Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-02-01
HE WAS ONE OF THE PARTNERS
Hr. Hoore's share in the Star Route
Hing was One-f0urtn OF the steal


Hing was One-fourtn of the steal
iugs.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-Andrew H
Moore, of Montana, took the stand in
the star route trial Thursday, and gave
greater interest to the proceedings than
most of the testimony thus far ad.
duced. He testified that when he first
met with Miner in Washington, in
April, 1873, Miner wanted him to GO
west to look after his mail business,
and employed him at salary of $3.50
per month and expenses. He WAS d.
rected to report at Senator Dorsey's
house for instructions and funds. He
saw Senator Dorsey and told him he
thought the service had been taken too
low, but that by careful management
he could be saved from loss. Dorsey
said that the long weekly routes had
been taken so as to get the benefits of
increase and expedition. Dorsey pre-
duced blank forms of sub contracts,
and pointed out novel provision for
expedition, and he was instructed to
carry out the plan in making sub
contracts. He was to make them
on a descending scale, SO much for one
trip, SO much for three trips, and so
on, making the increase in every case
less than pro rata, as the government
allowed. For expedition he was to
make the best terms he could. If he
averaged 40 per cent. increased COM
pensatlon to the sub-contractor he
would be doing well. de was given
power of attorney signed by Peck
Miner, and J. w. Dorsey. 1t author
lied him TO sign their names to sub
contracts for service in the Pacific
slope states. Dorsey told him he could
assure the sub-contractors that all of
the service would be increased and ex-
pedited. Miner told him how to get
up petitions, taking care to have them
dlssimilar and leave space between the
head and body of the petition, SO that
it could be changed if necessary. Ee
went west and sub-let number of con.
tracts. Among them was the Redding-
Alturas route, let TO Major and House.
He told Major he would guarantee in
creased service and expedition as soon
rs he could get the petitions to Wash
ington, and said that Senator Dorsey
was the head man of the concern.
Later he met Miner in Denver, and
was shown a telegram from Senator
Dorsey requesting hina to 60 to Wash
ington. Miner proposed to give him
fourth interest in the contracts he had
sub-let, instead of regular salary. He
went to Washington, saw Senator Dor
sey, and received a check in settlement
of his account. Dorsey offered him
$3.50 u month if he would go back and
resume charge of the service. He re-
fused the offer, but said he would go if
they gave him fourth interest in the
Pacific slope contracts. Dorsey said
he would accept the proposition after
he mad seen Miner.
In July Miner drew up contract IN
accordance with this agreement, Wit
ness expenses were TO be taken out of
the general fund before division of
profits was made. He went to Oregon,
and at the Dalles made sub-contract
with Frank McBean. At first Mclean
refused to take the contract, but wit
ness promised to have it increased
from weekly to daily trips, and to in
crease his pay.
Mclean said it was not possible to
get the service increased because he
could carry the entire through mail in
his pocket. Witness replied that SEN
ator Dorsey was the head man of the
"You must not say anything that
Senator Dorsey did not authorize you
to say" said the court.
He told Mclean that Peck and J.
w. Dorsey were simply bidders, and
that the routes really belonged to Sena-
tor Dorsey. He found it impossible to
sub-let the Dulles Baker City and
Dalles and Lake View routes and sent
for funds to stock the route. While
waiting for the money he received a tel
egram from Vale, and shortly after
Williamson came on as Wales repre-
sentative. Witness refused TO recog-
nize his authority saying he did not
know Vale. He then went to Wash
ington and saw Miner who told him
they could not raise the money and
had been forced to turn over the CON
tract to Vale to avoid being called fail
ing contractors. He then accepted
$3.50 per month for Ills services, and
signed an agreement to refrain from
interfering with the routes.
Moore was then cross examined by
th4s 1tiSti oOlA' III PiCpaAlll viz pStA-
tons he was instructed to write them
so that the heads might be cut off and
others substituted.
Ingersoll-Did you write any other
petitions? A.-No, sir told the sub
contractors to fix them.
Q.-And you were willing to prepare
the papers and aid in the preparation
of a trauo m the government, and all
for $3.50 month A.--No, sir for
one fourth of the steslings. (LaughteIJ
Q-Were you 10 help steal? Al
understood when l signed that contract
that | was entering into a conspiracy
as we'll as any of them.
Q-Were you at that time in con-
spiracy to rob the government? A
| was to have one-lourth of the
profits.
Don't call it profts--call it steal,
ings were you to have one-fourth OF
the stealings? Al was, sir.
The witness denied that he had said