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

WASHINGTON, July 25.-Ex-Attorney Gen.
eral MacVeagh and ex-Postmaster General
James were in attendance on the star route
trials this morning. Mr.. MacVeagh was called
to the stand and asked if he had ever had con-
yersation with Mr.. ReerdelI on the matters set
out in the indictment. MacVeagh said he had
such a conversation in June, 1881. He was
asked to repeat the substance of ReerdeIl's
remarks, but objection was immediately made
by 1ngersoli, 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 con-
spracy 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 Iicti. No man could
be convicted Of murder before the body had
been found or the crime otherwise conclusiyely
established. Then his admissions would be
strong evidence against him. 80 in a conspir-
acy, combination takes the place of the dead
body In murder. 1t makes out the corpus de
ttctt. In the present case it could not be de-
MED that several contractors had in
innate and mutual interest in different
contracts. The evidence showed there was
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
few hundred dollars and without apparent
reason and within few weeks swelled to
100000 or $4,000 contracts. These could
not be pooh hooed away, they were worthy
OF serious consideration. This combination
may have been innocent enough;
but then it may suddenly change its
character and have become corrupt, through
the use OF improper means. Men do not hire
town hall when they Intend TO conspire and
invite all their friends and acquaintance. 1t
was necessarily q 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 a
corpus de licti combination, AID he would
admit the evidence as showing the character
of that combination. OF course it would
only bind Reerdell himself nut he was not
prepared to say that it would not also he
received as tending to establish con-
spiracy. Exception was Immediately
noted by defense. MacVeagh then resumed.
He said he had more than one interview with
Reerdell. The latter told him he intended to
make clean breast of these star route mat.
tiers and in consequence of a conversation
with ex-senator Clayton he had been to see
the postmaster general, who had sent him to
VIC WlLueSS, hteTucii b3lu ne became connected
with the business while s. w. Dorsey was a
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 a blank bid TO postmaster's in
the west who returned them certified, he had
spent an entire night in Dorsey's committee
room IN the capitolin 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 a Mr.. Bossler
and Senator Dorsey. There had been divis.
ion of the profits. Speaking of the petitions
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 nconvenient
they made up the petitions themselves. Brady
was to receive 30 or 40 per cent of
the expedition ordered, and as the contracts
were usually sub-let the sub contractor
was heavily fined and OF the remissions Brady
secured 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 Turner
figured under assumed names. Consequently
when he was summoned he feigned sickness
fn faxU 6oy hi 10 Of
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 60 and get it. 1t would
be found 10 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
and 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 cross examna-
ton.
Ingersoll asked the witness whether he had
ever given any opinion upon the validity of
Jennings claim against the postoffice depart
ment. Ingersoll said certain portion of that
claim was to be secured by ReerdeIl, and he
wanted TO know whether anything had been
said about that claim. Witness answered that
Reerdell had sad 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; Reerdell did not
attempt to fix any date for the beginning of
the conspiracy; he said nething of shares 10
be received by members of the combination,
except in Brady's case, nor did he tell what
his own percentage was to be. Rec rdell 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 CON-
mittee wherein he had said his connection
with certain routes was nominal, and
that the real contractors were 8. w,
Dorsy and j. w. Basler. Witness
believed Brady's share of remissions was
placed at SIS per cent. by Reerdeel His share
of expedition witness did not positively re-
member but believed it was between 80 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 q cabinet
position might have influenced him, he de-
clared he had never before heard OF that Cd.
position. He disclalmed positively of ever