Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE STAR ROUTE.
The Ruling of the COurt-Mose Of Bra-
dy's Testimony.

Bliss continued the cross-examinatlon
| The witness explained what he meant in
f, speaking of an allowance of $50 for West
ern service. Had many temporary contracts
upon routes pending Reimbursement, some
that were as long as the Tongue river route.
| That route was not re-advertised. because to
do so ould be only TO incur the risk of an
other inadequate bidding.
| Witness was asked why a distinction had
been made in letting the Tongue river, Rock
Creek and Fort Custer routes.
| Wilson gave notice that if the prosecution
went outside the indictment and took up ot,-
er routes, he would feel called upon to go in
to the subject at length.
The court replied that the rules Of law
could not be relaxed merely to save time,
that long ago had ceased to be a subject for
consideration.
Other-routes were instanced with cond-
tons which resembled those of the Tongue
river, but which had been Re advertised
| Generally, the-witness failed to remember
the particular routes. and answered rather i'm
patiently that the official records would show
what action had been taken in connection
with them.
| Inquiry turned upon congressional investi-
! CATION, and the witness reiterated many of
I the answers given during its progress.
| Witness declined TO say what member of
/ Congress interested himself in Mineral Park
/ Phoebe Route. He had no objection to NAM
ing the persons who initiated the movement,
! but objected to naming the persons who had
/ concerned themselves in subsequent orders
The Nevada senators and representatives, and
Utah delegate had interested themselves in
the route, among others Senator Jones.
| The witness was asked TO explain his rea-
sons for cutting down the service. The wit
! pas said that his f,r 10
the service on the Mineral Park Proche route
and afterward restoring it, were that it had
been represented to him that great Injustice
to contractors had been done, and Senator
| Plumb of Kansas had made this representa-
ton.
| The witness was convinced that the fault
was with the sub-contractor, and if the SER
vice was restored the contractors would make
it good service. The importance of the
route was also one reason for restoring it,
Bliss abruptly -''What had Senator
Plumb, Kansas senator, to do with this
| Arizona rOute!"
Witness (drily)-"He could probably an
swer that question more correctly than
could.
| Various questions of a technical nature
were put to the witness regarding the differ
ent routes. He was asked why he had not in
creased the compensation of contractors on
the Vermllion-Sioux Falls route, as in the
case of the Tongue river route. He answered
that he was not aware that the distance in
the first case was wrongly advertised.
Bliss produced the distance circular, show
ing the error; but the witness declared that
he had never seen it before Bliss showed
that the order itself made the error apparent.
but the witness said that French had made
the order, and that his Endorsement, edo this
Brady" had probably been written. After a
description of distance, the witness was
asked if he did not suspend service on the
Prescott-Santa Fe route in March. 1881. He
| replied: My Impression is that | declared
Walsh failing contractor, but did not sus-
pend service. Frequently had conversation
with Walsh sometimes at Gen. Sheridan $
house (Walsh's lounging place. but never
by appointment.
Sheridan usually there, but not al
ways. The witness frequently went in and
made himself at home, although Sheridan
was absent. Never had any money transac-
tons with Walsh, who was always expressing
his willingness to loan money, but had asked
Walsh to loan him some stock.
Witness acknowledged that the letter pro
duced by Bliss (the Chateau letter'O was
in his handwriting.
lngersoll objected to the reception of the
letter, because of its evelency, and argued
| the point.
The court decided to admit the paper, be-
cause it tended to show the business relations
between Brady and Walsh. The letter was
then read. 1t is request for loan OF
of some Chattanooga stocks, and has been
| often published. Witness said that Walsh
did not lend him the stock He explained
that the term used in the letter, 'ginger,"
did not mean money, but just exactly what
he asked for, Chattanooga stock, Witness
told Walsh to buy Chattanooga, because it
was going up, but unfortunately. it did not
That was in the office of Hatch & Foote. New
York. SO Walsh bought the stock but when
the witness wished to borrow he said he had
sold it.
The newspapers" referred to was the Re-
publican. He had used the plural form be-
cause he expected to make it as good as two
newspapers. He was at the time negotiating
for the ownership of the Capital and came
into the Critic later on. The other business
referred to was the Canadian lumber business
of Waugh, Brown & Co.
Bliss wanted to know how Walsh and wit
ness were to be benefited by the proposed
loan.
He said he expected to run up the price of
the Chattanooga stock and Walsh would
have got a handsome profit on bis stock
and the witness had more than q CARLOAD
himself
The witness swore positively that no money
had been deposited to his credit at Hatch (
Foote's by Walsh.
One Of the price drafts was again produced
and the witness was asked if he had sent or
delivered that draft to Walsh.
Ingersoll objected and characterized it a.
an attempt to get in sideways what they
could not get in by the front door.
The court said it was only question as to
whether it tended to sustain Walsh's testi-
mony.
Ingersoll maintained that it was not a ma
| terial point. He said that the paper did not
bear Walshs endorsement to show that it
passed through his hands and that it was pro-
dosed to fill up that gap with little bit of
purjury, although the same paper was con
| cerned.
The court said that it regarded the question
"a entirely different from that disposed of in
| the morning. 1t was now question of
whether it tended to sustain or contradict
| Walsh.
Ingersoll argued the point with great earn
estness, and was followed by Merrick for the
prosecution. He asserted that it was not
necessary for intermediate holders to en-
dorse postal draft. If Brady had done that
he had shown himself infinitely more stupid
| than he had shown himself to be upon the
| cross-examination. The two men walsh