The Portland daily press., 1883-04-06
THE STAR ROUTES,

Vaile's Testimony Concluded and John
w. Dorsey Put Upon the Stand.
WASHINGTON, April 5.--In the Star Route
trial this morninRs Bliss resumed the CROSS
examination of Vaile. The witness did not
know how often he had met Brady prior TO his
intercession for Miner in July, 1878. He had
some mail contracts at that tine bat could not
say that they we're in his own name. He did
not know how no became acquainted with Mi
ner He had no special influence with Brady,
and did not know why Miner had requested
Brady was at perfect liberty TO declare Miner,
Peck & Co, failing contractors at any moment
in August, 1878. He had refused Miners offer
To give him the routes He did not want TO
cut Miner out. He knew that other persons
had advanced money on the routes, and he, not
being over selfish, resolved that II no could
hold Miner he would. or course he ooulu
have mado great deal more money by allow
ing them to fail. Very few contractors were
In Washington at that time, and the witness
could have made o large sum by conspiring
with them in this way: Agree with Salisbury
TO take the Oregon contracts, with another
contractor to take another section, and the
witness would take the third section, Then
the figures could be put up TO almost any
amount, with the certainty OF getting the con-
tracts. But the witness did not wish to take
advantage of the government, but rather 10
benefit Il aud them too. He did not wish 10
crush Miner
Q-Could you not have helped the govern
ment just as much by contributing to the ma
tional debt?
Al might have.
Q--Who were the persons you referred TO as
having advanced money?
AMiner said that s. w. Dorsey had adj
Vancea money, That was in July.
Q--Aou knew that he was senAtor and so
did not find Miner so lonely as yon have de-
seFibed.
ADorseY was away. and Miner was as
much alone as he could be.
The witness did not know that Miner could
bring Dorsey's influence to bear In his favor.
As Il stood when he assumed his interest, the
service was Improbable. After the division OF
the routes, the witness offered Miner the priyi-
lege OF joining him or s. w. Dorsey, and he
consolidated his interest with that OF the witt
ness. he did not believe that expedition had
been ordered upon the McDermott and Canon
City route before the beginning of the service.
Mr. Bliss inquired il the mail ON the Tongue
River route could have been carried on the
original schedule for the contract price, s., $50,
without loss.
rled it at that price. He had no knowledge OF
the number OF men and animals used for the
route nor the expense OF equipments. He
Kept the running expenses In his head, and
had no books showing the receipts and expen-
dltufes. The government and banks kept their
accounts. Did not remember definitely when
the Tongue River service was cut down by the
department. It was some time In 1881. There
were quarters whom the expenses Of the route
exceeded $4,000 or S20,000 and yet the pay
was so diminished by the deduction that they
received only 5000 In some quarters. Had
not thrown up the roate at once because he
coald not say that Ii wculd prove loss unfit
he had experimepted with it under expedition,
Mr.. Bliss wished TO know how the route origi-
mated, and II he had noticed the terms OF tho
xrhr
thrown it mp. Jennings letter was read
and the witness having admitted its authorship
he was questioned at some length on the sub
ject. Witness admitted having made an affi-
dayit upon the Vermillion Sioux Falls route,
without having any positive knowledge of the
number Of men and stock required The SER
vice was described at length by witness. He
said it was often necessary to send guards " Nith
the mails, and there were no white men be-
tween the termini.
Three hundred miles OF wilderness COM
mented Mr.. Merrick
The financial arrangements between the wit.
ness and the other defendants were examined
into at great length, and the witness told how
the indebtedness had been divided ny. Wit
ness had negotiated with 5. w. Dorsey about
buying the other men out IN December, 1878.
1t was about the time when the trouble occur
red about the German American bank.
Mr.. Bliss referred to the fact brought % IN
Rerdell's cross examination, that Rerdell had
borrowed money from Vale. Witness said it
was entirely business transaction between
Rerdell and himself. Rerdeil had informed
him that he contemplated going over to the
government before the witness loaned him
money. Never told Rerdell that he (witneSsl
and Miner had been talking over the adyisa-
bility Of going over to the government. Said
the witness, Rerdeli told me he was in comniR-
nication with the government. / asked him
what he k2aw At frst lio said he did nc.
know ANYTHING, but afterwards he said, u
am full; / am fall.n | asked him how he
could 20 on the stand after making SO many
meut did not want hin to go upon the stand.
They only wanted him to give them points. He
positively denied all Of Rerdsll's statements in
regard to that conversation.
The cross-exanaination was then closed.
The redirect examination was confiued TO q
few unimportant questions, aud a. its concla-
sion John w. Dorsey was called.
Mr.. Ingersoll conducted the examination
The witness pleaded i'll health and was allowed
to give his testimony in a sitting posture.
Dorsey detailed with particularly how no
came to be associated with Peck la the mail
business, and related a conversation he had
with his brother. Stephen, about going Into
partnership with Peck. His brother had en-
deavored TO dissuade him from embarking in
the business, bat he tWitness) could not see
how il would result ia loss If contracts were
carried ont, aud finally went into the business.
Witness denied ever having coBspired with
any oneto defraud the government. He had
spoken 10 Brady but once in his life. Witness
consulted a memorandum, aud promptly in
formed his counsel where he mighs find dis
puted point In evidence.
Mr. IEgersoll smiiingly remarked that the
witness seemed 10 know mere about IL than tho
whole outfit
The Court said he seemed to knox what
questions would be asked him.
Witness denied this, but said he did not
know what baa been said about him. Mooge's
testimony was referred to where he says that
John Dorsey told him that bis brother had
brought him on here 10 90 into business, OF
which be knew nothing and that be wished
himself at home. With some warmth, witness
exclaimed THAT IS lie made without any
cloth" (Laughter.1 Witness remembered no
conversation such as detailed by Mcclellan In
which he (witness) had said the route would
be increased through his brothers influence.
1T is tho most infamous lis in the world =
said he, "as If ! would tell couple OF mule
whackers such stuff IS that and the first tiue
ever saw them tooH
Ingersol offered in evidence u paper which
he asserted was the original affidavit OF John
". Dorsey upon this Tongue river route with
the object Of showing that Rerdsl had forged
another affidavit, but the court refused the
offer.
An adjournment was then had
mrs. $. w Dorsey was present in the court
room to-day With her sister, Mrs. Peck
Miss Spingeman, the alleged recipient OF
Rerdell's letters, Is also Ia attendance In an
arrra 20. ueel4a~ fra