The Evening critic., 1883-03-16
THE sTAR-RouTE TRIAL,


The examination OF General Brady was con.
tinued in the star. Route case yesterday. After
the report OF THE CRITIC closed the Govern
ment returned TO tho Redding .Alturas route,
and tho witness testified that he had no
knowledge that the mall was being carried IN
less than the expedited time before tho order
ofexpedition. But II he had known IL, that II
would have mado no differences the contractor
could not have been forced to carry II upon
tho short schedule without extra pay.
Mr.. Dayidge laughinglyl.I think that the
witness Is getting the better OF Mr.. Bliss; I
think he had better DO stopped.
Mr.. Bliss-Mr. Davidge need not protect mo-
there are others needing this protection.
The witness was asked II
He Had Sought TO Drive Bargains
For the Government.
He said that he had. He had expedited almost
all of the routes at lees than pro rata.
Mr.. Dllse-Then you assert that eighteen OF
the nineteen routes were expedited at less
than pro rata?
The witness-I do, and will show II to you.
We had general rule for expedition. We
calculated that first class service In the West.
ern country was worth about 500 milo, de-.
pending on the character of the country, and
that 1t should not exceed $50. These nineteen
routes Will show an average OF less than $50
per mile.
General Brady said that no assumed that the
af1davits OF the contractors were true, and
that they had not committed perjury. The
only means he used to prove them was by the
general rule OF allowing so much mile, ac-
cording to the section OF the country where the
route lay. He
Denied That There We're Errors
manifest upon the face OF tho afIldavlts, or
that they were absurdly at variance with the
results. Did not remember anything about
two anldavits In one case. Mr.. Bliss pointed
out an instance. The witness said that the
result, as shown by the proportion, would DO
the Same in either case, although tho figures
were different.
Mr.. Bliss--Can both of them be true?
The Court-You are as good Judge Of that
as he.
An afldavit signed by John Dorsey was
shown In q case where ne was not the subcOn-
tractor.
Witness said that he did not remember TAX
Ing any steps to ascertain II Dorsey was the
subcontractor; the Jacket did not show that;
II appeared to BIO regular, and the case had
been made up by Turner, careful corre-
spending clerk; the Jacket should have shown
that fact, II Dorsey was not the subcontractor;
!, would have been mistake on the part OF
the clerk.
witness Would Not Assume that u
Man was n ScOuudrel
because he was o contractor; he assumed that
they were honorable men.
@. Then you assumed that their statements
were true because they were contractors?
A. assumed that their statements were
true so far as they knew. At the same time
used my own rule as q guide.
vile route had been expedited to thirty.three
hours. Why had that time been selected?
The witness said that the route was 1872
miles in length, and four miles an hour was
about as Glow time as he allowed upon an ex-
pedlted route.
Mr.. Bliss produced an affidavit based upon
thlrtythree hour schedule prepared by
Peck In New Mexico In January, 1879, Six
months before the order, and asked why
| Peck had made the same allowance as the
| witness.
| ''rhat question you will have to ask Mr.
| Peck; you Will have to go and sec him." said
| the witness dryly.
Mr.. Bliss propoundPd the same inquiries In
| regard to the Julian.Colton route.
The Court remarked that 1t was not neces-
| sary TO investigate MIR. Peck on that. He
hat ln .Iat,t nj a
"Except by collusion," answered Mr.. Bliss,
| while the defense laughed satirically.
| "Why don't you ask him whether he was In
| collision with Peckp' inquired Mr.. Ingersoll.
Mr.. Bliss-You cal ask him yourself.
Mr.. Bliss then appealed to the Court to stop
| the running comment Of the counsel on the
| other side. On moro than one occasion, while
| the witness had been under examination, his
answers had been guided by suggestions from
Mr.. 1ngersoll- could not have been from o
| better source.
The witness Undlgnantly)-I say that is not
| true.
A question having arisen In regard to the
| scope OF the cross examination, Mr.. Merrlck
| expressed his understanding that 1t was not
confined TO the limits of the direct examina.
| ton; but that when a defendant went upon
tho stand he threw himself open 80 far as the
| whole case was concerned.
The Court coinclded In that view.
| The witness was asked II he had not allowed
COMPENSATION COMPENSATE up to the limits axed by the
| dlluaVltS IN eaCn OF the nineteen routes.
He answered that all OF them were cxpe-
| dited a. less than pro rata.
The Court-You don't include the Bismarck
| Tongue River route?
| The witness-Yes, sir; that was expedited at
| less than pro ratio.
Mr.. Bliss-He means by pro rata based on
| Miners 150.men affidavit.
| Mr.. Ingersoll-He means the affidavit laid
| before him for action.
The Court-That AFFIDAVIT contemplated q
fight with the Indians, suppose.
MIR, Bliss Incurred III the witness thought
that one man was required for every ton miles
of the route He answered that as 1t was a
new route, running through the bad lands OF
Dakota, and infested with hostile indians, he
| did not think that was too many. Still, while
they accepted the AFFIDAVIT, they did not make
| expedition on that basis.
Hewas asked how far the schedule would
require horse to travel per day. objection
was made and sustained.
"That Is like the story Of the Irishman who
asked how far 1t was to town." began Mr.. In
"That is out OF ORDER" interrupted the
Court. san lrishman always Is" laugh
MIR. Bliss asked how It was that the rejected
affidavit and the offer to carry tho malls fol
| less than pro rata had been received on the
| same day.
The witness said that they might have beer
| on that point was not distinct.
The witness was asked II he knew OF any
way TO regulate expedition better than tina
Of using the contractors tractors alIlda Wits He an
|
better rule
Too Ridiculous TO BE Answered.
Mr.. Bliss-Even where the contractors hav
| had no experience?
The Witness-You don't expect me to an
swer that question
| MIR. Bliss-Why not?
| The Witness-It is so ridiculous. Laughter.
| MIR. Bliss was making inquiry as TO an order
made on the aflldavito of a subcontractor.
"show the witness the paper" said MI
Wilson.
81 will examine the witness In my owl
| way" replied Mr.. Bliss.
| "0h, let him get what little comfort he cal
out of the paper" added Colonel Ingersoll.
| "When the running conversation behind mt
| stops will go on" said Mr.. Bliss. sit is m.
| opinion that II was started and has continues
for the purpose OF suggesting TO tho Witness
"That is not true Mr.. Bliss, answered tn
| witness.
"why, nothing of the kind" said Mr.. VII
son,
SWELL that is my opinion" replied MI
| Bliss.
"well, 1t is not true" repeated Genera
Brady.
Judge wylie checked the colloquy and tn
| giving OF evidence was resumed.
Mr.. Bliss wanted TO know II the witness az
| cepted tho AFFIDAVIT OF inexperienced col
tractors without making further Inquiry.
General Brady replied that he regarded tn
contractors as honest men, and did not care
snap Of his finger whether they had exper
ence or not; and there was no better rule,
added.
The Court adjourned until this mornin
with the witness still on the stand.
A Floral Tribute to Modest Worth
| The personal popularity OF Mr.. A. U. W!
man, the courteous and scholarly gentlema