Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-20
STAR ROUTE METHODS.
Rerdeli's Examination Continued
objection 10 His Testimony Over
ruled.

Rerdeli's Examination Continued
Objection 20 His Testimony Over.
| ruled.
| When tie star route trial was resumed this
| morning Rerdell again took the stand. Mr. Bliss
| continued the examination begun by Mr.. Merrck
last evening, concerning the papers on the various
routes and the handwriting In them. He first tes-
titled that certain papers on the Kearney and
Kent route were in the handwriting OF John r.
Miner.
NJ HENKLE CONTENDS THAT RERDK1L rs NOT A
COMPETENT WITNESS.
Here Mr.. Henkle rose and said that he desired to
| enter an objection to the testimony OF this wit
| ness, so far as his client was concerned, on the
ground. first, that there had been no order OF the
court allowing him to go on the stand to testify !;
! secondly, that having pleaded "not guilty. and
put on ball with the other defendants, 1t was not
| competent Tor him to be put on the stand now as
| witness Mr. Henkle said that II he had pleaded
guilty before the trial he would then have been
| competent witness
| Judge Wylie having remarked that the question
| was one to be settled by authorities and not by
argument Mr. Henkle cited authorities to sustain
| his propositions.
| Mr.. Bliss having asked what authorities Mr.
Henkle had TO sustain his point that the fact that
rendered him incompetent, Mr.. Henkle said he had
not the authorities at hand, but proposed to sub
NIT init them, sa He proposed at the proper time to
SO far as his client was concerned
| Mr.. BLISS REPLIES.
Mr. Bliss said that he must present his authori-
| Ties now. He referred to the opinion in what is
called the whisky cases. repo ed In the Oh OF Otto
approving such course as has been followed in the
present case, it being held there that the district
| t'orney had no rgh to make an agreement with
| the accomplice involving his immunity. but that
ne mad rlgh to put the accomplce on the It nd
| relying upon executive clemency. He said he
| thought they would search I'm vain for a case
| where an accomplice was considered incompetent
| witness reasons stated "
Mr.. Henkle said he had not intended to bring on
the argument OF the case this morning, but only
"You can't take the chances" said Judge Wylie
~oi the evidence being in your favor, and then
| Mr. HenEie proceeding with his - remarks
argued that 1t was unjust to admit the testimony
or Rerdell under the circumstances The witness,
| he said, was presumed to be In confidence OF his
co-defendantS up to the time that he deserts
them and takes the stand against them. and it
was an abuse OF justice to admit his testimony
Mr. Henkle having proceeded TO argue that the
court was party in admitting the testimony, and
was under an implied obligation to recommend
immunity
| he was not conscious OF any such obligation. He
fehearsei the circumstances under which Rerden
had taken the stand and his tender OF himself as
| witness. Mr.. Ingersoll announcing that for his
| part he had no objection.
"We don't Think" said Mr. Ingersoll, .sthat it is
worth while to object to it. There's not much of
| it, anyhow"
The examination. the court said had continued
lot several days, and 1t was entirely too late TO
1t were not too late the objections could not be
| sustained. He had no doubt that the court hld
power 10 refuse to permit an accomplice to be ex-
amlned. but that was power rarely exercised.
Inc court, however, was not likely to take the
prosecution out OF the hands OF the proper officers
ana decide what evidence was needed and What
was not. The witness was on the stand by per-
mission Of the court, which was equivalent to an
order OF the court and the government could pro-
no w
Mr.. Henkle noted his exception.
THE WITNESS IDENTIFYING PAPERS.
The witness continued to identity the hand
writing OF papers on the Kearney and Kent
routes.
MIR. Bliss next took up the st. Charles and
Greenhorn route, proving the handwriting in
diHerent papers. From this route he proceeded to
others The time until recess was consumed in
the Identification or papers.
AFTER THE RECESS,
when the witness took the stand, he complained
to the court that he had been chilled by sitting In
the cold. had severe headache, and would like to
be excused for the remainder OF the day He
finally assented to suggestion by Mr.. Bliss to 60
on with the proving OF papers, Mr. Bliss making a
| statement showing that he was about half through
tnan Wlsn 1estim9ny OF that character The witness
DOrsey's Account With Brady.
THE ENTRIES MADE BY RERDELL AGAINST "wM
sAITH"-wHAT DORsRYs CHECKBOOK SHOWS, &C
After THE STARS report OF the star route trial
closed yesterday there was considerable argu-
ment as to the notice served on the defend
ants to produce Dorsay's account books and
checkbook referred to ~ RerdeIl. Judge Wylie
decided that the notice was suficent and that
the books not having been produced Rerdell could
be examined as to their contents. The witness
said there were four charges made to SWIM.
Smith," The first one was SIS 600 He could not
give the order in which the other three were
made, but there was one OF 1000, one S. 600 and
another 81, 500 He thought the entries were all in
his (the WitneSSo handwriting in pursuance OF
went over the checks Where he found checks
charged TO 'mail" he footed them up and trans
1erred the entries to the books by DOrSeyS direc-
tions, charged to SWIM Smith" These checks
Rerdell visited Middleton's bank and the Post
Office department The witness was examined
further as to different passages In the affidavlt
he made at Dorseys solicitation. retracting state
mentS made In the interviews with Messrs. Mac
veagh and James, and he swore to the falsity OF
the statements In the affidavit At the time
witness made the af1idavit Dorsey said: "Rerdell-
II you do that Will make 1t all right with YOU"
q. stopped him there, conti0ued the witness, and
said: "Money couldn't buy me to do that There
fled that the words schedule IS hours" In peti-
tion on the Kearney ana Kent route and all or the
writing in two af1davlts on the same route was In
Miners handwriting. Miner had signed the name
the name OF Peck was signed by s. W. d, rsey
The witness identified other papers on the same
route on which Miner had written the signature
of j. NJ. Peck.
The court then adjourned until to-day.
District Government Affairs.
INFORMATION FOR TAX PAYERS
The general and personal tax for the year end
ing June 80, 1SS3, can be paid during this month
with penalty OF per centum only added to the