New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-22
RERpELHs CROSS. EXAMINATION.
HIS FIFTH DAY on THE sTAND-AN ADDITION TO
THE THEORY OF HIS CONFESSION.
IgY TELEGRAPH TO HE TRIBUSEl

THE THEORY OF HIS CONFESSION.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON. Feb 21-Tne opening OF Rerdelrs
cross-examinaiion tO-day-hIs fifth DAY on the stand
sudden y drew back the curtain from another OF
the dramatic scenes of which the second history of
the Star Route conspiracy doubtless contains good
many.
Colonel Ingersoll, with threatening air. pro-
duced an affidavit sworn 10 by Rerdell July 10,
1892 during the first trial and read 1t TO the jury
with all possible imptessiveness. 1t was an AMI
da Wit denying in the most sweeping manner all the
Iuinors and charges that s. w. Dorsey, Jonu ".
Dorsey j. W. Beesler and others had tecn guilty of
frauds and illegal acts in connection with mail mat
ters In this respect II was companion piece to his
affidavit OF the year before winch Dorsey and Col
onel IngersolI carried TO the White House, and
which the prosecution offered in evidence; and, ac-
copting Rerdells story as true, the circumstances
under which 1t obtained made the parallel
stronger except that, where Dorsey used tears and
entreaties before, lie nsed now threats aud warning
of exposure
Huching about nervousls in his chair, Rerdel
gave In rapid, low tone. and with an appearance
of entire candor, his explanation. During the trial
last summer he had told Dorsey that he going to
the representatives CT the Government and would
make a full statement to them. Dorsey took him
into a room in Wllards Hotel, locked the door, and
told him that If he did this he would prosecute him
for PERJURY making the affidavit that had been taken
to President Garfield the basis OF IT. He also pulled
out Of his pocket two letters which Rerdcll said he
Rad been foolish enough 20 write 10 q woman in
this city. and declared that he would publish them
and break up his family
RerdelI, in his weak way, seems to have been ter
rlied especially by the threat - publish tho let
ters and yielded again. as he had done before Rer-
dell had known long time before that Dorsey had
these letters, but had been assured that they had
been destroyed. When he showed surprise that
Dorsey still had them, tho latter said he wasn't
fool enough" to destroy them. Dorsey then wrote
every word OF the affidavit produced to-day, gave it
TO Rerdell who copied it and swore to it, the next
day delivering it to Dorsey, The statement ended
with declaration that 1t was made voluntarily"
After ward. when he Jail after his conviction.
Dorsey went to see him there and Threatened him
again with these woman letters
Colonel Ingersol tried to make an impression on
the jury by reading the affidavit again, sentence by
sentence and pausng at the end of each one 10 ask
Rerdel whether that was true or false and, II
false whether he knew it was false at the time
he swore to it, to all of which he usually assented,
though showing some mpatience at being forced to
repeat these humiliatlng declarations.
Whatever the legal effect may be of the introJuc-
fail to be 20 strengthen Rerdels story, by showing
through evidence adduced for the defence we'll
for the prosecution-that he was much under the
domination of Dorsey that he could be persuaded
OF bullied into pcrjuring himself Rerd5lis course
IN this case has always been shrouded IN good deal
of mystery up to this timo to those who were not
acquainted with the facts. The statement which
ne now makes under oath docs not derive
much value from that circumstance but it does de-
rive vaiue from tho fact that IL is consistent and
probs BILE story, that it fits perfectly into all the
know facts of the case aud tina: it explains all the
apparent contradIcto in his course. Tho affidavit
produced to-day IL IN reality an addition to the
theory of RerdelPs confession.
The close of tho direct examination In the
morning WAS largely taken up with the con-
tinued Identification OF papers by Rerdell,
who has identified altogether large num-
Der. The object Of this has been, not only to
show forgeres on the part OF the two Dorseys,
Miner and others, but especially to show that s. W.
Dorsey was connected with these transactions from
the beginning In mis- abatement sent throughout
the country about the beginning Of the trial, Dorsey
claimed that lie had no interest in contracts while
he was in the Senate but having lent money to the
others, obliged after Leaving the Senate to take
the contracts to himself from loss. 1heec pa
peri show him TO have shared IN manufacturing tho
pa pcrs Various routes while lie was still Sena-
tor from tho petition stage to the end; and this
evidence has, OF course. AN Important bearing In
making out clear connection tor him with tho Al
legations practised.
the chec KS marked To mall meaning paid In con-
nectun with mail matters which he transferred
from Dorsev's chsok book to the beoka was Zone