Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-18
FROM WASHINGTON.
TIE STAR ROUTE.
Price III and Unable 10 be Present
Ex.Postmaster James on the Stand.

WASHINGTON, April IL.
In the star route trial Today, VIM. A. Cook
opened the proceedings with a statement
which he said might effect the the case under
consideration He had been informed that
notice had been served upon j. b. Price, re-
curing his presence in court today, under
pain of attachment.
He presented a surgeons certificate, show
ing that Price was suffering from cancer
Gus affection of the eye, and was unable TO
attend.
Merrick replied that Price had promised TO
attend with friends at the governments
pleasure but in view of the facts described
BY Cook. the attachment would not be asked
for unless absolutely necessary.
Ex-Postmaster James was then called to
the stand by the prosecution, and requested
to state whose signature wss~attached to tele-
grams shown him by Rerdell on the train
from New York to Washington, June, 1881
Ingersoll objected, and a debate by the
counsel followed.
Merrick finally stated that the contents of
the dispatches were as follows: First tele-
gram they were delivered together Get
off the train and return to New York, and
think all is forgiven you" The second was,
Return home to New York. For Gods
SAINT uo uOtHius hit Gnu my
Persevere in your course
Ingersoll aud Davidge-Is that all you pro-
pose to prove!
Merrick proceeded to support his offer in a
long argument.
Davidge and Henkle also made an argu-
ment, and his offer was Overruled.
After several objections and debate by the
COUNSEL the court overfuled the offered evil
dence and Mr.. James was excused.
II. P. Rumsev of Laramie City, W. T.,
was then called. Ia April, 1879, witness
was proprietor of the Sidney House. Sidney,
Neb. He was asked if Rerdell had registered
at his house in April, 1879.
Ingersoll objected.
After debate the evidence was admitted
and witness produced his register showing
that Rerdell was at his house on April 2lst,
1879.
Mr. barley of Greedy, Col, hotel clerk,
brought register showing Rerdell stopped
in that place on April oath, 1879
Mr.. Human, formerly clerk in the Grand
Central Hotel, Denver. Col, produced a
register showing Rerdell was in Denver on
April oath, 1879.
A. E. Boone identified Rerdelrs signature
to the above mentioned hotel registers.
Judge Julius b. Bissel of Leadville, as
next called, He had known Stephen w.
Dorsey.
Merrick asked if he had ever seen check
for $4,000 drawn by Dorsey.
Ingersoll objected, but when Merrick ex-
planned that he proposed to>prove that such
check had been drawn and known as the
Bedford check, he said, ''let him swear to it. :"
Wilson renewed the objection and an arg
ument followed.
Ingersoll called for a further statement
from the government, if they would say that
they expected to prove that any check had
been given by Dorsey to James Belford he
would not object.
Merrick replied: Even if he should COM
ply with the request, he would be met with
| an objection by another of the counsel as a
blank movement The gentlemen had pro-
duced great number of checks with great
display. but two or three were missing, and
they might have been important. lie wished
to contradict Dorsey when he said that no
such check had been drawn to the order of
-. b. b.
There is no such a check" said Inger-
soil.
IL will give $4,000 for that check" ex-
| claimed s. w. Dorsey, who sat beside his
counsel.
Bliss said that the stub books showed a
check drawn to j. b. b." He would not
say who j. B. b." represented, but he
would admit that he did not believe that it
meant Bedford.
The court decided to allow the inquiry
and the witness said he had seen check
drawn by S. w. Dorsey to order of J. B. B.
| or the bearer; did not know the exact amount
of the check, but it was in the neighbOrhood
of $1,000. 1t was to be divided between four
gentlemen, and one of them (not the wit
ness was to collect it.
The money was drawn in Leadville; saw
Dorsey sign the check or draft was net GER
tain W hich it was, as it only remained in his
hands for a second. That was about june
1879. Judge Bowen. afterwards Senator
Bowen. was one of the party.
To Ingersoll (at the conclusion; here the
witness hestated and smiled) his (witness)
sey suggested that Charles w. Tankersley,
| one of the party, collect the check.
sYes, it was draft on New York for
| SIS ,0O0," INTERCEPTED S. w. Dorsey.
| The witness never had been interested in
| the mail business, and the check was not
given in any such connection.
WAS it a business transaction" inquired
Merrick.
The witness smiled blandly, and the court
remarked: "YOu cannot ask that, Merrick."
NJ. c. Rerdell was called, and he contra
dicted John w. Dorsey where he said that he
(Rerdell) was ia Washington in April, 1879.
Bliss said that with the exception of the
contents of the Clendennin letter, the prose-
cution had concluded.
Court then adjourned.