Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-05
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
VIZ. Bliss Continues His Argument


This morning the trial of the case of the U.s.
agt S. W. Dorsey, j. w. Dorsey, II. NJ. yaile, NJ
c. Rerdell, T. j. Brady and W. III. Turner-in-
itcted for conspiracy In connection with the star
route mail contracts-was resumed before Judge
Wylle.
Mr. BLISS ON Mr. BRADY.
Mr. Bliss, for the government resumed his
argument, commenced on Friday, saying that he
mad gone over the law, the rules and regulations
| IS TO increase OF mail service, and pay for the
same, the conduct OF Mr.. Brady In connection
herewith, &c. He then said that during 1873
Brady made 66 orders for increase OF pay, &C., and
In lS.S'2 such orders for the Dorsey combination
MI Bliss said there was some questions as TO how
Iie increased pay was to be calculated; whether
increase OF stock" included the men, but on ex-
animation they had found that there was no
Uniform rule OF calculation in force; that under
Nj. Brady the rule under which the largest
amount OF money would be allowed the con-
tractors was the one adopted The rules did not
there was on Mr.. Brady q greater respon ibility
for the government could not recover in case OF
default 1t may be said that Mr.. Brady believed the
petltons were genuine, but they would show cases
In which all the postmasterS along route certi-
Iied that expedition was unnecessary. II IL be
true that Mr.. Brady was deceived who deceived
hin, and where does 1t leave the Others? So far
ne had spoken OF Mr. Brady because they regarded
nun tae most guilty, for he stood high, and
amenable to impeachment proceedings Mr.
stated
THE OTHER DEFENDANTS
Mr. Bliss said the other parties were Stephen w
Dorsey, who was a Senator and chairman of the
post office committee; John w. Dorsey, his bro
ther. a resident OF Midileboro, VT; John M.
Peek, brother-in-law OF = w. Dorsey, in poor
nealth-conSumption; John R. Miner, friend OF
Dorsey, resident OF Sandusky, OIio Mr.. Rerdell
a cltlZ3n or Arkansas a clerk under the District
v1mssioneTs T for time and clerk for Stephen
Second Assistant Postmaster General, and Mr.
eale, regular contractor Mr. Bliss said they ex-
pected to show that Mr. Boone was brought into
this combination becauss OF his superior knowl-
edge OF the business: Mr.. Dorsey may have got
Ten Ten up ms petitons &C. but If it had not been
BRADY nothing would have been made; it required
MN TO give the orders &C.
Mr. BRADY WAS COMPARATIVELY POOR MAN
when he went into the department., and In five
years was reputed to be rich man. His friends
claim that he made his money by patented in
vention, but they the governmenD expected to
prove otherwlse, They expected TO show that
THE PRELIMINARY STEPS IN THE CONSPIRACY
were t lken in December, 1877. In December 1877,
MI Boone through the mail sent circulars to ali
contractors tn the south and west asking cert ain
INFORM ttion-answerS TO be Sent TO james III.
Peckner q Co., lock box IA, Washington. 1t was
aScertalned that Peckner was boy OF l6 years.
Iney would have good deal OF ''iock box IA" In
the same month bids were sent to postmasters at
Little Rock and Fort Smith, by stephen W. Dorsey
who said they should get them signed, but not let
any one know they came from him. Mr.. Cendfnin,
the then postmaster at Fort Smith declined. Mr.
Hadly. at Little Rock, did hing more and one
OF the bonds was executed by some one personat-
ing John NJ. Peck, then in New Mexico. Mr. BIS,
Claimed that the dates and OatllS were untrue and
We're certified by the postmaster. In April, 1879,
Mr.. Dorsey appeared as the avowed owner of the
profits from these bids.
THIS COMBINATION
put In about Zoo bids and the members did not
compete with each other; they never bid in cases
Where the service was more than three TIPS per
week. They took routes which could he Increased
pf xx-spt-lx- . A
SeIn1-Weekly and 12 ui-weekly. They lost $4,000
by routes % eeso bel being diminished by railroads, and
gained 600 through the orders or Mr.. Brady
Attorney General Brewster at this point entered
the court room.
ONE COMMON POOL.
After defining conspiracy, Mr.. Bliss said they
would show that all the parties were concerned In
it; they would show that the bids we -e gotten up
in the third story of s. W. Dorsey,s residence nv
Miner and Boone; that the papers Were sent out
and signed; that the parties were joined in one
common pool The investigation was commenced
in May, 1881. and Mr.. RerdeIl, meeting ex-senator
clayton, said he desired to tell
THE WHOLE STORY.
Governor Clayton called on Postmaster General
James and an appointment was made at which
Mr.. Woodward was present, and Rerden then
made a statement that Brady received a percent-
age; that bogus Set of books was made in which
Brady appeared as Smith and Turner as Jones
MI James was anxious that Rerdell should see
the Attorney General (Mr MacVeagh), and he did
SO In June, 1881, when he presented boo said to
be the letter book OF the firm, and they would
show that one OF these letters was written to a
MI. Wilcox, and he agreed to leave the letters
there. Mr.. Rerdell subseq uently called on Mr.
Woodward and afterwards they met on the train,
for the books; that he had felt better than he had
lor some years because he had made clean breast
OF II: Inc next day on his return, at Trenton n.
d., OF the nrst stopping place. Rerdell received
TWO DISPATCHES FROM DORSEY,
one saying "Don't let us part in anger. Get OF at
Philadelphia and all will be arranged" and the
other "For Gods sake, don't ruin my family"
Since then, however, Mr.. Rerdell had by some in
f1uence been led TO change his course OF action.
They thought the court would instruct the Jury
at the proper time that the confession OF conSpr-
atOr Was evidence.
Mr.. Bliss then related what they expected to
prove as to each specific act. He was proceeding
to give the contents In general way OF certain
communicai lions that passed between various de-
PENDANTS, when
Mr.. TOTEM STOPPED HIM,
and asked If he were reading letter.
"No, Sir" said Mr.. Bliss.
at sounds very much like it," said Mr. Totten.
81 have been over these papers SO much," said
Mr.. Bliss, "t that have them all in my memory"
we would like to get all OF them," said Mr..
You win get all OF them" replied Mr.. Bliss.
"quite as soon as you want them"
to have tnem."
At half-past twelve O'Clock the court took re-
cess for half an hour.
AFTER RkCESS.
When the court re-assembled Mr.. Bliss resumed
his address, referring first to route 3S 15O On which
John K Miner was contractor, and on which some
remarkable increase and expedition was ma de- In
connection with this route Turner had gone
through the arithmetcal calculations and al lowed
1858 IS more than could by any proper ba ses be
allowed, and this sum continued to be paid un I'll
an honest administration got into the Post ONCE
department.
Mr. Bliss continued then to1discuSs other routes
giving at length the various proceedings by which,
1t is claimed, increase and expedition were OBJ
tained and the government was defrauded out OF
large sums OF money.
District Government Affairs.
District Commissioner Morgan is absent in
Baltimore to-day to attend a meeting OF the board
OF directors OF the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Com
pany.
Lieut. F. v. Greene received a dispatch this
morning from Major Lydecker, now in Philadel-
ph1a, stating that he will arrive in this city to
commence his official duties tomorrow morning.
Poor Jack Cole.
MADE INSANE BY THE JEANNErTE'S DIsAsrRR-SENr
10 81. ELIzAEETH INSANE HOSPITAL.
Jack Cole, OF the Inflated Jeannette's crew, who,
it will be remembered, was made insane by the
terrible hary1Shfna he endured and WIN came hacI