed that before tie expedition Miner
naa applied ior discontinuance OF the route
WltnesS dld not rel1nquiSh the contract when the
expedition was ordered. He did not know at the
time that the contract gave him that privilege
his getting into these mail routes He had never
mace great deal OF money out of mail contracts.
ne ndu uaue only good living
MI. Merr1ck asked him IL he was not
VERY RICH NAN NOW.
The witness replied That he did not think he
was; he did not know how much he was worth:
he was fair liver The witness testified also
that the Baker City route was Rlosing route. The
witness could not recOect what was the condition
OF the Mineral PARK and Phoebe route when he
took II Witness die not try 70 get the route
expedited; he did not know whether Miner % or Dor,
on the Toageryille and Adaaryiiler route simply SO
that he could draw the pay, because he had be-
come responsible for debts eontraeted In starting
the routes =, The witness could not remember
much about this route, whether he collected the
pay, how much his paytWaA or when 1t was
expeoited. p Neither he nor Miner ever
tried to get the roufo expedited. He
did not think Peck haa done so.
Witness interceded TO get an extension Of time for
Miner on the Baker City rou1e. bs.ause Miner did
not appear to have any frinndA The witness be-
came acquainted with BRADY omaally when Brady
came into office. He never knew Brady except
0Mcially. He did not think he had any influence
with Brady. His intercesston IN Miners behalf,
whose acquaintance he had just mades might be
called weakness, or It might have been called
generosity. Witness did not then know now badly
the business was mixed up0n these routes The
Witness did not recollect appfeafons ana oaeFs