National Republican., 1883-04-10
MINERS MEMOIRS.
His Recollection Of Star Route Matters Seems
to bo Very Good So Far
Though it May Fail as the Others Have
Done on Cross-Examination,
But He Rattles Along at Lively Rate Under the
Promptings Of His Own Attorney.
A Juror Corrects thc Impression That n
Mole OH His Neck IL n Cancer.


criminal court yesterday morning. Juror
Hughes (colored) rising in his place, said that
he desired to deny tho published statements
that he had been suffering from cancer. He
had large mole upon his neck which from
medical treatment had assumed the appear
ance that possibly gave rise TO the stories
The court remarked that the jury must not
mind newspaper comment. John X. Miner,
n defendant, was then called to the stand and
examined by his counsel, Mr.. Henkle He
described how he had made the acquaintance
of the other defendants in tho trial, and how
he had come to engage in the mail carrying
business Also told how the companies were
organized, and stated that Miner Peck q
Co. meant Peck and himself, and j. w. Dorsey
& Co. meant John w. Dorsey and Boone.
They secured 100 odd contracts at the letting
in 1878. Witness went out west to put on
service. The Oregon routes, including two
mentioned IN the Indictment were subot to
one Hutchins, u subcontractor, who failed
and thereby greatly embarrassed the contrac.
tors. Witness came on to Washington and
tried to get rid of the contracts, tried to give
them away "as holy gift" to several per-
sons, Vailc among others. Vale declined at
FIRST but consented TO see Brady and tried TO
get an extension of the time allowed for put
ting on the service. He succeeded in getting
an extension until Aug. 16 Witness then
started Moore for Oregon, and did what he
could to put on the service by the appointed
time. But il was a work of great difficulty,
and witness through Naile applied to Brady
for another formal extontion, but his request
was refused Vale went home leaving an
offer for witncss's consideration, to take
up the servi ia of Miner, Peck IL Co. II they
should be declared failing contractors, thereby
protecting them from loss and securing an
extension of sixty days. There was - a little
tnessing" in that the witness admitted. The
offer was accepted, and drafts upon the routes
IL. nNNV.a .aaI tn nah
ington in the fall of 1873. The witness re-
peated the statements of the preceding wit
nesses as to the contract between Vale and
the other contractors Witness had powers of
attorney to act III these matters from John
Dorsey and Peck. The contract was formally
made in Nov, 1875, but 1t was dated Aug. IT,
because that was the date upon which Vale
had really come in and lifted the witness out
of the slough Of despond."
S. W. Dorsey had no interest in that con-
tract nor were Moore or Boone interested.
Boone had got into trouble with some of his
own routes, and thereby the routes of the
combination were jeopardized. So Boone
was given the routes held by John Dorsey
in Texas Kansas, and southern Nebraska as
n consideration for the REIMBURSEMENT of his
claims.
Boone and vaile were unfrendly, so wit
ness sDd nothing to Vaile of Boone's connec-
tion with the business from fear that the
knowledge might operate to prevent Vale
from coming into the business. Witness had
no communication with Senator Dorsey from
the middle of July to Dec. 1, 1873.
Mr.. Hcnkle inquired why s. w. Dorsey had
not been informed of the proposed arrange
mont with Vale before its conclusion, but the
court refused to allow the question.
The trouble between 5. w. Dorsey and Vaile
and witness began about Dec l. Senator
Dorsey had indoIsed notes given to the Ger
mun American bank as security for the certi-
Il Ill, H. Nnil
tracts these notes went to protest, and q
"gland row followed" between Vaile and
Dorsey. Both were obstinate men," said
the witness, "and fire few"
The court refused to allow the counsel to
20 into the details of the quarrel, saying that
the only reason for admitting the evidence
already given Oh this point was to show the
relations between the parties, that they were
not those ordinarily existing between Cocoon
spirators.
Mr.. Hcnkle wished to prove that S. w.
Dorsey had threatened to kick Vaie out OF
the business when he retired from the senate,
hut this offer was also refused.
The witness, continuing, said that the quar-
rel resulted in n separation i'll the spring OF
1879 Vaile was willing that witness should
10 nth Dorsey or unite with him. The
routes and debts were divided, and each party
went on its own way. vailo and witness con-
stituted the firm of Vaile, Miner Il Co., and
they had no interest in the routes held by the
Others 1--WE never touched pen to paper
for them after the fifth of May" said the wit
ness. Nor did Peck or the Dorseys interfere
with Vaile, Miner & Co. Saw S. w. Dorsey
twice after the separation and before the find
ing of the Indictment only to say good morn
ing 10 him, Saw Brady twice before the in
dictment was returned Upon the first
occasion went to secure an extension OF time
for putting on service, " he Dluned me
pretty nearly out of my boots" said the wit
I did On him until tlC
spring Of 1881, when ! went to see him about
thcater box"
The witness denied in the most positive
terms that he, or any of the defendants to
his knowledge, had ever conspired to defraud
the government.
MOorc's testimony was reviewed and contra
dcted in many essential points. The witness
said it was barely possible that he told Moore
that he (Mincr) had borrowed some money
from S. W. Dorsey; but certainly never told
him that s. w. Dorsey was interested in the
business. S. w. Dorsey was not here at the
settlement with Moore. Witness gave Moore
no directions whatever regarding the petit
tions and his statements upon that subject
were unuualihedly false. Vale was not told
of MOore's connection with the business, be-
cause il might have kept him out. Said the
witness! 81 told him all that was good and
nothing that was bad"
In November, 1873 Moore was bought out
for SBS2 OF S1S2. "And he beat me out OF
$1,000 or $4,000 in addition" exclaimed the
witness,
Mr.. Merrick, He was in the habit of beating
YOU, was he not? .
The witness lie lost it at gambling, and it dic
not do him much good
Upon only two occasions in theiwinter Of 1877
az had the witness consulted Senator Dorsey
in regard to the mail business. The first oc
casiOn was when the bids swere being prepared
Senator Dorsey as member of the railway
committee, and in the course of his inspec
tion of the Northern Pacific railway had beer
impressed with glowing notions Of the posi-
blities of eastern Oregon, and thought tina
the bids upon the routes in that country hat
been worked too high. Oneofthem was reduced
$1,000 by his suggestion, and the contractor
lost moro than that sum from their reliance
upon his Judgment. Witness had written il
every figure in the bidding book Specti
denials were made of nearly everything q
importance included in Rerdells testimon'
affecting the witness. Rerdell had not bee
promised that his route (White River
Rawlins) would be increased anything b
did in connection with that route was upo
mis- own responsibility.
Witness said he and Rerdell had quarrele
on the avenue one day in the spring of 1875
and witness told Rerdell that IL he ever spok
10 lin again ho would "mash his nose all owe
his face.b Had nothing to do with him atts
that until the trial began.
araminatiOn WAS based uDO