Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-19

RERDELLsS RKvELATloNs.
star Rsuse Trial CensinusA From de
First Edition.
Continuing after . few seconds the witness said:
VI promised that would do anything; that I
would make an andavit retracting or denying all
that I had said 70 Messrs. Macveagh and
James"
The witness was compelled to stop here and
winked very hard to keep back the tears When
MI. Bosier came TO the house about two O'Clock
tnaoHfternoon. The witness made out a state
ment which he gave to Dorsey. Dorsey fixed IL
up, changing some parts OF il, and witness then
swore to It. The witness kept the original copy
and IL Was In his desk and among the papers
asked
WHAT BECAME OF THE PAPER
sworn to the witness said dorsey and Col Inger-
soil and myself went to the White House with It.
Dorsey and Ingersoii going up stairs and re-
naming down stairs, and that was the last saw
of it," The witness identifed a COPY of the "a.
tracing affiiavit as published In q newspaper at
the time, and 1t was read by Mr.. Merrck.
THE JOINT PRODUCTION OF DORSEY AND RKRpELL.
The witness then, taking the paper, read the
portions which he hadwritten and the portions
written by Dorsey. The statement OF facts, as to
his alleged interviews with Messrs MacVeagh and
James In The capacity OF detective, really in the
intel est OF Dorsey, &C., was joint composition by
the witness and Dorsey, Dorsey inserting q clause
here and there, apparently for the purpose OF i'm.
proving the story and making II more plausible.
positive Knowledge that no relations of a corrupt
nature had ever existed between Dorsey and any
government Official, and justifying his Uhe wit
the ground that the Attorney General was acting
as detective to ruin ex-senator Dorsey, was
written by s. w. Dorsey.
The opening paragraph about undertaking TO
learn In the role OF detective what the cause
Vi Tue aSuse OF Dorsey In the NEWSPAPERS, and the
actlVe no Utility OF ex-senator Clayton against
Dorsey, were also written by Dorsey. The witness
said that the statement in the aff,davlt that he
ally did initiate Dorssy's handwriting Was untrue.
He had on two occasions been authorized by Dorsey
70 sign checks but he had never attempted 10 imi-
DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Merrick was proceeding with different para
graphs OF the affidavit, asking the witness after
each as to its truth or falsty, when Mr. IngersoIl
mace speech, saying that as he understood 1t
Vle government was trying to show that their own
Witness had sworn falsely.
Mr.. MERRICKs REPLY.
MI Merrfck said the witness on the stand had
peculiar rights that did not belong to every wit
ness. 1t was due to the witness, to the govern
ment and to honesty. truth and justice that the
He proposed that this witness should lay
himself bare before this jury. He had proved how
tanned through the opportunities and broken
hearted groans OF SW. Dorsey he had shown that
Gne lies that were In II were the coinage OF s. w.
Do.Seys brain. In the nameOf public Justice, and
Justice to the Witness had he not the right to In
terrogate the witness about the afrldavft Why
Sno1ia counsel on the other side fear to have this
MI. Ingersol said that "if it could be proved
mat 5; W. Dorsey had written parts OF this am
daSlt mat 1t would be admissible" He denied the
rlght OF the government after they had disquali-
NED their own witness to go any further
MI. chandler made an argument against the
right or the government to cross-examine the wit
ness and recess was then taken.
AFTER THE RECESS
MI. Bliss proceeded to argue against the points
urged by Messrs. Ingersoll and Chandler He was
proceeding to state that there was not so much
perjury In the case Of Rerdel's signing this af1-
davit as in afrldavits made by Dorsey.
MI. Davidge here Interrupted Mr.. Bliss, and OBJ
Jected 70 his denouncing defendant.
MI. Bliss proceeded with his argument. urging
mat In view OF the fact that the affidavit In ues-
uOn appeared to be an attempt by Dorsey to man
ufacture or conceal testimony, and in that view
about 1t.
Mr.. Ingersoll replied briefly.
Judge Wylie Admits the Testimony.
Judge Wylie said 1t WIS not for the court TO de-
eide upon the credibility OF a witness This wit
ness, though, by withdrawing his plea OF not
guilty acknowledged himself to have been en-
gagged in a conspiracy to defraui the government
was not an incompetent witness The Jury were
mOny.
delIs evidence, the court said that was an extra.
Judicial oath; was not technical perjury. The
evidence produced is not Tor the purpose OF i'm
peac0lng the witness, but OF cOrrobOrating II ana
sey was one Of the DEFENDANTS The he acts
che the Subject esenaa Of tbe with
admissible In evidence II he fees or bribes Wit
ness, that is evidence and the fact that witness
mas Deen Dr1Oed, or att npJed to be brtbed does
not dsqualtIy the witness IRON testifying against
the defendant SO with this paper; it tended to
tempted to screen himself by means OF this affida
VT, and he therefore considered the testimony
admissible.
The examination OF Mr.. Rerdell then proceeded
me witness repeated that he had never ATTEMPTED
70 initial Dcrsey's handwriting In signing checks.
ne denied that he had exhibited any pencil men,
oranda 10 MessrS Macfe agh and James, as stated
In the false affidavit.
In answer TO Mr.. Merrck, who asked the defense
10 produce the books, Mr.. Ingerson said they did
not propose to assist the witness BY the produce
ton OF the books.
Rerdel was On the stand when our report closed.
RERDELL's AFFIDAVIT.
One OF the counsel for the prosecution speakfnp
about Rerdell's ''retractng affidavit said 1.-THE
prosecutions boldly Introducing this AFFIDAVIT
business has been fearful blow to the defense
They relied on bringing it out on cross-examina-
Now he tells the whole story, and the defense can
only look at the fireworks without helping TO
shoot them on. This discussion is intended for
the jury"
The NATIONAL RIFLES ARM0RY.-Mr. George H.
TurtOn, for the National Rifles, has taken out a
building permit for the erection of a new armory
for that company, to be located on G street. be-
tween 9th and 10th. The building is to be g.. by
ll39 feet ground plan, two stories high; height
from sidewalk 4S6 feet; to be Of brick cornice of
Drick and iron. and In all respects to be finished
up with all the conyeniences known to modern
house construction.
AMERICANS AND THE IRISH CoNsP1RAcY-No re-
quest has been received at the State department
from the British government for the extradition OF
+: j. sheridan and Thomas Brennon, who. accord