Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Several Witnesses Testifying for Dorsey
Court Adjourned Until Monday.


The star route trial was resumed today.
Theodore W. Torrey testified that in June,
1881, he had full charge of Dorsey's business
and was in full charge of his books and pa
pers. Did not give records on any book to
Rerdell. June ID, 1880. Never saw him at
that Office, and he was not there that day.
There was no book such as described by Rer-
dell in the witness's custody. or any book
that resembled it, In February, 1880. Rer-
dell brought two check books to the Office.
One was on Middleton & Co., and the other
on the Citizens' National Bank. Rerdell
afterwar took away the Middleton book,
but it came into the witness's possession
again. There were only two small mining
books in the witness desk June Ii, 1880.
The witness believed there was nothing
due him on account of service. He wrote to
Rerdell about a certain entry in the books by
Kellogg. He did that because Dorsey was
absent. and the witness thought that Rerdell
knew something OF his business, for when
Rerdell was in New York he drew few
checks, and was positive that he brought only
two check books in February, 1880.
The witness wrote to Rerdell. because he
was extremely desirious of opening the new
and closing the old books. The witness
wrote up the books from certain books in
his possession. and tie books that Rerdell
brought there. The discre oancy in the entry,
% cents to S25, could not have risen from
any abstract furnished by Rerdell, because
no such abstract had been furnished, and
Rerdell was never in that Office; but Merrick
managed to assert that he could produce two
postoffice inspectors to swear that he was.
The witness said that his books would
show payments by checks to sub-contractors
while in New York in February, $780, Rer-
dol Aropr a h.r Of tboao oh be Sc
purpose. Bosler did not pay all OF the sub
contractors at that time. Dorsey paid them
all. The witness ran over the books at
Dorsey's house yesterday; was all alone at
the time. He had talked over three or four
points of his testimony with Dorsey; he did
not know whether Rerdell kept a set of books
Rerdell made out between twenty and
thirty checks, but could not tell for what
sum, whether for $50. 900 or 500, ZOO. Did
not know whether or not he had the books
before him when drawing these checks. The
witness entered up these checks in the cash
book, just As Rerdell filed in the check
books. giving the name of the sub-contractor,
of Rerdell etc.
The witness kept no account of the money
paid to the men employed by Dorsey to look
after his mail business, and did not know
whether or not Rerdell did. Knew nothing
VI tuC eCttiCACHt UCkWCcu DOTScy duu DOS-
Ter in the summer of 1880 Merrick asked
how he could be so positive that Rerdell was
not in the office. The witness said be knew
Rerdell we'll, but was not so well acquainted
with Bosler. Could remember distinctly who
called at the office at las Broadway, because
the visitors were so few in number 1t was
different in the Borrell building, because
there was such rush of visitors there. Wit
ness never paid mail debt for Dorsey by
cash or check, only drew checks in payment
of Dorsey's private accounts.
Robert F. Mullins of Brooklyn, was next
called. He had occupied room No. with
Torrey at AS Broadway. Ingersoll pointed
to Rerdell. who sat facing the witness, and
inquired if he had ever seen him.
He replied in the negative, SAYING that he
never saw the man take the book away from
the rooms and never saw any books such as
described by Rerdcll had the combination
of the safe and it contained no such books.
Chase Andrews of this city was next called.
He saw James on the cars in conversation
with Rerdell: he believed he came into the
car and called for Rerdell.
Wilbur F. Kellogg testified that he was
Dorseys private secretary and book-keeper
from the summer of 1872 until the fall of
1879. Rerdell had desk in the same room,
only the books kept by Rerdell were a small
memorandum book of the office expenses and
a large mail route book covered with can
vass. There were no red books, as far as
the witness knew. The witness sent his
own books to Dorsey in New York, and he
supposed that TOrrey closed them up.
Rerdell made no entries in these books,
nor did anyone except the witness. Had
often seen Rerdell try to initiate Dorsey's
handwriting, his signature, and writing sew
eral lines at times.
The Smith and Jones memorandum was
shown to the witness. He examined it care
fully and said that the first three lines was
evidently DOrsey's handwriting, but the
rest, in his judgment, was not.
The Chico Springs letter was shown to the
witness. He was sure it was not in Dorsey's
handwriting. "He generally spells cor
rectly," said the witness. Dorsey was not at
Chico Springs at that time, and could not
have written the letter.
Merrick took up the Chico Springs letter
and made sharp cross-examination, which
resulted somewhat in shaking the strength
of the witnesses testimony on that point.
Other letters were presented with unsatis-
factory results, and finally the court ex-
claimed: ''This man does not know Dorsey's
handwriting
As the examination progressed, the wit
ness Aus"eIs UeCdme more CAUTIOUS ana
non-committal, and he disclaimed any inten-
ton of figuring as an expert in handwriting
He said that with the exception of few
entries in his books, he had nothing to do
with Dorsey's mail business; could not re-
member when he made the first entry of that
kind; supposed Rerdell was employed to
look after Dorseys mail routes, but made no
inquiry at the time.
When it came to dates, the witness MEM
DRY was equally uncertain, so that the court
remarked it not worth while to press the in
quiry, for it was obvious, as the witness had
no recollection of dates.
The court then adjourned until Monday
next
HanIan and Kennedy in Training.
Edward Hanlan. the oarsman, arrived here
this morning from Toronto, accompanied BY
William Ramsay of Toronto, and brought
with him practice shell for training for his
race with John Kenaedy. which is to take
place near Boston, May Both. He has been
invited by the Analostan Boat Club to make
their house his headquarters. Kennedy is
now q resident in this city, and both will 20
into active training At once.
Walsh Before the Grand Jury.
John A. Walsh was before the grand jury
today. 1t is understood that the government
il making another atfampf IN indicf Rradv i.