Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
TIE STAR ROUTE.
Continuailon Of John W. Dorsey's Tes.
tim0ny.
WASHINGTON, Aprll 6.

John Dorsey's examination was continued
| in the star route trial today. Witness had
sent instructions for S. W. Dorsey to sell
out his (witness) interest IN the mail BUSH
ness for $40 900. Miner, acting under his
| power of attorney. gave sub-contracts to
Vale cutting Peck and witness entirely out
of the business and rendering the security of
money loaned by S. W. Dorsey entirely
worthless, but he added, be John need not
feel bad abol it, for he ould see that he
was taken care of and would give him
rancho.
Witness eventually sold his interest for
SIG, 900 to Stephen Dorsey and since July.
| 1879 had not had an interest in any of the
| routes. The affidavit on Mineral Park,
Phoebe route, was exhibited TO the witness
and he declared that he had not written the
signature purporting to be his. Witness de-
MED broadly that he had never paid any
money to any officer of the government to
secure increase expedition of the routes.
The witness was cross examined by Mer-
rick.
Witness said he had spent his money in
putting service upon the routes. Ostensibly
his brother had advanced him money.
An extended investigation was made into
the subject, and the payments of money by
witness to S. W. Dorsey instead of his part
ners.
Witness said there was nothing criminal
about it.
In answer to the inquiry as to WHY he
swore to An affidavit upon the Rawlings
White River route, when he knew nothing
about it, the witness said he had relied upon
another mans estimate.
1t was elected that witness had been an
employee of the senator had rendered very
little service in return for the salary.
ii I. I,aG
to his brother that ne regarded the Tongue
tract term.
He answered with seeming frankness that
the statement showed his ignorance of bust
ness of running mail route,
OFF would have been profitable if it had
not been for the Congressional investigation,
wouldn't it not!
Al don't know anything about that.
| The affidavits upon the Pueblo Rosite
| route were shown witness who acknow lodged
that he knew nothing of the number of stock
required and had relied upon Rerdel's state
| ments.
Q-You swore to whatever he told you?
Al thought he was telling the truth then,
but would discount it if he told me any
thing today.
Merrick-It would be reciprocal, l guess,
you could not deal with each others banks
The witness was pressed to account for the
| two different affidavits upon one route. He
| acknowledged having sworn to them. He
supposed that it was straight, square work.
| Merrick.-It is swear work certainly.
| He then asked the witness which of the
affidavts was lie.
The witness was not allowed to repeat
Rerdell's statement to him in regard to that
matter, but managed to get in an explanation
| to the effect that one affidavit was intended
| to correct an error contained in the other
| Of another pair of affidavits the witness said
| the proportion was the same in either case.
| He had no pecuniary interest in the route
Merrck reminded him that he had testified
that his interest had continued up to April
| st or 9Th, 1879, and that the papers were
dated March llth. 1879 If the last state
ment was true he said it would show that S.
W. Dorsey had assumed his interest while
| in the Senate.
The witness said he had been acting under
a conditional agreement, and that he had
not then been consumated.
The court remarked that the papers were
dated after S. w. Dorsey left the Senate.
Myrick was aware of that, Dorsey had gone
from there right into this business
The witness could not recognize his
brothers handwriting; had not received
letter from him since December, 1873, nor
did he know Peck's signature; was no judge
of handwriting.
The prosecution read in evidence a letter
from the witness to Rerdell, dated Baltimore,
Dec. 10Th, 1882.
Dorsey begins by referring to a converse
ton he had had with Rerdell, and says that
upon mature consideration he has come to
the conclusion that there was more in his
remark THAT he would like an immediate
trial) than at first proposed, aud that these
was something beneath the surface. He
begins to think that Rerlel is not acting in
good faith and he warns him if he ever hears
of his doing anything calculated to injure the
defendants in this trial, he John Dorsey
will prosecute him for another crime he will
not now mention. He concludes with the
assertion that he can put hi. hand upon
proofs of acts. day and dates. The witness
said he wrote that letter entirely upon his
own responsibility, independently of S. w.
Dorsey's dire ctiUn.
The cross-examination closed and Ingersoll
began redirect examination with the request
for an explanation of the letter to Rerdell.
The witness said that at the beginning of
the trial motion for continuance had been
signed by all the defendants except Rerdell
Instrumentation with Rerdell, Rerdell said he
supposed that the witness thought he should
conscientiously do it. He had antagonized
the court at the beginning of the first trial
and had no desire to repeat the experiment.
The witness reminded Rerdell that his bus
mess also had been greatly damaged and yet
Rerdell knew that he had done no intentional
wrong. The witness in continuation told
him that he would have taken the stand dur
ing the first trial, but his counsel thought it
| unnecessary.
Merrick cut off the explanation by an OBJ
lection and an argument ensued.
The witness said that he might have fin
ished his explanation in less time than the
argument consumed.
Merrick-But God only knows what it
would have closed with. Dorsey. Laughter
The testimony of the witness closed with a
denial of any evil intentions in making an
affidavit in connection with routes.
Adjourned until Monday.