Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-02
STAR ROUTE METHODS.
NEW LIGHT THROWN ON THEM.
FRESH TESTIMONY IN THE CASE TO-DAY.

FRESH TESTIMONY IN THE CASE TODAY
The star route trial was resumed to-day.
Mr.. Chas. H. Hooper, chief OF the Bookkeeping de.
partment in the banking house OF Donald, Law.
son Co., was the first witness called He identi
ned warrant. drawn TO the order OF j. M. Peck
for one months extra pay on the Redding and
Alturas route. amounting to 81. .496 96. which he
said was deposj'ad In his banking house Angus,
18th, 1880, by Z. W. Torrey, to the credit OF s. W.
Dorsey. who had had an account with the bank
Tor some years When the warrant was deposited
In the bank it bore the endorsement OF Peck.
MT. 1ngersoll having asked the purpose OF this
evidence, MI Bliss said it had been shown that on
August 10th 1t did not have the endorsement OF
Peck, who was then In New Mexico, but ft an.
peared, on August 18th, in New York with his en-.
dorSement
Wilbur Il. Swift. who carried the mail on the
BiSnarck 81 and dongu River route, from May, 1879,
10 December, 1880, was the next witness called and
described the service on the route.
TESTIMONY AS TO DAMAGING ADMISSIONS OF JOHN W.
DORSEY.
Call McClelland, who was employed with Mr..
Rennell on the Bismarck and Tongue River route,
was called to the stand, and after describing the
service on the route, said that when John w. Dor
sey visited the route In July, 1873, he told them
that he intended to have the service Increased ;
weekly service, and in three months more A daily
service; that while they had weekly service they
expected to lose money; that when it was in-
Ioned sl5O,OOO as the probable figure. He said his
brother was In the Senate and chairman OF the
ana aa to
toned s. w. Dorsey and the Second Assistant
postmaster General as being interested I'm the
any difference whether they got through on time
or not, they expected to get pay.
ON cross-examin8tion the witness said that he
Old not mean that the Second Assistant Post
master General had an interest in the business
He understood that they had an understanding
VIII Viii the second Assistant In regard to the man
service. The language Dorsey used was that "they
had
ORGANIZED RING IN wAsHrHGroN.n
He gathered from the conversations with Dorsey
that he u. W. Dorsey, s. W. Dorsey aud others
were interested In the ring The witness said that
ne mad not told of this conversation when a witt
ness at the last trial. because he had not been
asked de told post 0fflce inspector about the
conversation about two years ago. He had not told
any other person connected with the government
or the conversation until he was questioned by
Mr ker at an interview during the present trial
three months during the present trial, and was
here three months at the last trial He bad fire.
quently visited the Post Office department, to go
to room used by witnesses. as place to write
letters. He had seen Messrs Woodward Bliss,
Blackmar and Moore there. He had frequently
seen these gentlemen, but they had never asked
washington post Office inspector had interviewed
hlE. and got statement as to what the witness
would testify to. The witness had seen as many
as twenty or thirty witnesses Ia the room at a
time when they held a meeting.
QUESTION or WITNESS FEES
Mr.. Wilson having asked the witness about the
number OF miles he had Travelled In coming here
asked whether he had not received fees I'm excess,
OF his legal right at the last trial. and objection
III can show" said Mr.. Wilson, "that the gov
ernment has been paying these witnesses more
than they are entitled TO, Il is proper"
go into that matter"
Mr.. Davfdge argued that 1t was proper to show
the e, methods resorted to by the government.
impossible to prove that any witness has been
paid more than we believe he was legally entitled
"The question is moi, said MFR. Wilson. "what
they believe he was legally entitled to-"
Are you TO decide that?" asked Judge wyIie.
"NO." said Mr. Wilson.
"The court is the authority to decide what the
witness is entitled to-. said Judge WyIfe sand the
court can assure you that 1t is not going to allow
Wilson. ~ ''N' -'A''' '"'0 NIL
"That trial is over" said Judge wylie "It he
gos any =, money he was not entitled to the court
"Unless." said Mr.. Davfdge. sshe may have
got money In excess OF his allowances by the
''If you can prove" said Judge Wylie, athat the
government has been engaged in the business OF
Driolng Mitnessesit is matter OF defense, and you
can 60 into that when you come to your side Of the
case"
II ask" said Mr. Wilson, ssto interropate this
ment did not arrange with the witnessss to get
,a them G extra pay and receive from them compensa
1--WE Will not 60 into that" said Judge Wylie
THE MEETING OF WITNESSES.
The witness, upon redirect examination. said
the witnesses had had meeting in the room at
the Post ONCE department to see II there was no
way to get more pay than government witnesses
were allowed. They came to the conclusion to
Congress passed bill for their relief, and thew
had got the money. He said he had another con-
yersation In mind which he had not mentioned TO
MT ker, put Inc court would not permit him to
give it.
ANOTHER WITNESS AS TO DoRsEY's TALK OF $4,000
PROFITS.
Isaac Cable, another W itness from the Bismarck
and Tongue River route. testified to the service
on the route and to being present when the men
had complained, fearing they would not get their
pay, and John w. Dorsey held conversation with
Mr. McClelland. j. w. Dorsey said that they had
tractors, knowing that they would have the ser
vice Increased; that they would get the Increase
through the influence his brother had over the
second Assistant Postmaster General He also
said that there was ring formed here4n WASH
1ngton. He said he expected the pay at the end of
The year would be sl5O,OOo Jonn W. Dorsey asked
men would sign petition for post Office on the
west side OF the Little Missouri for the purpose of
making the road longer. The witness did not be-
lieve there was any one living on the west side OF
the Little Missouri at that time
The witness was cross-examined at some length.
but did not vary In his statement.
THE RAID ON RERDRLL's ROOM
John j. Calvert, janitor OF the Corcoran build
Ing, said that n. c. Rerdell had occupied room IS
In that building as an Office. day or two before
Rerdell came out of jaiI the witness found the
room opened and the papers strewn upon the f1oor
The witness on his tour of inspection the previous
night had found the door locked. He discovered
the door open at seven O'Clock In the morning. ON
the witness said he knew the
door was locked the night before, because IL
was his fnvariable custom to examine
all the doors OF the unoccupied room
He said he was first asked about this matter by
Mr.. Charles Thompson, who wanted to know II he
did Lot have a key to Rerdells room, ana he had
said he had not, but he had master key that
would open it The witness said Rerdell had also
asked him II he rememb cred the Circumstance OF
hfs room being opened.
Mt. Bliss. on redirect examination, wanted to
ask what else Mr.. Thompson had said, and stated
10 support OF his question that IL had appeared Ia
the questions Of counsel that Mr.. Thompson was