The Evening critic., 1883-04-06
John w. DORSEY
Tells straightforward, Honest
Story About His Connection with
the Star-Route Cases-There Was
no Conspiracy.

Tells n STRAIGHTFORWARD, Honest
Story About His Connection with
the Star-ROute Cases-There Was
no Conspiracy.
Mr.. John w. Dorsey continued his testl-
mony yesterday afternoon In the Star-Route
trial after THE CRITIC report closed. He testi-
fed that no resided In Middleburg,v VT, and had
been acquainted with John NJ. Peck, but they
were not related. He met him In 1871 or 10
In New York city. He had conversations with
him in relation to bidding on mail routes. They
had them from 1873 to the winter of 1877,
which resulted In their verbal agreement to
go on and make the bids. Mr.. Peck's health
was poor and he wanted TO lead an active out
door life. He wanted 10 live in Colorado
to Nso go satC0' into the S' bidding ET asffeq For
routes In these sections. They both Intended
to go West but have man here In Washing.
ton to attend to the details of the busine S.
Mr.. Peck proposed that the man should bo
John II. Miner. 1t was fur thor agreed that the
man they took In should have third interest.
The witness, in their conversation, spoke OF
his experience IN tho business, but Peck told
him that he knew all about 1T, as he had been
In II before.
The witness had a conversaton with his
brother about It, and said they had arranged
TO go in extensively.
His Brother Opposed 1t,
and said that the witness had not experience
or enough money for the PURPOSE; that Peck's
to attend to the business. Another thing, that
he was Senator and his brother and brother
tn-law, bidding for mail routes, would operate
against him and he urged them to keep out.
The witness thought he knew more about It
than his brother did, and concluded to go
ahead After he came here In 1877 he made
a contract with A. E. Boone, by which tho wit
ness was to have two-thirds and Boone one
third interest.
time enter into conspiracy with the defend.
ants or any others TO defraud the Government.
He never spoke to General Brady but once in
his life. The witness knew A. W. Moore, and
tho statement he made that the witness said
"his brother Is. w. Dorsey had brought him
on here for some purpose he knew not what
and he wished that he was back homo," was
A Lie without Any Cloth TO Make
1t Out OF.
He went out to put service on tho Dakota
route, and while there he received q letter
dated July 30, 1878, from John II. Minor. 1t
was recognized and read In evidence, and was
TO the effect that the Second Assistant Post
master-General Ind notified them that service
ontcertain routes had failed that day, and that
they would be declared failing contractors.
He out putting service on tho Tongue
River and Bismarck routes. He arrived at
Bismarck first. He could not got any one to
go out on the route.
Everybody Was Afraid to go
for fear they would be killed by the Indians,
but finally PeDnelPs party was secured.
They were provided with long-range rides,
which they purchased at cost OF S400. After
and went up the Yellowstone to Fort Keogh.
He was five days on tho road. 1t took him
twice as long to go by water as by land. He
went to Keogh because he could not get
scout at Bismarck or anybody else that knew
the way across the country. General sturgiss
told him to go to Keogh and see General Miles,
as 1t was one of his pet schemes to get this
mail line through, and he would furnish
him an escort across the country. Tho wilt
ness went and saw General Miles, and after
telling him his business, the General went oil
to Inquire what they expected to do and wit.
ness told him. The General said that they
would not be satisfied with weekly mail.
They would have tri-weekly and II possible,
daily on fifty hours schedule. The Gen.
eral further. said that the stations were too
far apart am they must be closer together.
General Niles said that he should write
to Postmaster. General Key, General Sher-
man and Senator Sherman to get the
service increased. Acting upon the statement
OF General Miles the witness went back and
met Pennell and had the stations built about
seventeen miles apart. Pennell was mistaken
when he said that the stations were built
going out, as they were all built coming back.
Tho witness was then questioned as to the tes-
timony OF Colonel Mcclellan In regard to the
increase Of trips and expedition on the route,
and pronounced 1t q most Infamous lie from
beginning TO end. Without concluding the
testimony the court adjourned for the day.