Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-19
THE STAR ROUTE CASE.
Rerdell Tells How Dorsey Manipulated
Affidavits.

Afidavits.
[By Telegraph
WASHINGTON, February 17sh. = In the
star route case this morning Rerde1 made
tbs following confession. He said l became
acquainted with S. w. Dorsey in 1872. Net
John Dorsey in the spriss CT 1873. at Sena-
tor Dorsey's house, on / street. First met
Peck about 1869 or 1870 Became acquainted
with Brady in the spring If 1879. In Au-
gust, 1875, witness was appointed to posi-
ton under the District Government. For
some time acted as Dersey's Secretary.
Miner had an offise in the third story OF
Dorsey's house. Boone, Watts and Senator
Dorsey frequented Miners office. Early in
February, 1873 the night before the pro-
possls closed, witness began his connection
with the mail busil ess. Eariy that evening
Miner asked witness to assist him. Witness
hesitated, and Senator Dorsey asked him to
assist Minfr. When he got up stairs Miner
informed him that he wished him to help fix
un proposals, Miner read eff the amounts
and witness filed in dollars and cents IL
bidF Part Of the time Senator Dorsey was
present and part of the time Boone was pres
ent. He believed Watts was also present.
Witness worked until abOls l o'clock.
Miner read off the figures from the book
containing advertisements. In December,
1873, witness had conversation
with Miner about the book, at his
home on Q street. Miner showed him the
book, and told him who had filed in the
figures. He said the figures were in Senator
Dorsey's handwriting. One morning in De-
cember, 1878 witness went TO Dersey's house
at his request. Dorsey had before him q
large number of communications. He tossed
them over to witness and asked him if he
knew what they meant. Witness resd about
dozen. They were communications scom the
Postofics Department, addressed TO Dorse,
Peck, Boone, Miuor and, perhaps, Watts.
Dorsey asked him to take charge Of the busi-
ness. Witness carried them down TO the
Office ia the Dey-street building. Dorsey
said he intended to take away the business
from Boone, who was then attending to it.
Saw Dorsey again on the following morning.
Told him he thought be could attend to the
business after getting little further informa-
ton. Dorsey promised 20 get all the papers
connected with the business. Boone, he said,
would understand what papsrs were wanted.
Witness did as directed, aad got large case
of pigeon-holes full of papeIs. Took them 70
Miners room 10 Dorsey's house, and devoted
all his spare time to the business Of writing
letters to sub-contractors and others.
FIXING THE STATIONS.
About July 5.h OF i0.h Dorsey asked him
il he would like to g. West Witness re-
piled in the affirmative. By Dlrssy's direc-
tion he put in application for Leave OF
Absence. Dorsey said he would see that he
got Is. Witness was to go West TO assist Jno.
W. Dorsey IN putting the service on the Bis
marclc and Tongue river routes Left Wash.
ington July 11sh received instructions and
$3.50 from Dorsey before leaving. Dorsey
also went with him to the German. American
National Bank and placed to the credit Of
Jno. W. Dorsey & Co. S3. coo. Witness
signed the firm name, "Jno. W. Dorsey &
Co." upon the books, and when witness re-
turned he negotiated three hank notes signed
Jno. w. Dorsey & Co., aud iodorsed S. w.
Dorsey. Did not remember whether Miner
or himself had the notes. Used nearly all
the money for stocking the Tongue river
route. Altogether $4,000 was qged for this
purpose. Before witness went West Dorsey
furnished him with postal blanks. and told
him to establish a station off to one
eide of the route sixty miles, and
put in appropriations, and hsve it upon
the routes. It was calculated this would
make up for the distance lost through errone-
Gus advertisements. Witness missed connec-
tion at st. Paul. While waiting, met John
W. Dorsey in the hotel. John Dorsey took
him down to the stables and showed him
Pennel's horses. They went on together to
Bismarck, and with the assistance of john
Dorsey and Pennel, witness proceeded to buy
grain, stock, camp utensils and other requi-
sites. The train was prepared, and Peaael
started to build ranches and dig wells. Wit
ness selected site for the proposed Office,
and even picked out a name for it. At
Miles City witness got up petition, and
every one Of whom ssked, signed it. He
had o letter Of introduction to General Miles,
and got him to write letter TO the Depart
ment. Witness left John Dorsey at Miles
City. Witness picked cut place OF the map
for a new Postoffice, but knew nothing about
the inhabitants as that place.
cit was paper Postofice?' asked the
Court.
The witness answered sffilmativeIy.
s. W. Dorse5's instructions were to
build stations about fifteen OF sixteen miles
apart. He said the service would be in.
creased, and until that time they could use
every third station. He was also instructed
to get up petition for incresse and expedi-
tion. He bad been furnished with letters to
number of prominent parsons, iLcluding
Governor Ramsey, General Rosser and Sena-
tor Window. About the 1st of August Wit
ness left John W. Dorsey in charge Of the
route and returned TO Washington. The
Witness continuing, said that his family oc'
cupied Senator Dorsey 3 house in the summer
of 1878 When he returnad from the West,
Miner also took up his abode there. Senator
Dorsey was away, aud witness occupied the
house at his request. Miner said the service
was in bad condition, and they couldn'5 do
anything while Boone was 10 that Brady
was hostile to Boone, who talked too much.
Miner asked witness his opinion upon the
subject Of admitting Vaie into the business.
Vale, he said, was an old contractor, and
had plenty Of money.
"Whss did he say of relations between
Vale and Brsdy?" asked Merrick.
Objected to, but objection overruled.
Answer" Hs said Vale was very close to
Brady"
MANUFACTURING AFFIDAvITs.
Witness then resumed "When Senator
Dorsey returned, witaess with Miner took
the house. In a general conversation there
one night Miner showed him a petition Of
the Arizona routeg-Minersl Park, the Phoebe
route or the Ehrenberg route, and asked him
TO write in the interiinea;iops. [The Court
sustained the objection 20 this statement I'M
ill the paper was produced In conversation
Vale spoke Of the possibilities os the service,
saying some Of the routes to let at $40, 900
would be pushed 50 as to yield 5000 900 or
500 600 year. Speaking OF the affidavit on
the Rawlins White River route, Vale asked
how they could get the affidavit in lieu of
John Dorssy's affidavit. At that time
March, 1879 s. W. Dorsey was quarreling
with Miner and Vaile and refused to allow
his brother to furnish an affidavit. Vale
an affidavit from the sub contractor, and
within few days reported that Brady had
consented TO do this by Vaile's direction.
Witness wrote ont blank aft fijsvis and sent
to Perkins for his signature. It came back
signed with spaces for men and animals u1-
filled according TO direction"
IDENTIFYING THE AFFIDAVIT.
Merricb presented The sfilavis to witness,
who identified il, and said the words one -
preceding trips, three preceding men,
six preceding animals, eight preceding
men and "twenty-four preceding animals
had been filed in by himself, by direction Of
Dorsey, who also suggested the num5ers.
Witness filed the affidavit ard letter Of trans
initial in the Department by Dorseys direc-
ton. Witness said he again went West in
April 1879, where he made new suh-contracts
and got up petitions His instructions
from j. W. Dorsey vera to prevent the
sub.contract from being fled. Dorsey said
very few spb-contFactors knew anything
about expedition. He was to be care
ful not to tell them that case. As an ex-
cuse for negotiating new Bub.contracts,
he was to tell the sub-contrsctors the old finn
had dissolved, and that he Dorsey would
ace that thew Wera maid II the slb. contracts