Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-14
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.


When the star route trial was resumed in the
Criminal Court this morning, Thomas s. Nightin-
gale, lawyer, OF Loup City, Nebraska, was called
to the stand by Mr.. Merrick.
THE ALTERED KEARNEY AND KENT PETITION.
Mr.. Nightingale identified the petition relating
to the route from Kearney and Kent as being In
his handwriting, excepting the words. schedule,
l3 hours" he having copied the original petition
described by Mr.. French, the sub-contractor, yes
terday. The witness having been asked II he iden-
tined the handwriting OF the original petition
with that OF any person whose handwriting he was
familiar with, by correspondence otherwise, the
defence objected. The settlement OF the question
that form. The witness said the handwriting in
the petition was similar to the letter which was
named TO him with the petition. The letter was
addressed to Mr.. French, and witness believed had
Deen lost. He had seen quite number OF letters
1n m the same handwriting addressed to Mr. French.
Witness did not know in whose handwriting the
written. Witness circulated the petition.
MlIness sent the petition by mail, after 1t was
Schedule 13 hours" Witness identified the letter
Written by his firm, bale & Nightingale, to Peck,
telling the latter how the service was per-
formed, &c.
THE WITNESS WAS CRoss-EXAMINED
by Mr.. Hine, and questioned as to the growth OF
his section OF the country and the demand for
mail facilities. Mr.. Hihe presented to the witness
batch of letters which he identified as having
been written by him for French. These letters
were written to Vafle, Miner Co., and referred to
matters relating to the route one of them suggest
Ing that daily service should be put upon the
route one letter written by the witness, referring
TO the trip to Cedarville, said it involved Journey
OF gu miles The witness had previously testified
that the distance was about seventeen or eighteen
miles.
LETTER FROM PECK.
After Mr. Hine had offered several business let
terS relating to the rOute-not OF very interest
ing or important character-Judge Wyne ex-
claimed: "What in the world is all this about7"
and checked the course of the examination.
Mr.: Brewer, Of the contract Office of the Post
Office department, was recalled to the stand and
identified letter from Peck to the department,
dated March 4th, 1878, requesting that communt-
cations intended for him be sent to lock box 714
washington, d. G.
LOCK BOXES IA AND FOG.
MI s. W. Tullock, cashier OF the city post Office
testified that in March, 1S7s and since that time
lock box n was held in the name of j. II. Ketner
The witness testified that box 706 was for the first
few months OF 1879 recorded in the name of Il. H.
Brewer, and afterwards until June, $780, by NJ c.
Rerdell
testified that Miners private mail and that for the
nrln or Miner, Peck q Dorsey was placed In box
IA and that box ,O6 contained the mail OF Rerdel
and S. w. Dorsey.
OTHER TESTIMONY
Mr. Tullock, being recalled, testified that the
record showed that two keys were issued by the
office for box IA.
Jacob S. Taylor, of Springer, New Mexico, who
was notary public in 1879, identified seven
afiidavts executed before him by Peck relating to
the various routes
Mr. John d. Sleeman, OF the sixth auditors
Office. recalled and produced all the warrants on
lllc IN The Office relating to route 81 49. recess
was taken at half-past twelve for nalf hour.
AFTER RECESS.
When the court re-assembied Mr. Sleeman took
the stand again, and Was briefly exomtned re-
garding the warrants which he had submitted
The substance of the warrants or drafts was then
read by Mr. Wilson