Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-04-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
TIE STAR ROUTE.



wAsHISGIoS, April 3.
The star route trial was resumed this morn
ing Witness Dorsey made statement IN
regard to Bosler's book. referred to yester-
day He had had a search made and had not
found it, His memory refreshed by
his clerk and he now remembered that Bosier
had taken away that book with others TO show
to Bliss The cross-examination was then
continued.
The witness declared that he had never
bought any account books for Rerdell.
Merrick produced a bill upon Senator
Dorsey for ledger, a cash book and day
book, purchased from a local stafioner on
/ MAY "a 1879.
The court excluded the paper because it
was not the best evidence. The witness ex-
plained that the check was for $500. drawn
in favor of Rerdell. 1, had been given to
the latter when the witness was about 10
! leave the city and wanted money and had no
time to 90 to the bank. Rerdell returned
with the money and it was placed in the wit
ness valise.
Referring to the interview in July with
Rerdel in Boslers room at Willard's Hotel.
the witness said that ne had gone there to
discuss Rerdell's conduct with Bosler.
Rerdell had drawn on him for $1,000 The
witness had turned over TO his counsel Rer-
dell's letter, in which he states that he Is
going over to the government Rerdeii had
not been confronted with the letter The wit
| ness said. because Bosler and himself had no
desire to have a row with Rerdell at that
time. They were not ambitious TO affront
him then, because public sentiment had been
worked up considerably. and the witness
did not care to have a difficulty with one of
the defendants.
In regard to the letters to Mrs. Syringe
man, which Rerdel said had been used 10
threaten him while in Jail, the witness said
he knew the woman and had recommended
her for a position in the treasury department.
in 1881 Rerdell wrote her a number OF
very vicious letters which she copied and
transmitted to the witness in New Mexico.
Witness forwarded them to lngersoli. The
| letters had been shown to Rerdell while he
was in Jail but he had not been threatened
at all.
The examination then recurred to the in
terview al the Albermarle Hotel
| The witness had been in his room all that
day. Dewitt c. Wheeler breakfasted "ith
him. There was no quarrel between Rerdel!
| and himself at that time
The books which Rerdell was to turn over
were expense books, some letter books and
the mail book.
The witness did not believe that he had
prepared any part of Rerdelfs retractlng
affidavit. Could not remember whether or
not he had interpolated any position. lie
was asked how that affidavit came TO be di-
rected to the President of the United States.
Said affidavit had been submitted to Col
Ingersol., and by his direction had been ad-
dressed to the President. He believed Rer-
dell wrotetthe words Mr.. President. Did
| not recOllect when he wrote the words.
| Probably the affidavit had been rewritten
| If he (witness) had written it. better English
would have been used.
| Merrick endeavored to secure the witness
| to admit that he had written or suggested
any portion of the affidavit. but he steadily
refused to make any positive statement about
what occurred four years ago. Ii was possi-
Bile that he had suggested changes. he was
asked if he had not sought to use the affi-
davit to secure the removal of James and
McVeagh charging them with burglary and
other heinous offences in seeking to procure
his (Dorsev's) books and papers.
He rather defiantiy declared that he had
done everything he could to secure their re-
moval; that the charges in the athdavits were
| true and that Gov. Foster of Ohio had told
tie President substantially the same thing
and had said that the officers should be re-
moved The witness opinion was that if the
President had lived q week longer he would
have followed that advice. He indignantly
repelled the assumption that he had sought
protection from James and McVeagh. asking
if the counsel believed the pismire could
| hurt the elephant.
| Merrick-WhiCh is the plsmlre and which
the elephant?
Answer-I will leave that to popular opin-
| ion.
| The question having been reiterated the
witness said if he had not tried in every pos
| sible way to have James and MacVeagh re-
moved his tongue had not known its cum
ming"
| Ingersol was about to read one of the
| Wilcox letters to the witness when Merrick
took up a position directly before him, there
upon, Inyersoll refused to read.
Bliss declared that on former occasion of
this kind something aside from the contents
of paper had passed between the counsel
| and the witness.
claimed any intention of imputing intentional
misconduct to gentlemen.
/ The court again remarked that in such
matters reliance must be had upon the integ
| rity of the counsel, who might read the letter
| to his client privately.
| When this was done the witness denied
writing the letter to Wilcox enclosingthe form
of petition to be used upon the Oregon
routes The only instructions that had been
| given to Wilcox were generally in character.
Witness had telegraphed to him once but
Rerdell had also telegrsphed in his (witness)
| name.
The court refused to admit the kilograms
received by Wilcox.
| Merrick then announced that his cross
| examination was closed.
Ingersol had expected the cross-examina
| ton to continue a week or two longer and
asked an adjournment, which the court re-
| fused.
| The witness was consulted with his coun-
sci for a few moments when Ingersoll arose
and stated that he had no further questions
to ask Mr.. Dorsey, and having no witness
ready to examine he renewed bis request for
an adjournment and met with success, the
court remarking that there seemed to be a
conspiracy on foot to adjourn the court and
| it must succomb.