Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-29
WILL RERDELL TESTIFY :?

Rumors that One of the Star Route De-
PENDANTS viii Give Evidence for the
Government
Vashinoton Special to Ne,o York World, eth.
1t is published tonight that Rerdell, one
of the star route defendants, and against
whom a verdict of guilty" brought at
the first trial, was set aside on the ground
of general unreasOnableness, is now like
" to appear as a witness for the prosecu-
ton. Rerdell has already made two con-
Trajectory statements, to one OF which he
swOre. He was one time DOrsey's
private secretary, and afterwards clerk
for BOsler, of the firm of Dorsey Il Bosler,
star route contractors, He was with
Dorsey at about the time of the Con-
gressional investigation of 1873. Late in
1880 Powell Clayton, D0rsey's rival for the
control of the Arkansas patronage, in
formed Rerdell of the storm that threat
ened Dorsey. Rerdell visited the Post
Office Department early in Garfield's adj
ministratiOn and made certain alleged
disclosures. He said THAI DOrsey's books,
produced at the investigation in 1878, had
been prepared expressly for that purpose;
that the old books were within reach, and
that he would obtain them upon three
conditions, viz; That he be granted inn
munity, that place be provided for his
father-in-law in the Interior Department,
and that the Jennings case, then pending
in the Post Office Department, should be
adjudicated faYOrably, Jennings was
sub-contractor who had suffered heavily,
either by fine or some other penalty,
under Brady. 1t is charged that
Rerdell was to receive about $4,000 in
case he should secure a favorable dis
pOsition of the case. He informed Mr..
James and MI. Mac Veagh that the original
Dorsey books were in y lew York, and, at
their suggestion, he went there for them.
He returned few DAYS later on train
with Mr.. James, and had with him
bundle. which he told Mr.. James con-
tanned the original books. Not long after
this he made a statement to the eject that
his nreviOus statement about the books
was false: that there had been no prepara-
tion of books for the Congressional inves-
tigatiOn of 1878; that his representations
to Mr.. James had been actuated, not by
desire for immunity-fOr he had not feared
nunishment-but had been made pursuant
Ia scheme to secure a place for his
father-in-law, and the favorable settle
ment of the Jennings case. The bundle
he had shown Mr.. James on the tram, ne
said, had contained not BOOKS, put shlrt'
The first of these statements was sub
mitted to President Garfield by Mr.. Mac
Veagb. and the second by Mr.. lngersoll.
since then the government has had no
use for Rerdell, Mr., Dorsey attributes
RerdelPs visit to New York to Mac Veagh's
desire to get possession of certain books
owned by Dorsey, containing political ac-
counts. and which would put MACY eagn
in possession of facts enabling hlm TO hoid
n rod over persons of national celebrity in
notifies. Rerdell supposed, from his fa-
miIiarity with Dorsey's New York ONCE,
he could place his hands at once upon the
hooks. but when he went there he found
that. instead of being in their usual place
uDon the shelves, they had been removed
to the safe. None of the government
counsel will confirm the report that ne is
likely to be a witness for the prosecution.
Beaconsfeld paid $2O,OO0,OOO. for the
suez canal shares which England now
holds. These shares are now valued at