National Republican., 1883-04-07
The Examination Of John W. Dorsey Concluded
in the Star Route Trial.
He Admits That He Never Did Wrong
More Than Once in His Life.
Contradictions in Afidavits Explained on the Ground
That One Was 10 Correct the Other.
A Threatening Letter to RerdelI Read and
Commented On.

sell out his (witness's) interest in the mail
business for $4,000. Witness returned to Bis
marck, and received letters from his brother
informing him that Miner, acting Under his
power of attorney, had given subcontracts to
Vaile cutting Peck and the witness entirely
out of the business and rendering the secur-
. ity for money loaned by s. w. Dorsey entirely
worthless. But he added that he John need
not feel bad about 1t, for he would see that he
was taken care Of and would give him
rTITCne. John was also informed that Vale
had offered $4,000 for Peck's and his inter
est, and was advised to accept the offer. Wit
ness eventually sold his interest for $4,000
to Stephen Dorsey went to Vermont, and
since July, 1879, had not had an interest in
any of the routes.
The affidavit on the Mineral Park-Pioche
route was exhibited to the witness, and he
declared that he had not written the sigma
ture purporting TO be his. In reference to
the Lounsberry testimony about converse
tion with witness in which the latter ac-
knowledged that he had done a wrong in
seeking to establish n postofiice on the Little
Missouri river, the witness said that the
statement was substantially true. He had
told Lounsberry that that was the only wrong
he had ever done or known to be done in the
course of the business, and Lounsberry said
that he believed him. Lounsberry had re-
fused TO sign the petition for the postoffice,
and the project had failed. The witness de-
MED broadly that he had ever paid any money
to any officer of the government to secure in
crease or expedition of the routes.
The witness was then cross-examined by
Mr. Merrick Before going into the mail
business in 1873 witness had kept an agri-
cultural implement and hardware store in
Vermont. His capital was between $4,000
and SO, 900. Did not know what Peck's means
were except that he said he had the funds
necessary to 20 into the mail business. The
agreement between them had been made at
the Western hotel in New York, in August
or September, 1877. They agreed to go in
and bid jointly, and Peck suggested that
Miner be also taken into the business, so as
to have some one in Washington. Peck said
that he could get all the necessary bonds and
certified checks in Arkansas. Peck was to
furnish most of the money. Witness put in
his capital, which was but drop in the
bucket Peck went to New Mexico, and his
health failing he was not able to take an
active part in the business thereafter He
did not come back, but wrote to witness di-
rocting him to send the bonds to Arkansas,
and they would be returned all right.
Mr. Merrick wished to know why the wit
ness had not dropped the business at once,
when Peck failed to carry out his part Of the
contract. He said it was expected that Peck
would recover; then witness had spent some
money for printing, postage stamps, ana other
expenses, and did not wish to lose it.
In December, 1873, witness forwarded q
draft for $500 to S. w. Dorsey to pay these
expenses. Did not send the money to Boone
because he knew nothing of Boone's connec-
tion with the business. Had written to 5. w
Dorsey instead ofMiner, because Peck had re-
quested him TO do so.
Did not know why Peck had not written di'
rectly to S. w. Dorsey. Miner was not then
regular partner, the written contract be
tween the three peek, Miner, and witness
had not then been signed. They had beer
acting under verbal contract
Mr.. Merrick wished to know why he hao
dragged his brother-a senator-into thl'
business, instead of sending the money to his
partner Miner. The witness did not believe
that ho had dragged his brother into 1t; haC
taken that action because he regarded 1t a
the best course.
The witness having said that he had 50, 0O(
in his possession on Oct. /, 1877, Mr.. Merrich
wished to know why he had not paid his owl
expenses instead of borrowing from hi
brother. He said that he needed and had spen
the money in putting service upon the routes
Mr.. Merrick remarked that his money
($2, ZOO had been well invested, as it appearet
from his own statement that he had beer
paid $4,000 for it. The witness said tina
much of the money had been returned. Us
tensbly his brother had advanced the money
but in reality the witness had The writer
contract with Boone had been made after wit
ness returned TO Washington, but witnes
could not say whether or not there had pre-
viously been verbal agreement by whicl
Boone was to have an interest.
An extended investigation was made int
the subject of the payments of money by wit
ness to s. W. Dorsey, instead Of to his part
ners. The witness said that there was moth
ing criminal about it; he had right to us
his own discretion in placing his money.
Mr.. Merrick remarked that it was an in
teresting fact.
In answer to an inquiry as to why he swor
TO an affidavit upon the Rawlns-White rive
route when he knew nothing about 1t, tn
witness said that he had relied upon anothe
mans estimate; he did not claim to be a
expert in those matters could not sa
whether or not the affidavit in question ha
been sworn to in blank.
IL was elected that the witness had been a
employe of the senate and had rendered YER
little service in return for his salary
Mr.. Merrck was commenting upon thes
facts, when Mr.. Wilson interrupted him an
said that the senate was not in session at tn
time and that this was the habit of the senate
"Perhaps you will correct 1t when you get Il
there" he added as n parting shot.
The witness was asked why he had writte
TO his brother that he regarded the Tongu
river route as worth 800, 900 for the contrac
term. He answered with seeming franknes
that the statement showed his Ignorance Q
the business OF running mai TOules'
O. 1t would have been profitable if It had nc
been for the congressional investigation, woul
II not2 -
A. don't know anything about that Afida
Wits upOn the Pueblo Rosita route were shown
the witness, who acknowledged that he kne'
nothing of the number OF stock required, ana ha
relied upun Rerdcll's statement,
O. You swore TO whatever he told you3
A. / thought that he was telling the truth theT
but would discount 1t If he told me anythin
to-day.
MIR. Merrick. It would be reciprocal, | guess
you could not deal with each others banks.
The witness was pressed to account for tw
different aliidavits upon one route. He az
knowledged having sworn to them; he sur
posed that 1t was straight, square work.
Mr., Merrick 1t is swear work certainly.
He then bluntly asked the witness whic
of the (conhictipgJ aflidavits was lie.
The witness was not allowed to repeat Re
delPs statements to him in regard to tht
matter, but managed to get in an explanatio
to the effect that one affidavit was intende
to correct an error contained in the other.
OF another pair of aildavits the witne
said that the proportion was the same in I'll
either case he had no pecuniaTy interest
the route.
Mr.. Merrick reminded him that he ha
testified that his interest continued up
April or 8, 1879, and that the papers WEI
dated March IL, 1879. If the last statemel
was true, he said IL would show that S.
Dorsey had assumed his interest while in I'll
senate.
The witness said that he had been actin
under the conditional agreement that had M
then been consumuated.
Tho oourt remarked that the naners we