Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
Rerdell Still on the stand Talking About
Miner and Dorsey.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.
| The criminal court resumed the hearing of
the star route trial this morning. The conrt
| refused to admit in evidence the muster roll
offered yesterday.
Rerdell again took the stand, and said that
Dorsey instructions regarding the filling-in
| of blanks on papers, were specific in every
case, except those on the Toquerville-Adair-
villeDroute. The witness had a.conversation
with Miner in 1873. after his return from the
West, in which Miner told him that he had
arranged with Moore to look out for his
routes.
George Haycock. formerly postmaster at
Pine Bluffs, Ark. testified to receiving a
bundle of blank proposals from Dorsey. with
a request that they be certified.
After some preliminary discussion. Inger-
soil began the cross-examination of Rerdell.
He denied that he had received money or
consideration of any kind for making his
affidavit.
The witness identified the paper presented
to him by Ingersoli being in his hand
writing, except the words land Others, !"
which had been signed and sworn to.
Ingersoll then read paper in evidence
1t was the affidavit by Rerdell, dated July l3.
1882, which recites in substance that all sto-
ries told of unlawful and improper acts on the
part of Dorsey and BOsler were malicious
fabrications. and that this statement was
made voluntarily to vindicate them.
The witness acknowledged that the afida-
Wit was false in every essential statement,
1t was true wherein it stated he had never
seen Dorsey or Bosler pay Brady for remis-
sions. After recess the witness said when
he made that affidavit he did not think he
did wrong. In fixing up the petitions he
knew the statement was substantially I'M
| t. hr, I,a1
think it legally wrong to fix up petitions that
he regarded it legally right
Ingersoll proceeded to go through the aft
fidavit by piece meal. He read ''the verbal
! and written directions | received from each
and both of them in the conduct of the bust
ness. never by inference or otherwise, i'm
piled wrong doing in their part or mine
The witness acknowledged this was false,
at this time he entertained inference regard
ing the entries to Smiths account and to the
account of ''Sam JONES'
Any other transaction? inquired Ingersoll.
Answer-Yes, sir, the re was an entry to
the account OF Jarvis B. Bedford, member of
Congress.
Ingersoll-How much?
Answer-It was from his check book, an
entry of $1,000 to the credit of Bedford. 1t
was to be charged to mail accounts. That
was in the summer of 1870, The check was
drawn on the bank of Middleton & Co. The
witness did not recOllect to whose order it
was drawn.
Ingersoll asked what was the writing on
| the stnb.
Merrick objected unless the defence pro-
duced the books.
An argument followed at some length.
The court finally decided that the defence
might cross-examine upon the point, but they
could not afterwards attempt to contradict
the witness by producing the paper. Further
statements followed.
Ingersoll gave notice he would go into the
subject later on. He continued to read pas
sages from the affidavit, the witness stead
factly denying their truthfulness until the
court adjourned.