Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-10
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.

WASHINGTON, ApSiI 9.-In the star route
trial John R. Miner, defendant, was called
He testified he had lived in Ann Arbor
Michigan, the last year. Previous to that
he had lived at Sandusky, Ohio, where he
had been associated with S. W. Dorsey in
business enterprises. In 1877 witness
met Peck, and they concluded to "take
fly at the mail contract business. Wit
ness told how he had met Boone, John
Dorsey, and other contractors, and of the
difficulties experienced in securing bonds
men, his statements agreeing with other
evidence already given for the defense.
Witness said the Kansas, Nebraska and
Dakota routes were divided between John
Dorsey and Boone, and the remainder
were assigned to Minor, Peck & Co.
The Oregon routes were sub-let to
contractor who failed. and witness came
to Washington and tried to get rid of the
contracts. He tried to give them away as
a holy gift to several persons, to Vale
among others. Vale declined at first, but
consented to see Brady, and try to get an
extension of the time allowed for putting
on the service. He succeeded in getting
the extension until Aug. 10. Witness then
started Moore for Oregon and did what he
could to put on the service by the appoint
ed time, but it was work of great diff
Guilty land witness through Vale applied to
Brady for another extension, but the re-
quest was refused. Vale went home, leav-
ing an offer for witness consideration
to take up the service of Miner,
Peck & Co. if they should be
declared failing, the contractors thereby
protecting them from loss and securing an
extension of sixty days. There was "a lit
tie inessing" in that the witness admitted
the offer was accepted and drafts upon the
route were given Vale who returned to
Washington in the fall of 1878.
Witness saw Brady twice before the in
dictment was returned upon. On the first
occasion he went to secure an extension of
time for putting on service. "He bluffed
me pretty nearly out of my boots" said
the witness. and did not go near him IN
til the spring of 1881, when 1 went to see
him about a theater box. Witness denied,
in the most positive terms, that he, or any
of the defendants, to his knowledge, had
ever conspired to defraud the government.
Senator Dorsey, as member of the rail-
road committee, and in course of his in
spection of the Northern Pacific railroad,
had been impressed with the glowing no.
tions of the possibilities of eastern Oregon,
and thought the bids upon the routes in
that country had been worked too high.
One of them was reduced $4,000 by his
suggestion, and the contractors lost more
than that sum from their reliance upon his
judgment. Witness had written in every
figure in the bidding book. Specific denials
were made of nearly everything of
Importance included in ReerdePs
testimony affecting witness. Reerdel
had not been promised that his
route, the White Riyer-Rawlins, would Ibe
increased. Anything he did in connection
with that route was upon his own respOn-
si5ility. Witness said he and Reerdel had
qUarreled on the avenue one day in the
spring of 1879, and witness told Reerdel
if he ever spoke to him again he would
mash his nose all over his face" He had
nothing to do with him after that until the
trial began.
An extended examination was based on
the handwriting of different papers in evil
dence, witness continuing to contradict
Reerdel upon every material point. With
out concluding the examination of witness
the court adjourned.