National Republican., 1883-03-29
DORSEY'S DECLARATIONS.
Crowds Of People Come to the Court Room to
Hear Them.
Why He Wrote CIendennin and Haycock
Desiring Secresy.
His Relations with Miner Vale, Peck, and Rerdell-
Tho Moore Interview.
An OTcr 10 submit Dorscy's Books to EH-
pcrts-The sniith-Jones Memorandum.

Crowds of people were waiting at the on
frances of the criminal court room yesterday
morning before the opening of the proceed
ings in the star route trial, but under the
stringent regulations imposed by the mar
shals few persons were admitted besides
members Of the bar, and others having busi-
ness in the court room. After making few
unimportant corrections of the record Mr..
Dorsey continued his testimony.
His letter TO Postmaster Clendennin, of
Fort Smith, Ark, was produced, and he was
asked his reason for cautoning Clendennin
not to allow Root, Kerens, and others know
of his (Dorseys) request for the approval of
the bonds
He explained that the persons referred to
were prominent mail contractors, and it was
very important that they should know moth
ing of tho proposed bids, or they might
knowingly under bid for the ser vice.
The letter to Postmaster Haycock was also
read, and tho same explanation given in re-
gard to that.
Counsel offered to prove that the letter had
been written at Boones suggestion, but the
court overruled the offer
The witness said that the bonds sent to
those postmasters were never returned to him,
and consequently never used. lie had no in
tcrest in the contracts, and his attempt to Sc
cure the bonds was friendly act had done
the same thing for other persons, notably
Mayor Adams, for whom he secured bonds for
$6i0,000. That was also only a friendly act.
Referring to the pencil entries of figures in
the rate book, he said that Miner brought the
book to him, and he changed only two en-
tries; could not remember the routes or fig
ures. Had advanced money (about $4,000 or
$1,000 to John w. Dorsey & Co. The total
na1 tn a1I Dnn1F aud nltp
Dorsey, was $4,000, exclusive of $4,000 af-
tcrward paid to Peck, and $4,000 paid to
John Dorsey.
The last transaction was with Miner at
st. Louis in July, 1873. Witness gave two
notes to Miner who had them discounted at
the German American bank. Miner deposited
$4,000 in postal drafts as security.
Witness returned to Washington about Dec
], 1873. Found that the bank had failed and
that Miner and Peck had taken Vaile into
partnership. To protect Vaile, Miner (acting
as agent for John Dorsey and PeclS) had
transferred large number of subcontracts to
him. The effect of that operation was to des-
troy the security deposited with the bank
Witness was not consulted about taking Vale
into the business. After some difficulty he
gave another note and got Vale to give a
note as security for his original notes and
both of them were retained in the bank. Up
to the time of witnesss leaving the senate
the relations between Vaile and himself were
much strained, because witness's advances
had not been repaid and Peck and John Dor
sey had been cut out of the business. After
much consultation an arrangement was finally
entered into in March, 1879, by which the
witness took one-thrd of the routes (about
thirty in number) and paid Peck and John
Dorsey $4,000 each.
Employed Rerdell to attend to these routes
some time in April, 1879, but he retained his
position in the district government until May
Rnrln fnnl oh nf tl,n
routes. He was not instructed to open any
books; there was no occasion for it ; witness
had his own books Rerdell did keep q route
book, but witness did not see it until year
afterward. The witness described his move
ments in detail during 1S79-'79 and 80
Subsequent to the division of the routes wit
ness made an arrangement with James Bosler
in relation to the routes. Could not say
whether the arrangement was made here or
in New York. Rerdell remained in charge of
the routes after that agreement. Witness
never had any connection whatever with the
routes held by Miner and Vaile after the di-
vision, never realized any profits from them,
and did not see Miner or Vaile after that until
the beginning Of this action.
Witnesses recollection in regard to his thirty
routes was that in some cases drafts were
given to him covering the entire contract
period, and in Others subcontracts were given
Rerdell also held some subcOntracts Was in
Washington on April 3, 1873 (the date of the
Chico springs letter.. Never saw Andrew
w. Moore but once, and did not know him.
In July, 1878 Moore was at witness's house.
Mr. lugersoll read from Moore's testimony,
his statement of his interview with Dorsey
about the mail service The witness declared
that he never had conversation Of three
words with Moore in the world-his state
ment was lie made out of whole cloth.
Witness gave checks to Miner in April,
1875, but did not know whether or not they
inf InI for rI,anu l,nI
told him something of that kind, but witness
did not now remember. The $3.50 check
which Moore said had been given TO him was
given TO Miner, Peck & Co. Nearly all of
Moore's statements concerning the witness
were denied in the broadest and most en-
phatic terms. Witness did not rccolleet that
he had ever requested Rerdell to help Miner
prepare the bids Miner stopped at witnesses
house us his guest during December, 1877, and
had the use of the upper office. If Rerdell
did any work for witness at that time it con-
sisted only of writing few letters when he
called at the house during the evening. Wit
ness had nothing to do with the prepara-
tiOn of proposals on that memorable night,
as testified to by Rcrdell. The only grain of
truth in that story was the circumstances of
his sending Rerdell to BoOne's house for tho
pigeon hole box of papers. Witnesss reason
for taking such an active interest in the sue
cess of the business and for sending Rer-
dell out to help John Dorsey start the Tongue
River route was TO protect the friends who had
become bondsmen on the contracts from the
disastrous consequences Of failure Of any of
the routes
In reference TO Rerdells statement that he
had been instructed TO establish a side post
Office on the Tongue River route, the witness
said that IL was utterly untrue; his statement
was a falsehood. Nor was it true that he had
instructed Rerdell to build stations on that
route solely with view to expedition. Did
give Rerdell some letters of introduction to
prominent persons, but did not remember say
ing anything about petitions
The witness had no recollection of ever fill
ing upan affidavit connected with the routes.
Some of these papers were presented TO him
by Mr.. IngcrsOll, but he said, " l cannot see, |
ain sorry TO say" lie also denied having in
trusted Rerdel to fill in the aiiidavits aud
other conversations sworn to by Rerdell were
denied in toto.
The "Smith and Jones" memorandum was
produced. The witness said positively; 81
never gave that paper to Rerdell at any time,
or any place, or for any purpose, or to any
human being in the world. i am speaking Of
the papers as an entirety. l gave the items in
the first part of the paper to Wilbur +. Kel-
logg his bookkeeper) to make the entries on
the tenth of May, 1879"
The witness then explained the nature Of
the items, saying that they included $4,000
to Peck and $4,000 to John Dorsey.
Mr., Ingersoll, addressing the court and
.ral I'D tI,..N n