The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-04
The Affidavit.

The following is an abstract obtained from
what is believed to be a trustworthy source
Of the affidavit Of Mail Contractor James B.
Prince, which is now in the possession OF
counsel for the Government in the Star
Route cases. The affiant deposes in sub
stance as follows:
In 1878, being the lowest bidder. the afiiant was
awarded a contract for carrying United States
mail, on route, (among other, y from Corpus
Christi, to San Antonio. In 1879 being desiriOus
of having The number of trips increased and time
expedited on said route TO the end that his annu-
al pay might be increased and the route thereby
rendered profitable, affiant caused 10 be cir.
culated petitions for the Signatures OF
requesting that the Postmaster General increase
the number of trips and reduce the running time.
These petitions having been numerously signed
by the affiant to a friend in Washington for pre-
sentation to the Postotice Department for its
action. This effort met with no success. The
keOsx Rsn wOm o had f. e.
years, saying to him: IF you succeed
Ia increasing my pay, on this route and that one
from Shreveport TO Monroe, La, will give you
$4,000" kellogg said he would see Second
Assistant Postmaster General Brady and learn of
him what could be done Meantime af3ant drew
named quarters on the route from Corpus
Christi TO San Antonio. These drafts
were drawn ON the 10th of July 1872, and
the sfieant increase of pay on this route A short
while afterward Senator kellogg reported to him
that the matter was all right. He (she affianD
handed to said kellogg Sl3,00] of postal crafts
drawn against his (afiant's) pay for the following
named quarters viz: Those ending March 81,
June 30, September 80, and December 81, 1850. and
March 81. 1881. In addition TO the above the sffi
gave said kellogg his promisoTy note for s. coo
payable I'm four months with collateral attached
thereto TO secure payment OF the same. This col
note drawn by Msll Contractor Hugh White, and
indorsed by Mail Contractor Monroe salisbury.
All OF this paper was paid at maturity.
drafts had been given to John A. Walsh,
banker In Washington, for collection. Mr.. Walsh
testified on his examination that he received
from Senator Kellogg the paper mentioned in
Prices affidavit but that one-half of the 10000
referred to was for the account of kellogg and
one-ha was to be credited to Brady In his account
with Walsh, in latters capacity of banker. Mon
zoe Saulsburv referred 20 in
Prices affidavit as inaorser OF
Whites note, is the mail contractor whose
The affiant further AYERS that he was approached
during the pendency of the Congressional in
vestgatiOn of 1879 and 1850, or sftez It, by one IL
Fl. Brown. a mail contractor and feEmerly Post
ONCE Clerk who requested the affiant to cen
tribute his (afnants) share to the hand raised by
contractors 10 pay the expenses allesed 70 DC ~
cident to the passage of the Star Route deficiency
appropriation bill of 1S7s-S0. Mr.. Brown represant
ed himself TO be Treasurer OF the fund, aud told
the same tine showing him l6< of contra3t0rs
with the amount paid by each The afiant re
piled 10 this request that owing 20 Indian 1epre
daiions ana the loss OF animals thereby, etc-, h
was ia no condition 10 respond, although be (th
afiant) sa isted himself that the contractor
had paid. Owing to tho curtailnaenr Q
his mat service, by reason OF raj
way extension aud other causes, affian
was left about this time with number OF horsa'
mail wagons and other plant necessary TO tn
conduct of maa transportation-thi2gs whic
were almost yalueless unless he lad WORK fC
them AfiAni thereupon applied to Brady for
temporary coAtract l. O., contract without an
competition from other bidders, from SocOrro
SILVER City New Mexico. This request met wit
| q negative response from Brady, bt
/ afterwards hhe affiant determined TO call upo
Brady aaain and suggest 10 him that
| he (Bradyl would give the sfiiant the above mel
toned contract, viz.: Socorro TO Silver City Il
taffiant would pay the Brown assessment" III
affiant did this with the resul that in a few dB
atterwsrd Brady gave him tho Temporary contra
was then that the affiant put into an envelo
80, 500 in currency ana two postal drafts OF VI,