The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-03-31
DORSEY ON THE STAND.
He Considers an Oath Binding, and
Says he has Done no Wrong.
He Never Paid Brady a Cent In his Life,
and Never Heard of Messrs.
Smith and Jones.

WASHINGTON, March 2B.-Stephen w.
Dorsey came into the court room this
afternoon for the first time since the be-
ginning of the trial. After some other
witnesses were examined Mr.. IngersOll
called him to the stand. The Clerk was
about to administer the oath when Mr..
MeTTick inquired If the witness regard
ed the oath as binding upon his cOnsei-
ence. Shaking his finger at the lawyer,
he answered that the oath was as bind
ing upon him as upon Mr.. Merrick. He
regarded 1t as binding upon his cOnsei-
ence. MIR. MeTTick asked If he believed
he would be punished in another world
If he swOre falsely. Mr.. IngersOll jnmp-
ed to his feet and said that in nearly
every civilized State every man was
allowed to testify, whether he believed
in future punishment or not. The
Government had taunted this defendant
for year for not taking the stand, and
when he came here they sought to pre-
vent his testimony because he did not
believe in their Jehovah. He admitted
that in some States a gentleman could
not testify; that Humboldt would not
have been allowed to testify If his own
brother had been murdered before his
eyes. SO with Tyndall and with Hux-
ley, But he did not believe that the
Court would allow such procedure.
Mr.. MeTrick said that he only desired
the Court and jury to know what weight
to attach to DOrsey's testimony when he
invoked the supreme Being.
The Court said that the act Of March
16. 1873, made a defendant a witness,
and that settled that point. The only
question of competency was whether
Dorsey was a defendant.
Mr.. MeTrick inquired the necessity
| for swearing the witness under this
view.
The COurt-SO that he may be punished
| for perjury if he does not tell the truth.
| Administer the oath.
MIR. IngersOll-He may swear or affirm.
The Witness-Oh, l had just as soon
swear.
The oath was then administered, and
| Mr.. ngeTsOll began the examination.
/ The witness was much agitated, and
often did not wait for the conclusion OF
| the question before answering. He said
he became acquainted with Miner in
| 1867, at Sandusky, Ohio. Had known
Peck for fifteen years at the time OF his
| death. 1t was a business relation at
first, Peck being secretary and the wit
| ness treasurer of railroad company.
Peck subsequently married the sister
of Dorseys wife, and died in August,
| 1881. He first saw Vaile in the spring
tance at that time. John W. Dorsey, his
brother, knew Boone in 1874, while he
was POst-office clerk. He first met
Brady at Cincinnati in 1875.
Q-Did you ever enter into an agree
ment with Brady, John Dorsey, Vsile,
Miner, or any or either of them, to de-
fraud the Government by bidding for
mail contracts? A. (passiOnateIy)-I
never entered into any such agreement
with anybody at any place or at any
time.
Q.-Did you ever cOnspire with them
to defraud the Government? Al never
Suffered into conspiracy with them Of
any kind.
| Odd you ever pay money to Gen.
Brady to influence his official actions?
A. (excitedly)-I never had a transaction
with Gen. Brady to the extent OF one
cent in my life. never paid him cent
or promised to pay him cent for any
possible purpose.
| Q-Did you ever give any directions
to Rerdell, either verbally or in writing,
to open an account with VIM. Smith2
A.-Never in the world.
| Q.-Or with Samuel JOnesP A.-NeVer.
Q.-Or with John H. Mitchell? A
No.
Odd you ever state to RerdelI or
anybody that VIM. Smith stood for
Brady? An the first place, there
was no Smith on my books; in the second,
IneveT said it.
@. When did YOU first hear that any
body alleged that you had an account
with Smith and Jones? Alt never
came to my knowledge until after Rer-
delPs statements to James and Mae
Veagh; that was the first that l ever
heard of the books, and Rerdell was the
first one to tell us of his statements.
The court here adjourned. Earlier in
the day several witnesses were eXamin-
ed, with the purpose of impeaching
| RerdPll's cIedibility.