Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-05
STAR ROUTES.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-In the star route
trial to-day Mr.. Vale took the stand and
was examined by Col. Ingersoll.
The witness was induced TO assume an
interest in the business from a desire to
help Miner, who seemed to be in great
trouble before he came in. Witness went
to Brady at Miners request and sought an
extension of the time allowed for putting
on the service. After hearing the argu-
mentS Brady consented to grant an extern
sion, but no consideration was given for
this action.
The agreement of copartnership be-
tween Vale, Miner, Peck and John Dor
sey was then rea0 III evidence. By It's
terms Vale is made the treasurer and
Miner secretary of the combination, and
receipts from the service will be divided
among the partners ill varying proportion.
Witness signed the contract in October,
1878. 1t was dated back for no sinister
motive, but to cut of certain postal drafts
that were outstanding. The witness
learned from Miner of the existence of
these drafts. Subsequently S. W. Dorsey
and witness had high old quarrel" and
ended by dividing up the routes. 4 valuation
was made OF the routes and straws drawn
for their possession, witness taking 40 per
cent, Miner 80 per cent. and 8. w. Dorsey
80 per cent, Witness went to Dorsey's
house to effect separation, for nothing en-
earth would make him go in. AS to his
feelings toward Dorsey at that time. wit
ness never di6liked man so much Ia his
life as he did him. They were now friendly
because of their common persecution. Wit
ness denied positively tie whole converse
ton at The National hotel, as described by
Reerdel. in which the lsttsr was offered
some mail services and at enormous profits
pointed out.
Vale was asked to explain his letter to
Dorsey, wherein he intimates that unless
Dorsey causes Reerdel to withdraw his
suit, it might appear who the real parties
were in the combination.
Merrick objected, saying the letter
needed no explanation; its meaning was
plain upon It's face, bat the question was
allowed.
Witness went into long explanation,
tne glst OF 1t being that he believed all of
the routes should bear the expenses of the
suit, and S. W. Dorsey, having 80 per cent.
should have paid his proportion.
Nerrick, ironically, said he was content
with the explanation.
Witness added that he disliksd law suits:
they involved too much publicity. He did
not wish his private matters made the sub
ject of public comment.
Hinckle offered TO prove that the Bis
marck and Tongue river was losing in
vestment for the contractors instead of
fraud on the government. After some de-
bate the offer was accepted, and witness
said they had to spend $4,000 on that
route over and above receipts. a Witness
concluded with general denial OF all the
charges in the Indictment, and was turned
over to Bliss for cross-examination.
Bliss asked when S. W. Dorsey assumed
an interest III the routes. Witness an
swered: 'Not until some time in March
after our division
Taking up the plea to ReerdeTs suit.
Bliss demanded an explanation of the
statement that Reerdel had been employed
by Waite, Miner and S. ". Dorsey. Witness
went into another long explanation. He
said John Dorsey and Peck had been paid
lump sum, and had gone out of the bust
ness. Stephen dorsey had assumed 80
per cent, of the routes, and was the only
one to whom he could have recourse. the
only one whom he could hold for share
OF the expenses of the suit. If it
had come to trial, the fact that
S. W. Dorsey held 80 per cent. of the
contracts, might have led many people to
imagine he had an interest before the d.
vision, and when he was in the senate.
Dorsey did not answer the letter request
ing him to discontinue the suit, but witness
did not regard that as an unusual circum-
stance. The witness had paid out a good
deal of money, probably $4,000, to defray
the expenses of the service before signing
the contract in October, 1873. Before No
vember over 100000 had been paid out.
He could not say he knew who
held the contracts when he agreed to
put on the service. Knew very little about
the routes when he signifed to Brady his
intention of taking them up. At the mail
letting Of 1878 witness had bid on over
1000 routes. He bid in name of his cous-
IN, Sprague, so that he (witness) could act
as bondsman. Sprague had no property.
Questionable was only figure head,
dummy, wasn't he?
Witness denied this, but admitted he
(Sprague) was not expected to have any
voice in the business. Witness got very
few contracts as the result of the letting.
Adjourned.