Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-10

,Ir. Miners Examination Continued.
When the star route trial was resumed this
morning the proceedings were delayed few
minutes by the tardinesS of Mr.. O. c. Green, the
juror When he came in Judge Wylie observed
I" Mr. Green, you have wasted about three hours
ttme-twelve minutes for each OF the Jurors, the
counsel and the court" Mr. Green said he had
been delayed by some business which had to be
attended to before he could leave his Office.
PAYING A POSTMASTER TO KEEP HIN FROM TALK
Mr.. Henkle then continued the direct examina-
tlon OF Mr.. Miner. Mr.. Miner explained the letter
he had written to the sub-contractor advising him
TO stop Abbott, the postmaster at Avord talking,
by paying him what he wanted, as he (Miner) had
paid him once before, by saying that Abbott had
previously sent bill for $50 to the department for
going to Fort McDermott to mail his returns, as
tne contractors had not yet started the Canyon
Clts ana Fort McDermott route. The contractors
paid the bill because 1t was on account OF theiI
neglect that 1t had been incurred.
THE WITNESS DENIED
having ever forged the name OF anybody to peti-
tion and never signed the name OF a person to a
petition without authority, and never altered a
petition. The witness said it was possible that
In the case OF the petition known the Hall peti-
ton he had copied the six names appearing in his
handwriting from one paper to another.
MI: Henkle ILs asked the witness If he had ever
sworn falsely to an affidavit.
Mr.. Merrck objected, and the court sustained
the objection.
Mr.. Henkle urged that the defendants were
charged IN the Indictment with having made
false af1davts, and he wanted to show that they
were not guilty OF that charge.
"They have said that in their plea,n said ] udge
Wyle.
The. witness was asked whether any of these
dsIendants had ever contemplated making false
amdaV1t, and objection was made that the wit
ness would not testify broadly.
Mr. Henkle observed that he did not want to
swear The witness beyond his capacity.
you had better not try his capacity then," said
the court
N, Mr. Henkle was permitted to ask the witness
whether he was ever informed by any one Of these
defendants tina he intended to swear to
FALSE AFFIDAVIT,
and the witness said he was never so informed.
He denied having ever sworn to an affidavit In
blank. The witness was shown various letters
10 Brady, written in the spring OF 1879 and signed
IN IN the witness name, respecting routes which had
belief that they were signed by Rerden
me orders for pay on various routes originally
let to the witness, but afterwards transferred 50
the Dorseys, were submitted to the witness, and
ne said he had signed them all In blank previous
20 NAY o 1872 to garry out the arrangement CON
them to draw the pay. Postmaster Edmunds was
witness on all these orders.
Inc power OF attorney given by Peck to Miner IN
January 1873, to transact all his business before
the Post Office department. was put in evidence
and then the direct examination was closed.
Miner CrOss-Examfned by Nlr. Merrick.
Mr. Merrick conducted the cross-examtnation.
The witness said that In the division the Rawlins
and White River route was Lot taken into consid-
GRAFTON because Rerdell had Sub-contract cover
Ing that route. Afterwards the sub-contractor
Under rRerdell-PerknS-nOt being willing to have
herdeli as paymaster, Insisted upon becoming
tne suU-contractOr OF record.
MINER INDICTED BEFORE.
injj tod lg~
Merrick.
~ had been indicted" said the witness, 'for re-
moving spirits from bonded warehouse, and 1
never & was within seven miles of the ware house,
What did you pay to get out OF it?"
81 ~ paid $780," said the witness.
why H4du wese mot Saty asked Mr. Merck
because" lid the witness, 81 preferred to pay
that amount than to be dragged through trial,
ana and think would have done the same in this
"Do you think" asked Mr. Merrick "that YOU
are wiing to pay back all you took from the gov
never took anything from the government"
said the witness.
The witness said he was indicted in Cincinnati,
ONO VI he was then engaged In the manufacture
OF wheels He had been engaged in the business
OF selliug whisky at one time. "For twelve or
eighteen months before the Indictment was
found,' said the witness, 81 was not engaged in
the whisky business except to take an occasional
drink" There were five men indicted, and they
Just like this case," said Mr.. Ingersoll.
Mr. Merrlck said there would be no nolIe presses
here. r ~
The witness said that he put $500 or 81 900 of his
own money into the mail business.
GOOD TRADE.
Mr. Merrick asked the witness to explain how 1t
was then that he got nearly twice as much as
either John W. Dorsey or Peck, who had put In
considerably more money.
81 probably made good trade That is the
only explanation l have to make" said the wit
ness. He said he thought he had never seen Peck
IN Washington city. He didn't know who signed
Peck's name to the proposals. He had not signed
it, though he had been charged with it for five
years.
The witness said that Boone was mistaken when
ne said that When Peek proposal was spoiled the
witness took new one out OF the room, and soon
afterwards returned with what purported to be
Peck's signature attached to it. He had no recol-
lection OF any such occurrence. The witness was
handed proposal In Peck'S name, dated January
5, 1878, ON route 32olS, and the witness said the
writing on the body OF the proposal was written
by Boone and witness. He did not know who
wrote Pecks signature. 1t was not Peck's own
The usual recess was taken.