The Portland daily press., 1883-03-29
TEE STAR ROUTES.
Dorsey stnl Denying Rsrdell's state
ments.

Ills ietlot W IuStinhhtef Va SA
Smith, Ark, was produced, and he was asked
his reason for cautioning Clendenniug not TO
allow Root, Kerno and others to know OF DOR
sey's request for approval of the bonds.
He explained that the persons referred to
were prominent mail contractors, and It was
very important that they should know nothing
of the proposed bids, or thoy might knowingly
underbid for the service. The witness SAID
that bonds sent TO those postmasters were never
returned to him and consequently never used
He had no interest In the contracts anu MS at
tempt TO secure bonds was friendly act. Had
done the same things for other persons, notably
Major Adams, for whom he secured bonds Tor
S640,0O0 That was also only n friendly act. ke-
farring to the pencil entries of figures in the
route book, he said Miner brought the book to
him and he changed only two entries. lie
couldn't remember tho routes or figures. He
had advanced about $1,000 or $1,000 TO John w
Dorsey n Co. The total sum loaned TO all,
Peck, Miner and John Dorsey, was $l3,5UO.
exclusive OF $40 600 afterwards paid to Peck
and $4,000 paid John Dorsey. The last tran
saotion was with Miner at st, Louis in July,
1878.
The witness detailed his business transact
tions with Miner, Vaile and Peck, and the cir
cumstances which led 20 his assuming portion
OF their routes. He employed Herdel to at
tend these rontes some time in April, 1879, but
he retained mis- position in the District Govern
ment until May, 1879 Rerdell took general
charge OF the routes. He was not instructed
TO open any book. There was no occasion for
IL. The witness had his own book, Rerdell
did keep the route book, but the witness did
not see II until year afterwards. He never
had any connection whatever with the routes
held by Miner and Valle after the division.
lie never realized any profits from, them and
did not see Miner or Vale after that until the
beginning of this action. He never saw A. W.
Moore but once and did not know him. La
July, 1878, Moore was at the witness house.
Mr "a pfa nuf ~
interview with Dorsey about the mail service.
The witness declared that be never had q
conversation Of three words with Moore in the
world His statement was q lie made out OF
whole cloth. Tho witness gave checks to Mi
ner in April, 1878, but did net know whether
or not they were intended for Moore. The
$3.50 check which Moore said had been given
10 him was given 70 Miner, Peck AZ Co. Near
ly all of Moore's statements concerning the
witness we're donied in most emphatic terms.
The witness did not recolect thar he had ever
requested Rerdsl to help Miner prepare the
bids. Miner stopped at the witness's house as
his guest during December, 1877 and had the
use of his upper office. II Rerdell did any
work for the witness at that time it consisted
only of writing q few letters. The witness had
nothing to do with the preparation of propos-
ais on that memorable night as testified by
Rerdell.
Witness reason for taking an active interest
in the success Of the business and for sending
Rerdell out TO lelp John Dorsey start the
Tongue river route was to protect friends who
had become bondsInen on contracts. He de-
MED Rerdells statement that he had been in
struoted to establish side postoffic9 on the
Tongue river route, or that he had instructed
Rerdell to build stations on that route solely
with q view to expedition.
The witness had no recollection OF ever fl
ing an affidavit connected with the routes.
Some Of these papers were presented to him
by Mr.. IngerSoll, but he said, Il cannot see, i
am sorry TO say" lie also denied having in
structed Rerdell to fill in the affidaviis, and
other conversations sworn TO by Rerdell we're
denied in toto.
The "Smth and Jones" memorandum was
produced The witness said positively, 81
never gave that paper to Rerdell at any time
or any place, or for any purpose, or to any hui
man being in the world. | am speaking of the
paper as an entirety. / gave the items in the
first part OF the paper 10 Wilbur II. Kellogg,
(his bookkeeperl 70 make the entries on the
10Th of May,s18T9"
The witness then explained the nature Of
the items, saying they included $4,000 10
Peck and $4,000 to John Dorsey.
Mr.. Ingersoll, addressing the court and coun-
sci, said Dorsey had books extending over
twenty years, concerning many people. He
did not want TO bring them into court for rea-
sons entirely outside of this case Ii the prog-
ecution would agree upon man, or II the
court would appoint two men 70 90 over all the
with John Dorsey or Peck, or Miner, connect
cd with the business from 1877 70 the present
time.
Mr.. Bliss replied that at the threshold they
would be met with the question, What ars
Dorsey's books2' lie preferred to stand by
tie rules Of law.
The court ssid il could not make such an
order even IL it had been accepted.
Mr. Ipeersell added eh~s Dorsey had about
% GOO pages OF letter books, legal, politica and
MAJ Ia Oy1tA atre
regard to them.
Courtt,To Mr.. Bliss Do you accept.
Mr.. Bliss-No, sir.
MIR. Merrick If they viii bring in the book
containing entries Of VIM. Smith we will read
them 70 the idry.
Mr.. Ingersoll--If had the power / might
evoke from the chaos Of perjury two red
books, but as have not such power shall
not.
The court remarked that the argument was
not within bounds.
himself.
The court replied he had no right to enjoy
himself at tho expense OF others
Mr.. 1ngersoll produced another batch Of
checks aud offered them in evidence.
The court rejected the offer
Mr.. lngeTsoi excepted although he did not
believe that they wonld ever get to a bill OF
exceptions in this case
Mr.Merrick believed that the gentleman was
wrong, still he might show llis sublime conf
dence by withdrawing bis objection.
Mr. Ingersoll-I will withdraw IT,
Mr. wilson, renew IL.
Mr.. Merrick-0h, don't want to interfere
in family quarrels.
The court, referring to Ingersolrs offer, said
that alter all 1t depended entirely upon the
credihility Of witness testimony. He might
have drawn money from other banks than
those included in the offer. Only a general
statement would be admissible.
Witness said he kept no account Of money
received from the government. The sums
were placed to his credit and would be shown
by his bank books. He never had a conyersa-
tion with Rerdell about the sSmith and Jones'
memorandum. It was not given to him (Rer-
delD but to Kellogg; that is the upper part.
Mr.. Iugersol then made the same offer ia
regard to the stub books that had been made
before in relation TO the letter books, but Mr.
MeTrick positively refused to agree 20 the prop
ositiou. Ho said that they had been notified 10
produce the stubs and did not do IL. Let them
accept the consequence. The offer was per-
feet farce.
Among many entries in bis books, said wit
ness, possibly there was an entry under the
head Of Sam Jones. Bat even IL there was, il
was not connected in any way with the mail
business. There was no "Willam Smith,
there. He had had that looked up. When
ReFdell came over TO New York lie brought on
ly the route books. The Chamberlain
poiitical matters, Brady being chairman Of the
Indiana State committee. Mail matters were
not mentioned. Rerdell's statement that wit
ness had prepared tabulated statement set
ting out tho proportion to be allowed 1T, J b.
was absolutely false He never authorized
Gibbs to make any copy Of the book, did get
g transcript but II the two books had been
twice copied Tor MIN he was Just half dozen
books out. III references to the interview with
Rerdell at the AlbeinaTle Hotel In New York
the witness said that ho had previously heard
that Rerdell was consulting with the govern
ment Rerdell came TO his room early In the
morning. He continued to talk about the Sal
against him (RerdelD Witness treasured him
telling lin that he had confidence in him and
rebuked him for leaving his business In Wash
ington. Rerdel replied that he had only come
for information. He went out for breakfast but
did not return and the witness next hoard from
him through q telegram from Jersey City.
That WAS oil there was OF tho conversation.
There was no exhibition Of rage on the part
of witness. Witness wrote Rerdell at Wash
ington, but Rerdell's statement of the contents
ness was not much on the big" Likewise
the story OF the interview at witness house
when he returned to Washington was false
In every particular.
Mr.. lngersol read Berdel's testimony on
this point with much affected pathos.
Witness said that no such conversation oc-
| Cured at any such time or place. IL he saw
| Berdell at all when he returned IL was In the
| office and certainly said witness, with 9
| smile) 'as 10 any conversaton OF that kind
IL q a iA