The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-27
THE STAR ROUTES.
Continuation of the Cross Exami-
nation Of Rerdell.
THE WITNESS COMPELLED TO MAKE
SOME DAMAGING ADMISSIONS.

WASHINGTON, Feb &c. In the Star route
trial this afternoon Rerdell made some correc-
tions in Fridays testimony, and was then
cross-axamined.
Mr.. ngersol, in answer to Rerdells state
ment denied that Mr.. Carpenter had ever been
Rerdell's attorney
The witness then said that he was satisfied
he did not tell Carpenter that he had made his
affidavit (that of June, 1881 voluntarily. He
did not remember telling him that Dorsey had
used him badly, thereby making mistake, for
1t would tend 10 break down the affidavit He
may have told him he had written the memo
randum shown to MacVeagb and he could
closely initiate Dorsey's handwriting. He may
have told him there were no books such as de-
scribed by James. He might have told French
ia 1851 at Dorsey rs house that he had conceived
the plan OF acting as a detective towards
James and MacVeagh. He might have told
him also that he was trying to get the Govern
ment to offer him money consideration to go
upon the stand, he to furnish them with docu-
mentary evidence written by himself but pur-
porting to pc ia Dorsey handwriting, and that
he would then expose them. 1t was more
than probable that he had told French that he
could initiate Dorsey's handwriting SO closely
that Dorsey himself could not detect il. Tt
was very likely that he told French that after
he got the note from MacVeagh he got so excit-
ed over the success of his plan that he told
Dorsey for the frst time what he had been do
ing, and that Dorsey told him to stop at once
AAO 01cO to4u ILL budt WQ6u DOS6r 0aO COn-
ferred with Dorsey they had agreed to allow
him to contrive his plot. He hae no doubt
that he told French there were no books and
that he had exhibited to James shirt wrapped
up in paper He had seen Bosler in Dorsey's
office in June, 1881. He might have told him
that the affidavit had been voluntary, and that
be had been trying to trap MacVeagh into
making some kind of an offer to him.
Rerdell said he may have told Bosler of his
interview with MacVeagh and of his descrip-
ttSFnifh an ,fria k,,k
did not remember that Bosler had called
him "patriot." Was not prepared to say
that be had mimicked MacVeahs antics as il
lnstrating his revelations. Did not remember
fishing bits of paper out of the waste basket
laying them before Boser and pointing out the
closesresemblance between his writing of the
petitions OF Smith and Jones thereonland Dor
sey's handwriting. 1t might be that he had
been the first one to tell Wilson (of the coun.
sci for the defence) in June, 1881 that he had
made the affidavit. He also told him that
Dorsey kept no books except an expense book
be kept the book in his woodshed In July,
1857, he gave 1t t. Dorsey in Bosler's presence.
Did not know what Dorsey did with it. Speak
ing OF the copies OF the original books, witness
was inclined to believe he carried them over TO
New York in the summer OF 1880, when the
last settlement was made between Dorsey and
Bosler
Mr.. IngersolI desired to cross-examine wit
ness relative to the memorandum of mining
shares given to postal official, but the court
decided the paper must be produced if hey
wished TO contradict the Witness
Mr.. lDgersoll REQUIRED to the interview be-
tween Dorsey and witness in 1881, when the
hrst retracting affidavit was made.
Witness said he told Dorsey he had gone over
TO sne government to save him Dorsey and
related TO him all the conversation between
James and MacVeagh and himself. Dorsey
said, "You have put II in worse light than it
was before. They have no evidence against
me except what you have furnished"
Mr.. Ingers Il wanted to know how he had
explained this action to Dorsey how he had
lustified The furnishing of evidence against
him?
Witness said he was satisfied Dorsey was in
a bad state before that time. The newspapers
were getting close to the facts and it looked
bad
Mr.. Ingersoll suddenly referred to the atfida-
Wit of July 13, 1882. and asked witness how it
was that at that time, more than a year after
his revelations to james, he had changed his
mind SO as 70 believe that Dorsey had done no
Answer-At that time, in his room, / was
(pausiDg)-
.'Agitated,' eynically suggested Mr.. Inger.
soil.
II did not remember anything particularly
wrong, continued witness. He then went on
to state how Dorsey had appealed to him in
the name OF his wife and children to retract
his statement.
Mr. Ipgersoll did he say anything about
your Wlic.
NO" said the witness bitterly; II do not
suppose he lei my wife and children cross his
mind"
Mr. Ingersoll-He did not show that unsel-
fish feeling that you did?
Witness had conceived the idea of saving
Dorsey upon the occasion of his interview
nj cVeagh. Still he would acknowledge thai
selt-preservation was the dominant feeling in
his mind. Witness did not expect to get his
steamboat route restored or his jennings claim
or the appointment Of his father-in-law in con-
sderation OF his giving testimony for the Gov
eminent. Witness only told Clayton of these
things to show him what he would lose by go
ing over to the Government.
The retracting affidavit of June, 1881, was
then taken up, and witness subjected to a se-
we're examination, during whi ID he was again
required to specify the portions written by
Dorsey and by himself. Court then adjourned.
One of Dorsey's Counsel Indicted.
The grand jnry has found an Indictment
against A. B, Williams, one of the star route
counsel specially employed by Dorsey. He is
charged with receiving stolen goods. Will
liams says lhe charge is the outgrowth of i'll
Will OF the department of Justice.
). w Dorsey has written to Williams, de-
claring present Indictment is an act of perse-
cution against himself, Dorsey through his
couasel. Dorsey also says in this letter that an
attempt will he made to iDdict Col. Ingersoll
on charge OF defamingtthe department of JUS
tice. Williamo however thinks the idea is
not seriously entertained, but says the Depart
ment of Justice has endeavored to find grounds
for such an indictment against Ingersoll in
newspaper interview which was published
concluded.