Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-26

4
for few hundred dollars and, without az
parent reason, within q few weeks swelled /
$4,000 or $4,000 contracts. These thing
could not be pooh poohed away; the
were worthy Of serious consideration. Th
combination may have been legitimate;
may have been innocent enough, but the
it may suddenly have changed its characte
/ improper means. Men do not hire tow
hall when they intend to conspire and invit
| all their friends and acquaintance. 1t wa
| necessarily secret act. Finally the Cour
| said he thought he was expressing himsel
mildly when he said that the evidence al
ready tended strongly to establish a corpu
dslieti, the combination, and he should ad
NIT the evidence as showing the character 0
| that combination. OF course, it would onl,
bind Rerdell himself, but he was not pre-
pared to say it would not also be received a
| tending to establish conspiracy.
| An exception was Immediately noted b,
1 the defense.
Mr.. McVesgh then resumed. He said b,
| had had more than one interview with Rer
| dell. The latter told him that he intended
| to make clean breast of these Star-rout.
matters, and in consequence of a converse
| ton with Ex-senator Clayton he had beer
to see the postmaster general, who had sen
him to the witness. Rerdell said he became
connected with the business while s. W. Dor
sey was a member of the Senate. J. w
Dorsey, Miner, Peck, and, for awhile, Boone
who was afterward dropped and succeeded
by Vaile constituted the continuation Theil
plan was to send out blank bids to postmas
tiers in the West, who returned them certified
He had spent an entire night in Dorsey 4
committee-room at the capital in the prep.
aration of these bids. The idea was to take
contracts at a very low figure, which would
keep off the other bidders, and then have
them increased and expedited by General
Brady.
This statement, SO far as it related to Brady,
was objected TO and stricken out, but the
Court refused to exclude it in reference 10
Dorsey, Vale and the other parties, because
Rerdell then spoke of his employers. The
Court said, upon reflection, that he would
let in the evidence against Brady, because
the weight of practice tended to let in the
whole Of such confession With the under
standing that the Court would limit its appli-
cation in his charge to the jury.
The witness then concluded, "Rerdell
said they had secured nearly hundred
routes through these bids. Through associ-
alton with Mr.. Bosler and Senator Dorsey
there had been a division of the profits.
Speaking OF the petitions, Rerdefl said Brady
required them, 40 as TO be able TO justify his
orders for expedition if called upon. They
were furnished whenever necessary by en-
ploying persons to get signatures, and where
that was inconyenient they made up the
petitions themselves. Brady received twenty
or forty per cent. of the expedition ordered,
and as the contracts were usually SUBJ
let, the sub-contractor was heavily
fined and of remissions barely re-
ceived another percentage. This was
larger percentage, witness thought, than
Brady received tor the expedition. When
the congressional investigation began Rer-
dell said he was afraid he would be called
before them to produce his books, wherein
Brady and Turner figured under assumed
names, and consequently when he was sum-
moned he feigned sickness for few days
while his set of books had been prepared.
Upon appearing, however, his books had not
been called for. The book from which the
bogus book had been prepared was in New
York, and he intended to go and get it. 1t
would be found to corroborate his statement
in every particular. Rerdell showed wit
ness papers which he said contained the fic-
titious names by which Brady and Turner
had been known. Rerdell said of course it
was never intended to render full service
upon the routes, and told him that upon one
route for which they had been paid they had
never begun service. Rerdell did not ques-
ton witness nor seek to obtain any informa-
ton from him so far as he could perceive.
defense for cross-examination, which was
continued at some length, but his testimony
remained mistaken.
Ex POSTMASTER GENERAL JAMES, TEsTr-
MoNY.
After recess Ex-Postm aster- General James
was examined by Mr.. Bliss. He said he
first saw Rerdell at his room at the Airing
ION Hotel. Woodward and Ex-senator Clay
ION were present. Rerdell said he was secre-
.ary for Dorsey while the latter was senator;
hat he prepared the proposals and sent
hem to postm asters out West for certi6ca-
ion; be did other work in preparing petit
ions and affidavit. The Dorseys. Miner,
Peck, Vale and Boone were members of the
Mr.. James then repeated that portion of
statement which referred to the
preparation of bogus books and the assump-
ion of fictitious names by Brady and Turner,
Ill of which Rerdell had afterward told |
dacVeagh.
Rsrdell said that Brady received thirty
hree per cent. of the expedition and |
fifty per cent. of the remittances. This |
lasted only half an hour. A few |
lays later he met Rerdell on the New York |
rain, and he told the witness he was going |
fter the books of the concern. Next day
he witness took the $40 pm. train for
Washington. Rerdell was in the same car.
When the train reached Trenton the conduc-
Dr. appeared with two kilograms, which were
anded to Rerdell.
Immediate objection was made at this
oint by the defense against the admission OF
serdelPs statement of the contents of these
slegrams.
The Court finally decided that the contents
the dispatch could not be received in evil
ence, but Rerdell's statement to the effect
lat he had received the dispatches from
'orsey could be received.
James continued that Rerdell told him he
ad received dispatches from Dorsey, and
nd he should not get out at Philadelphia,
J he had at FIRST intended, but would go
trough TO Washington. On the way over
New York Rerdell said he would get the
,oks and give them into MacVeagh's pos
ssion. The Rawlins White river route
i'd been brought 10 his attention, said
ames, and he had sent for French, chief
ERIK of the second -postm aster-
,neral. He directed that gentleman TO
woke the expedition on that route. French
i'd he hoped he would not be held RESPONSE
g for General Brady's acts. Witness had
terward had a conversation with General j
rady, and that gentleman said he wanted
know why economy was to be ordered
lring his administration. He sfterward
scovered that this order for expedition
I'd not been revoked, as he had directed.
'oodward made this discovery late in tie +,
II, and service was then reduced.
Mr.. James was then cross-examined by
essrs. Ingersoll and Wilson, but without 8
ything OF importance being brought out.
EX-SENATOR POWELL CLAYTON,
Arkansas, was then placed on the stand.
E said he resided in Little Rock, Ark, and
d known Rerdell ten or twelve years; he
ct Rerdell about June 6, 1881.
Before the witness could proceed several I
jections were made by the defense to the {
ception of his testimony. They were over {
led, however, and the witness proceeded. Z
He said he met Rerdell upon the street,
ar the Riggs House. and at the latter's l
licitation gave him an Interview at his
ON. Rerdell told him that he was con-
cted with tthe combination, but that his
terest was very small; Rsrdell said he was g,