Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-05
The Star Route Trial.
CRoss-ExAMINsTIoN OF VALE To-pl

The cros5-2xaminatiun OF Mr. Naile was con-
tinued by Mr.. Bliss this morning. He was ques-
toned closely about his Interview with Brady in
relation to extending the time on the routes In
Miners charge. Mr.. Bliss inquired why the Wit
ness had not allowed the contractor to fall mas
much as he held sub-contracts on their ruutes and
| would have made more money in that way. He
answered that he had refused Miners offer to
out. He knew that other persons had ad-
nsr y, G3 ,ns not ,os. ssng
II he could help him {Minprl he would. or course
ne could have made great deal more money by
In Washington at that time, and witness would
have made a large sum OF money by conspiring
with them IN this way--agree with salisbury and
put up the figures to almost any amount. but the
witness did not want
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
II don't care TO say It,, said the Witness 'because
here In Washington it is very hard to believe.
didn't want to take any advantage Of the govern
ment in any manner" He said he rather pre-
1erred TO benefit the government
Mt Bliss asked II he could not have accom-
TO pay the national debt; but the witness said
he might have done so.
HE KEPT NO BOOKS.
The witness said he did not think he could have
carried the mail On the Bismarck and Tongue River
route at the original contract price The witness
-
| route. He knew only that he was called upon for
certain amount OF money. lie did not know
what the aggregate expense was Witness kept
these things in his head. He kept no books. The
government ana the banks kept their accounts, as
ihe witness received very little money himself.
witness did not recnllect whether 1t was within
the first year or not, but the pay was finally run
up to about $4,000 year. He did not recollact
Wien the pay vas cut down. He thought it was
some tlnle Ia 1881. There were some quarters whP q
the expenses On the route SIS 900 or SO O10
ana thclr receipts not over eco On account or de-
Mr.. Bliss asked why, If the contract was losing
one, he had not thrown it up, as lie would have a
right to, when expedition was ordered.
The witness said his attention was not called to
tne provision In the contract allowing him to
throw it UP. He did not known then whether the
contract would be a losing one under expedition
Mr.. Bliss asked how a Contract which did not
pay originally could pay When expedited, the pay
could not pay.
Mr.. BLISS READ THE LETTER
addressed by the witness to Sixth Auditor Nc
Grew July 9Th, 1880, in reply to one from the
auditor Of July sth, referring to the Jennings
claim, saying that the witness had not received
the money In dispute in the manner or form stated
by Rerdell; that although he the witness) was
SuO-cOntractOr OF record on the route in question
ne was not su6-contractor In fact, but was acting
as trustee for j. w. DUrSeyS S w. Dorsey Isaac en-
nlngs and others; that ali money tnat evera came
1n6o his hands he had paid over to them; that he
was informed that Jennings was not res ponsible,
ana he protested against being compelled to pay
Jennings claim for the performance OF service
W which n had not been performed. The witness said
n tliS etter that he believed j. w. Dorsey and S.
W. Dorsey were irresponsible, and that the Wit
ness nad receipt Tor draft on the route so that
ne had written the letter
ABOUT AN AFFIDAVIT
The witness said he thought he had made an az
hdavit On the VernlliOn and Sioux Falls route
tie had never been on the route, but had a general
knowledge OF the counties When he made the
affidavit he did not know how many men and ami
mals were actually employed the route. He
mad not communicated with anybody who was ac-
quainted with the route. He dll not make INQUIRY
as to how long the route was but took II TO he 81
miles as it was advertised The witness said he
thought he never knew the route was longer until
the affidavit he had made. He said he had made
the statements about the number OF men and
norses that would be required because he Knew
tneoreticaIly, now many men and horses would be
required TO perform given service.
The witness said he thought that $50 men and $50
horses were needed On the Bismarck route after
the expedition, but there were not SO many en-
ployed: 1t was hard, he said to get men, as the
route was 900 miles long, and there was not a man
between the two terminal points The CanvOn
City and Fort McDermott route had paid a hand
some profit after expedition
Ine usual recess was here taken.
STAR ROUTE NOTES.
The cross-eXaminat1On OF Vale was begun nv
Mr. Bliss last evening after THE STARS report
closed. Mr.. Vale was very closely pressed for an
explanation Of his letter to S. w. Dorsey of MAY
Ss, le.y advising Dorsey to prevail upon Rerdel
lest 1T should result in exposing who the real par
ties interested in the firm were. Rerdells suit
1879 during most OF which time Dorsey was in the
Senate. Vale, in his reply to Rerdell's suit al
ieged that Rerdell had been employed by Vale,
Miner s. w. Dorsey, notwithstanding 1t is
claimed that Dorsey had no proprietary interests
Ia the routes until after April, 1879 Vatle's ex-
planation was that he considered that when the
routes were divided the Indebtedness was divided
also and that Dorsey was liable for part OF Rer-
deils claim.