The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-23
A Determined Effort to Destroy the Effect
of Rerde1Ps Evidence-Rumors of
Another Indictment.
Important Ruling on the Question of
Rebate Taxes on Tobacco.
Secretary Folger Still Unable to Resume
His Official observation-disclosures
Notes and Gossip.
IMPEACHING RERDELL.
A Number of Siar-Route Witnesses Deny
the Truth of RerdelIs Testimony.


the Truth of RerdelPs Testimony.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-The star-route
trial was resumed this morning. Mr.. Inger-
soil called Theo. W. TORY, of New York
The witness had occupied an Office in the
Boreel building with Stephen Dorsey; he
went there in January, 1880, remaining until
May, 1881, acting as secretary and book
keeper for Dorsey. On May /, 1881, he re-
moved to 145 Broadway, and remained there
until the last week of 1882. He occupied
rooms 5 and at las Broadway, in June, 1881
The witness was in full charge of Dorseys
business, drawing two-thirds of his checks,
and in possession of his books and papers.
The witness personally occupied room No.
6, and it was impossible for any one to get
into room No. without passing him. R. F.
Mullins also had a desk in room No. g.
there were two desks and a safe in No s.
The new book and tin-box containing
Dorsey's papers were kept there. He first
saw Rerdell in February, 1880; did not give
red book or any book to Rerdell on June 49,
1881; never saw him at that office, and he was
not there on that day. There was no book
such as described by Rerdell in witnesss
custody, or any book resembling it, Never
saw books bound in red leather in the office,
and they could not have been kept there
without his knowledge. He saw Stephen
Dorsey on the evening of June 13, 1881, at
his room in the Albemarle Hotel. He fixed
the date because Dorsey asked him if Rerdell
had been in the office. He left New York on
Feb. 21 last, for Europe, and was at
sea on Feb. %. In February, 1880, Rerdell
brought two check books to the office; one
was on Middleton & Co., and the other on
the Citizens National Bank. Rerdell after
ward took away the Middleton book, but it
came into witness's possession again. There
were only two small mining books in wit
ness's desk on June 13, $780, Rerdell was
never in the Office at las Broadway; never re-
ceived any abstract books or copies OF books
from Rerdell.
The witness was cross-examined bv Mr.
Merrick. His reason for making so short
stay (three days. in London was because
Dorsey cabled him to come back. His testi-
mony was important to him.
Mr. Merrick-Suppose we bring two detect
ives to swear that they followed Rerdell and
saw him enter the Office?
The court ruled out the question, although
Mr.. Merrick managed to assert that he would
produce two postotfice inspectors to swear to
the fact.
DESCRIBING THE BOOKS.
At Mr.. Ingersoll's request, the witness de-
scribed the three books kept by Kellogg,
one of Dorsey's clerks, but could not name
their color, being color-blind, as he said:
His books contained no entries against rWm.
Smith" or Samuel JONES'" would have re-
mo har o11r Ino ~.
office at any time
Mr.. Merrick asked why the witness had
sworn there were no red books, when he had
acknowledged that he was colorblind The
witness said he could manage to distinguish
a leading color
Robert F. Mullins, of Brooklyn, was next
called. He had occupied a room with TORY
at 145 Broadway. Mr.. Ingersoll pointed to
Rerdell, who sat facing the witness, and in
quired if he had ever seen him. The
witness replied in the negative. He
never saw man take book away from the
rooms, and never,saw any books such as de-
scrbed by Rerdell. He had the com bnation
of the safe. 1t contained no such books
He was in the office every day in June 1881,
barring Sundays. Rerdell would have neces-
sarily passed within four or five feet of the
witness when passing into room five. There
were no account books in the latter room
outside of the safe.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr.
Merrick, and stated that if Rerdell had come
in, as he said, the witness would have re-
membered his face to a certainty; was posi-
tive he had never seen Rerdell before meet
ing him in the courtroom.
Charles Andrews, of this city, was next
called. He said he went to New York on
June Is, 1881; returning he saw Rerdell at
the Jersey City depot The latter had no
books under his arm; he did have a valise
in his hand. They travelled together in the
same car to Washington.
To Mr.. Bliss-Saw Mr. James in the car:
conversation with Rerdell followed; a man
came into the car and called for Rerdell.
Welbar F. kellogg testified that ne was
Dorsey's private secretary and bookkeeper
from the summer of 1872 to the fall of 1879.
In 1879 Rerdell had desk in the same room
with the witness. The only books kept by
Rerdell were a small memorandum book of
office expenses and large mail-route book,
covered with white canvass If Rerdell had
kept any such books as he (RerdeiD had de-
scribed, the witness thought he would have
known it. There were no red books, so far
as the witness knew. The witness sent his
own books to Dorsey at New York, and sup
posed TORY closed them up. Rerdell made
no entries in those books, nor did any one
except the witness. He had often seen Rer-
dell write, and had frequently seen him try
to initiate Dorsey's handwriting his
signature, ETC., writing several lines
at time. The "Spith" and 'Jones"
memorandum was exhibited to witness, who
examined it carefully, and said: Now,
wouldn't want to say that had never seen
this memorandum before, but the first three
items / remember Dorsey gave me in mem-
orandum to make in the books, which did.
with the exception OF the entry of $40, ,115."
Mr.. Ingersoll then asked who wrote the
entries.
Answer should say the first three en-
tries were in Dorsey's handwriting. (Read-