Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE STAR ROUTE.
Miner on the stand.

WASHINGTON. April 3.
The Star route trial was resumed in the
criminal court this morning. Juror Hugher.
colored, rising in his place. denied the pub
lished statement that he had been suffering
from cancer.
John X. Miner, a defendant. was then
called to the stand and examined BY Henkle.
He testified he had been associated with 5.
W. Dorsey in business enterprises. In ls1i
the witness met Dorsey and they concluded
to take fiy" at the mail contract business.
The witness told how he had met Boone.
John Dorsey and other contractors and of the
difficulties experienced in securing bondsmen,
his statements agreeing with other evidence
given for the defence. He was not allowed
to saw whether or not he understood that $.
w. Dorsey was interested in the business
while in the Senate; that Miner, Peck & Co.
meant Peck and witness. There was no
company so far as he knew. John W Dor
sew & Co. meant Dorsey and Boone. They
secured l20 odd contracts at letting in ISIS.
The witness gave the details OF Wales taking
the Oregon routes after they hal failed with
them. He said the trouble between s. W.
Dorsey and Vale and witness began about
Dec. LIST. Senator Dorsey had Endorsed notes
to the German American Bank as security
for cetified checks. When Vale filed his
sub-contracts, these notes went TO protest and
a grand row followed" Both were OBJ
stinate men," said the witness, land fire
few"
The witness said the quarrel resulted in a
separation in the spring of 1879. Vale was
willing that witness should go with Dorsey
or unite with him. The routes and debts
were divided and each party went on its own
wav. Vale and witness constituted the firm
of Vale, Miner & Co., and they had no in
terest in the routes held by others.
Witness denied with the most positive
terms that the defendants, to his knowledge,
had ever conspired to defraud the govern
ment. Moore's testimony was reviewed and
contradicted in many essential points. Upon
only two occasions in the winter of lS11-1S
had witness consulted Senator Dorsey ia re-
gard to the mail business. The first occa-
sion was when the bids were being prepared
Senator Dorsey AS member of the railroad
committee, and in the course of his inspec-
ton of the Northern Pacific Railroad had
been impressed with the glowing future and
possibilities of Eastern Oregon, and thought
the bids upon the routes in that country too
high. One of them was reduced $1,000 by
his suggestion and the contractors lost more
than that sum from their reliance upon his
judgment.
ituess iEiu Written Ill every inquire III t1e
bidding book. Specific denials were made of
nearl" everything of importance included in
Rerdel's testimony affecting witness.
Witness said he and Rerdell had quarrelled
one day in the spring of 1879 and witness
told Rerdcll that if he ever spoke to him
again he would ''mash his nose all over his
face" Had nothing to do with him after
that until the trial began,
An extended examination was based upon
the handwriting of different papers in evil
dence, witness continuing to contradict Rer-
dell upon every material point.
Without concluding the examination of
the witness the court adjourned.