Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-14
The Star Route Trial.


This morning when the star route trial was re
sumed the government called as q witness James
W. Bosler. OF Carlisle, Pa. who failed to answer
Mr. Bliss requested the clerk to note the fact that
Mr. Bosler did not appear.
Mr. Callahan, OF the Post ONCE department, 70.
sumed the stand and for the defense identifed a
number OF papers and the handwriting OF various
clerks upon them Mr.. Bliss then read the papers
i p relating to the Bismarck and Tongue
The reading Of the papers consumed nearly all
t the une until the recess It appeared by them
that Miner, after securing the contract, appealed
10 tne department to have the route discontinued,
stating that the compensation was too small; the
uers could not be Induced to take the mani on ac-
count OF Indian troubles, and that Tongue River
however. these protsstations and appeals ceased.
the application for discontnuance was with,
drawn, and petitions and letters sent to the de-
partment praying for increase and eXpeditlon-a
prayer that was eventually granted by Brady.
AFIcrIrIous POST OFFICE
Joseph Rennell was called to the stand. He tes-
tined to having been employed by John ". Dorsey
in July, 1873. to stock the Bismarck route ana
build ranches or stations. He began about July
II, and built twelve stations. There was no non
ulation at all at that time over thrty-seven miles
or the route, and only few ranches on the other
parts OF the route. Witness had twenty five men
IN MS employ while building the ranches. When
first built only one-half OF the ranches were
used John W. Dorsey told witness he could get
up petition and send 1t out to witness on the
road 70 nave his men sign 1t, this petition to ask
Ior the establishment OF post Cf1ce north OF the
main line. These workmen were to represent
where the Office was to be establi shed and should
petition for mail service. There was no such
place In existence as that where the supposed
ounce was 70 De located The petition was never
Mr.. Henkle asked that the testimony be stricken
out, as no such petition appeared to have been
Judge Wylie declined to exclude the testimony,
observing that it threw light upon the purpose or
the contractors.
The witness said that Dorsey stated that his
reason for building twice as many ranches as
were required by the service was that when the
route was increased the stations would be needed.
Inc cost OF building these ranches was s. COO
When Rerdell visited Bismarck, sometime after
Ma.us, witness figured out what It would cost to
carry the mall on a Sixty-f1ve hours schedule, but
Rerden did not agree with his figures, thinking
they tn were too small J; W; Dorsey wapted witness
SUCK. Witness told him that there was
MONEY ENOUGH IN IT FOR HIN.
Dorsey then said that the route would be in
creased, first to three times q week. with shorter
time, and then to six times a week. He said that
the pay would be Increased to at least $4,000 a
times week. He said there would. be one in
crease inside OF six months and another inside OF
a year; that he had a brother in washington who
would help him, and they were sure OF getting
the Increase. He spoke also about his being all
right with the department The witness didn't
o ,o aHuCn idltu III Wuat ue S6lOs ana QlQ not ac-
cept his offer.
dorsey had such a good thing" said Mr.. Inger-
SOIL. that he wanted to give half away"
You did not have faith in it." said Mr. Mer-
mo, Sir" said the witness
"But." said Mr.. Merr1ck, 'you found out after
wards that what he said was true Z"
Yes, Sir" said the witness.
A recess was then taken.
PROCEEDINGS AFTER RECESS.
After the recess the examination OF Mr. Rennell
was continued. He said he had carried the mail
over the route when there was one trip q week,
and the mail was carried In one small sack. The
Witness was cross-eXamined by Mr.. IngersolL
He said he had been employed by the government
TO get witnesses; went west for that purpose last
month, and returned with one witness He had
been IN the employ OF the government most OF the
time for the last year.
MI. Ingersoll, however, did not put the cues
ton. Mr.. Ingersoll asked the witness IL he un-
derstood that John W. Dorsey was to get the SER
vice increased fraudulently.
" don't know that 1t was to be fraudulent {,
said the witness. 81 knew that 10 was something
L couldn't do. was biddineaOn the same mail
and could not get the mail Increased in that
way"
The special partnership between Edward d.
Easton and Il. II. Alexander, stenographers, has
been dissolved. Mr.. Easton has associated Mr. A.
trial