National Republican., 1883-04-18
THE J. B. B. CHECK.
Some Interesting Facts About 1t Drawn Out in
the Star Route Trial.
Four Persons Were TO Share in II and
One of Them Was to Collect II,
TSs Suggestion Of "a Business Transaction" Causes
Judge Bissell to "Smie Blsndly."
The Court Declines 70 Allow tho Prose-
cution TO Contradict Torrey.

Considering the unfavorable circumstances,
the close, dark, lilly ventilated court room, and
the unusually long, tedious proceedings, the
fifth month of the second star route trial
found the court, jury, and counsel looking
we'll and in remarkably good health. All
of the defendants were present--a rather un-
usual occurrence
Mr.. William A. Cook opened the proceed
ings with statement which, he said, might
affect the case under consideration He had
been informed that notice had been served
upon J. B. Price requiring his presence in
court under pain of an attachment. He pre-
scntod surgeons certificate, showing that
Price was suffering from = cancerous affection
of the eye and could not attend.
MIR. Morrick replied that Price had prom
ised TO attend with his friends at the govern
ments pleasure. But in view of the facts, as
described by Mr.. Cook, the attachment would
not be asked for, unless it became absolutely
necessary in order to comply with the forms
of law.
Ex.Postmaster General James was then
called TO the stand by the prosecution, and
requested to state whose signature was at
tached to the kilograms shown to him by
Rerdell on tho train from New York to
Washington in June, 1881.
Mr. Ingersoll immediately objected, and
the point was argued at some length by
Messrs. Ingersoll and Wilson for the defense,
and Mr.. Bliss for the prosecution. During
the debate the contents of the two dispatches
which were from Dorsey to Rerdell were
stated by agreement. They were to the fol-
lowing effect:
"The first telegram-one of them--(they
we're delivered together), was to this effect:
Get of the train at once and return to New
York, and Il think all is forgiven you.' "
The second was "Return at once to New
York For Gods sake do nothing to injure
me and my friends. Don't perseverc in your
course"
Mr.. Merrick and Messrs. Davidge and
Kenkle continued the argument at some
length, and tho court finally overruled the
offer.
The examination was then resumed. In
answer to Mr.. Bliss the witness said that when
he arrived in New York in June, 1851, he mel
Inspector Newcomb.
MIR. Ingcrsoll asked to have this statement
stricken from the record and argument again
ensued.
Mr.. Ingersoll charged that the prosecution
was trying to prove an alibi for Rerdell t
corroborate him by proving that he lied.
Mr.. Merrick declared that it was his inten
tion to prove that Torrey had not told the
truth that Rerdell was at his Office wher
Torrey was there during office hours. Th'
important event Of the day was Rerdell's vis
to the Office during office hours, regardless o.
the exact hour.
In response to a request from the court Mr.
Bliss explained that his offer was to prov,
that Rerdcll went into that Office at 10 O'Clock
on that day, a direct contradiction of Torrey
After recess the court said that the mer
fact of the contradiction of witness (Rcrdell
by another witness (Torrey) was not sutiicien
ground for the admission of corroboratini
evidence by the government during rebuttal
That was tho object of the present offer; ant
it should have been made during tho present
alton of the governments case. The oife
was therefore overruled, and Mr. James wa
excused.
IL. p. Rumser Of Laramie City, Wyoming
was then called. In April, 1879, the witnes
was proprietor of the Sidney house, Sidney
Neb. He was asked if Rerdell had registered
at his house in April, 1879. Mr.. lngersol
objected.
Mr.. Bliss explained that his object was t.
contradict John w. Dorsey, who had at
tempted to fasten upon Rerdell the responsi
bility of making two conflicting atfidavits II
connection with one route, and on the sam
day John Dorsey had sworn that Rerdell wa
in Washington in April and had sent the ali
davits to him Dorsey in Vermont. Mr. In
gersol protested that the offer would not b
q contradiction, but the evidence was ad
mitted, and the witness produced his registe
showing that Rerdell was at Sidney, Neb., o
April 81, 1879.
Mr.. barley, of Greeley, Col, a hotel clerl
brought register showing that Rerde
stopped in that place on April 24 1873.
Mr. Hmnan, formerly clerk in the Gran
Central hotel Denver, Col, produced regis
ter showing that Rerdell was in Denver o
April "a, 1879
A. Il. Boone identified Rerdell's signatur
10 the aforementioned hotel registers.
Mr.. Merrick offered to prove by Boone ths
S. w. Dorsey had signed Peck's name to tw
contracts in 1877 and 1873, but tho offer wf
overruled because it did not concern til
routes set out in the indictment.
Judge Julius b. Bissell, of Leadville, WI
next called. He had known Stephen v
DorsoX.
Mr.. Merrick asked if he had ever seen
check for s., 600 drawn by Dorsey.
Mr.. Ingersoll objected, but when Mr.. Me
rick explained that lie proposed to prove thu
such check had been drawn and had bee
known as the Belford check, he said, Ia
him swear to it,"
MIR. Wilson renewed the objection, and a
argument followed.
Mr.. Ingersoll called for a further statemel
from the government. If they would 50
that they expected to prove that any chec
had been given by Dorsey to james b. BE
ford, he would not object.
Mr.. Merrck replied that even If he shoul
comply with the request, he would be mi
Nlln an ODlGCllOn ny duOluSI VI NOuhs
as flank movement. The gentleman hi
produced a great number of checks with
great display, but two or three were missiI
and they might have been important /
wished TO contrdict Dorsey when ho said tn
no check had been drawn TO the order
~. B. b."
"There is no such check" said Mr. 1nge
soil.
"I will give 81, 900 for that check; NAL
that offer nOw," exclaimed S. w. Dorsey, wi
sat beside his counsel
Mr.. Bliss said that the books showed n chez
drawn to 81. B. b." He would not say wi
~. b. b." represented, but he would adm
that he did not now believe that it mea
Belford. The court decided to allow the i
quiry, and the witness said that he had SCI
~ check drawn by $. w. Dorsey to the ord
of"J. b. b." OF bearer Did not know b
exact amount of the check, but 1t was in 4
neighborhood of $1,000. 1t was to be divid
among four different gentlemen, and one
them mot witness) was to collect IL. II
money was drawn in Leadville. Saw Dors
niEn the check or draft was not certa
which it was, as it only remained in
hands for Il second. That was about Jul
1879. Judge Bowen, afterward Senat
Bowen, was one Of the party.
To Mr.. lngersOll At the conclusion (hI
the witness hesitated and smiled) his wv
ness) initials were placed upon the check, a
Dorsey suggested that Charles w. Tank
sley, one of the party, collect the check, /
not know on what bank the check was draw
Mr.. Ingersoll asked where the witness '
in April, 1880. He hesitated for time, a
then said that he had no recollection on h