Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-26
Star Route Dreariness.
MAcvEAeH AND JAMES IN ATTENDING

WASHINGTON, July 25.-Ex-Attorney Gen.
eral MacVeagh and ex-Postmaster General
James were in attendance on the star route
trials this morning. Mr.. MaeVeagh was called
to the stand and asked If hehad ever had con-
versation with Mr.. Reerdell on the matters set
out in the indictment. MacYeagh said he had
such a conversation in June, 1881. He was
asked to repeat the substance of Reerdell's
remarks, but objection was Immediately made
by Ingersoll, who proceeded to argue that
this conversation did not fall within the rules
of law as evidence. 1t could not be received as
evidence even against Reerdell, because a con-
spiracy had not been established.
The court said the question had already
been discussed and decided. Their arguments
had not shaken his opinion, as already ex-
pressed. No extra judicial confession could
establish the corpus de licti. No man could
be convicted of murder before the body had
been found or the crime otherwise conclusively
established. Then his admissions would be
strong evidence against him. So in conspir-
acy, combination takes the place of the dead
body IN murder. 1t makes out the corpus de
Hcti. In the present case ii could not be de-
MED that several contractors had in
innate and mutual interest in different
contracts. The evidence showed there was a
great abuse of discretion and power on the
general in making an increase o: expeditions.
There were enormous expenditures made with
out adequate return, contracts awarded for
a few hundred dollars and without apparent
reason and within few weeks swelled to
$50, 900 or $4,000 contracts. These could
not be pooh hooed away, they were worthy
Of serious consideration. This combination
may have been legitimate. 1t
may have been innocent enough;
but then it may suddenly change its
character and have become corrupt, through
the use of improper means. Men Go not hire
a town hall when they intend 10 conspire and
invite all their friends and acquaintance. 1t
was necessarily secret act. Finally the
court said he thought he was expressing
himself mildly when he said that the evidence
already in, tended strongly to establish
corpus de Hcti combination, ard he would
admit the evidence as showing the character
of that combination. OF course it would
only bind Reerdell himself out he was not
prepared to say that it would not aso he
received as tending to establish con-
spiracy. Exception was Immediately
noted by defense. Macvesgh then resumed.
He said he had more than one interview with
Reerdeli The latter told him he intended to
make clean breast of these star route mat
ters and in consequence of conversation
with ex-senator Clayton he had been to see
the postmaster general, who had sent him to
the witness, Reerdeli saidne became connected
with the business while s.. w. Dorsey was @
member of the senate. J. w. Dorsey, Miner
Peck, and for while Boone, who was after
wards dropped and succeeded by Vale, con.
stituted the combination. The plan was to
send out q blank bid to postmaster's in
the west who returned them certified, he had
spent an entire night in Dorseys committee
room IN the capitol in the prepar ton of these
bids. The idea was to take contracts at very
low figures, which would keep off other bid
ders and then have them increased and ex-
pediated by Gen. Brady. This statement, SO
far as it related to Brady, was objected to and
stricken out, but the court refused to exclude
the reference to Dorsey, Vale and other par
ties. Reerdell then spoke of his employers.
The court said upon reflection he would let in
the evidence against Brady with the under
standing that the court would limit its appli.
cation in his charge to the jury.
Witness then concluded: Reerdell said they
had secured nearly 100 routes through these
bids, through association with Mr.. Bossler
and Senator Dorsey. There had been a divis.
ion of the profits. Speaking of the petitions
Reerdell said Brady required them go as to be
able to justify his orders for expedition If
called upon. They were furnished whatever
was necessary by employing persons to get
signatures, and when that was inconvenient
they made up the petitions themselves. Brady
was to receive 80 Or 40 per cent. Of
the expedition ordered, and as the contracts
were usually sublet the sub contractor
was heavily fined and OF the remissions Brady
occurred another percentage. This was larger
percentage, witness thought, than Brady re-
ceived from expedition. When the congress
siOnal investigation began Reerdell said he
was afraid he would be called before them to
produce his books, wherein Brady and Turper
figured under assumed names. Consequently
when he was summoned he feigued 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. Reerdell showed the witness
papers which he said contained the fictitious
names by which Brady and Turner had been
known. Reerdell said, of course it was never
intended to render full service upon the routes
end told him upon one route for which they
had been paid, they had never begun the SER
vice. Reerdell did not question witness nor
seek to obtain any information from him, SO
far as he could perceive. Witness was then
turned over to the defense for rossexamina-
ton.
IDgersoll asked the witness whether he had
ever given any opinion upon the validity of
Jennings claim against the postofiice depart
ment. Ingersoll said a certain portion of that
claim was to be secured by Reerdell, and he
wanted TO know whether anything had been
said about that claim. Witness answered that
Reerdell had SAID nothing OF Jennings, nor was
anything said about place in the department
for Reerdell. Something was said about Aud
itor McGrew, and Turner and Lilley,
in connection with unlawful handling
of money. Witness said his recollection
was not clear upon that point, Turner was to
receive small percentage; Reerdcll did not
attempt to fix any date for the beginning of
the conspiracy; lie said nothing OF shares TO
be received by members of the combination,
except in Brady's ease, nor did he tell what
his own percentage was to be. Reerdell told
him there were only one or two small routes
in which he was personally interested beyond
his salary. He reported to witness part of
his testimony before the congressional COM
mittee wherein he had said his connection
with certain routes was nominal, and
that the real contractors were s. w.
Dorsy and j. W. Basler. Witness
believed Brady's share of remissions was
placed at 55 per cent. by Reerdeel. His share
of expedition witness did not positively re-
| member but believed it was between so and 40
per cent. Witness could not give the order of
| the conversations. Some of the appointments
had been made at the suggestion of witness.
MacVeagh said he had no special feeling
against Dorsey and when Ingersoll suggested
DOrsey's opposition to his securing cabinet
position might have influenced him, he de.
clared he had never before heard of that Cd.
position. He disclalmed positively of ever