National Republican., 1883-03-03
STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
A Number Of New Witnesses on the Stand--
Thoir Pay Discussed,
When tho Government will Close Il,
Cose-Adjournmcnt Untl Tuesday.

nc government CNlicU NlNIitS IL iiuOpcI
to the witness stand in the star route trial
yesterday morning Witness was book
keeper for Donnell, Lawson & Co., bankcrs
Of New York and identified a warrant drawn
to the order of John NJ Peck, deposited by
II. w. Torroy (Dorscv's bookkocper), TO
Dorscy's credit on Aug. 10, 1850. Mr.. Bliss
pointed out that the warrant had been drawn
on Aug. TO- and bore pock's Endorsement al
though the evidence showed that he was then
in New Mexico. Wilbur II. Swift and Carl
Mcclellan, former employees on the Bismarck
Tongue river route. gave testimony concern
ing the service over that Youtc. Mr.. McLcl-
Ian corrubOratcd the statements Of the wit
ness pcnnell in many particulars. Ii said
that John Dorsey expected to get the service
increased, perhaps in three months, TO tri
weekly, and in three months more TO daily
service He expected TO lose money on the
weekly service, but after expedition and in
crease expected TO realize about Slj0000. He
said his brother, Senator Dorsey, was chairman
of the postotlice committee. and through his
influence he expected TO get the increase. He
referred to senator Dorsey and the second as
sistgnt postmaster general. John Dorsey
said II did not make any difference whether
or not the carriers got through on time
To Mr.. Ingcrsoll, John Dorsey said they
had an understanding with the second assist
ant postmaster gcneral said they had organ
were in the ring gathered from the convoTsa-
tion that they" meant himself John Dorsey.
Senator Dorsey aud others; did not tell of
this conversation at the former trial, because
he had not been asked to do 1t.
To Mr.. Wilson. Was here for about three
months during the first trial was ut the post
office department perhaps about twenty times
in a room in the lower story used by the wit
ncsscs to write letters. There were ten or
fifteen witnesses there at one time had seen
Mr.. Blackmar there frequently.
Mr. Wilson asked the witness rs TO the
amount of mileage he had received after the
first trial, but the court refused TO go into
that subject
Mr. Wilson thought that he had a right to
show that the government had been paying
these witnesses more than they had been en-
titled TO.
Tho court did not think he had.
Mr.. Dayidgc believed that if they could
show over payments, il would show the de-
vices resortcd TO by the government to make
out their case.
The court replied that II was collateral
matter and inquiry into il might indefinitely
prolong the trial. it was better to stop 1t
now.
Mr. Bliss defcd the defense to prove that
any witness had been paid more than he was
entitled to-
The court said that this mans account had
not vet been audited and they might rest as
The defense continued to press the matter,
hut the court cut them short, and said that if
they could prove that the government had
been engaged in the business of bribng wit
nesscs it would be point in their defense,
but II was not proper TO 60 into that matter
now.
Mr. Wilson, in noting an exception, offered
to prove that employees of the government
had agreed to secure extra pay for these wit
n"Sscs' and were to receive consideration
therefor
In response to Mr.. Bliss. the witness said
the meeting Of witnesses at the postoilice de-
lartmrnt had been called for the purpose of
pctitionng congress for an increase in their
pay. Congress subsequently allowed the in
crease prayed for
l.aac C0bcll, who had been employed by
Dorsey in establishing the Bismarck Tongue
river route, COnOborutCd the testimony of
the preceding witness in regard to the con-
VcrsaiUn with John Dorsey He said the
men had Kicked believing that the route
would not pay. John Dorsey assured them
that the route would be increased so us to pay
well. The conversation with Mcclellan fol-
lowed.
TO Mr.. Ingersoll. Had been in the court
room when Mcclellan testified.
To Mr.. Wilson. Made statement of the
conversation TO Mr. Kcr; Mcclellan also made
his statement at the same time.
The witness was subjected to severe cross.
examination, but his direct testimony was not
shaken.
John ]. Calvert, ianitor of the Corcorau
building, testified that Rerdell had an Office
in that building Witness went into the
Office every morning, and on the day before
Rerdcll was released from jail he found the
door open and papers strewn over the floor
CrOss-cNaminCd. Had found other doors
open aud locks broken; went through the
building every night and tried every door;
had never missed night; Rerdell had spoken
10 him on the subject.
Inspector Patrick Woodward was next
called, and told how and where the official
papers mad been kept, and identified petit
tiOn on the ConOr City, Fort McDermott
route that did not bear the file mark of the
department.
Postmaster LounsbeTy, of Bismarck, testi-
fled that since he had left the stand John
Dorsey had told him that he was glad that
he had not been examined relative TO the pro-
posed pOstoilice on the Little Missouri river
that was the only wrong he had done in this
whole business
The witness explained that in December,
1s7s, John Dorsey presented for his signature
petition for the establishment of that post
oticc; that petition witness refused to sign
because there was no settlement nor necessity
for pOstoiliCe Mt that point.
MI Henklc Offered to prove that Lounsberry
had told Miner in June, 1873, of Rcrdell's
effort TO establish that pOstOllice, and that
Miner told him that as soon as Vale heard of
IL nC hau set ms 1901 down upon II as "One
Of the damn foolish schemes of Rerdcll."
Tho court refused 10 go into the subject
Mr., A, i, Boone was then recalled and
questioned in relation TO tho handwriting of
the papers
This was monotonous proceeding, and at
o'clock the witness had reached "3S Il" in
the myriad of papers.
At this point Mr. Bliss said that at the
next session he expected to complete this
work, and with the introduction of 92 vol
umcs, showing the revenue of the routes, the
government would close its case unless some
thing unforeseen should arise.
Nh lngersoll gave notice that he would re-
qulre day in which TO cross'oXanne Boone
The court said ii would adjourn the case
until Tuesday next, so as to afford opportunity
on Monday TO execute the prclminares in
cidcnt upon the beginning of the new term
Meanwhile it would be well for the defense
10 occupy the intervening time in active
preparation for the presentation Of their side
Of the case.
Mcsss DaVidgc and Ingcrsoll seemed to re-
gard the proposed allowance of time as being
insufficient but, without finally passing upon
the question, the court intimated that fur
ther time would not be allowed.
Adjourned until Tuesday.
Mississippi Republican Association.
There was meeting held last night at
Iohnson's hall, corner of r and Twelfth
IL. L.. a