The Portland daily press., 1883-04-07
THE STAR ROUTES.
Dorsey's Examination Concluded.


animation was continued In the star route
trial today. The witness said he sent instruc-
tions for $. w. Dorsey to sell out his interest
In the mail business for $4,000. Miner, act
ting under his power OF attorney, gave sub
contracts TO Vale, cutting Peck and the wit
ness entirely out of the business and rendering
the security for money loaned by s. w. Dor
sey entirely worthless. But he said he need
not feel bad about It, for he would see that he
was taken care OF and would give HIM
rancho. The witness eventually sold his in
terest for $4,000 to Stephen Dorsey, and since
July, 1879, has not had an interest in any OF
the routes
An affidavit on the Mineral Park-Pioche
route was exhibited 20 the witness, and no do
clared that he had not written the signature
purporting to be his. The witness denied
broadly that he had lever paid any money to
any officer OF the government TO secure In
crease or expedition of the routes.
The wituesa was cross examined by Merrck
Witness said he had spent his money in put
ting the service upon the routes. 0stensibiy
his brother had advanced the money, bat IN
reality witness had.
An extended investigation was made into
the subject and payments of money bywitness
70 ), w. Dorsey instead of TO his partners.
Witness said that there was nothing criminal
about 1t.
In answer to an enquiry as TO why he
swore to an affidavit upon the Rawlins-
White River route when he knew nothing
Nhcas ~ th0 WituuSA bdlu tudt H6 u1u ftfiou
upon another mans estimate.
IL was elicited that the witness has been an
employee OF the Senate aud had rendered
very little service In return for his salary.
Witness was asked why he had written to
his brother that he regarded the Tongue Isiyer
route as worth 100000 for the contract term.
He answered with seeming frankness that
the statement showed his ignorance of the
business OF running mail route.
Question--it would have been profitable II
It had not been for the Congressional inyesti-
cation, would ID not?
Answer-I,dont know anything about that.
The atfidavits upon the Pueblo-Rosita route
were SHOWN the witness, who acknowledged
he knew nothing of the number OF stock re-
quired and had relied upon Rerdall's state
ments.
Question swore to whatever he told
you2
Answer--I thought no was telling the
truth then, but would discount it II he told
me anything today.
Merriek-ft would be reciprocal, / guess.
You could not deal with each others banks.
Witness was pressed 10 account for two diff
ferent af1idavits upon one route. He ack-
nowledged having sworn to them. He sun
posed that II was straight,ssduare work.
Merriek-lt is swear work certainly.
He then bluntly asked witness which OF the
(eonflicting) affdayits was a lie
The witness was not allowed 10 repeat Rer-
delPs statement TO him in regard to that mat
ter, but managed to give an explanation TO the
effect that one affidavit was intended to correct
an error contained Ia the other. OF another
pair of atiidayits, witness said the proposition
was the samein either case. He had no pecu-
niaxy interest in the route,
Mr.. Merrick reminded him that he had iesti-
fed that his interest continued up to April ist,
or 9TH 1879 and that the papers were dated
March IL, 1879. II the last statement was true
he said il would shew S. w. Dorsey had as
sumed his interest while in the Senate.
Witness said he had baen acting under the
conditional agreement that had not then been
consummated.
The court remarked that the papers were
dated after S. w. Dorsey had left the Senate.
Mr. Merrick was aware of that. Dorsey had
gene from there right into this business Wit
ness could not identify his brothers handwrit-
ing. Had not received letter from him since
December, 1878, nor did he know Peck's sigma
ture. He was no judge Of handwriting.
The prosecution read in evidence letter
Erola witness to Rerdell, dated Baltimore, Dec
.. 1882. Dorsey begins by referring TO con-
yeTsation ne had had with Rerdell, and says
that upon mature consideration he has come to
the conclusion that there was more la his re-
mark chat ''he would like an immediate trial')
than at first proposed, and that there was
something beneath the surface. he begins to
suspect Rerdell is not acting In good faith, and
he warns him that II he even hears of his do
ing anything calculated TO injure the defend
ants in this trial he John Dorsey will proxe-
cute for another crime that he will not mem
tion. He concludes with the assertion that he
can put his hand upon proofs of acts, day and
dates. Witness said that he wrote that letter
entirely upon his own responsibility, indepen-
emily OF S. w. Dorsey's direction. The cross
examination closed, and Ingersoll began the
redirect examination, with request for an ex-
planation Of the letter to RerdeIl.
Witness said that at the beginning OF the
trial motion for continuance had been signed
By all Of The defendants, with the exception
of Rerdell. In the course Of the conversation
with Rerdell, Rerdell said he supposed the
witness thought he should have signed that
motion, but he could not conseienciously do It.
lie had antagonized the court at the begin
ming of the first trial, and had no desire TO ra-
peatthe experiment. His business had been
damaged, aud he had been broken up.p Wit
ness replied that as far as his inner conscious
ness was concerned, he did not think Rerdell
had more than lamp pest, but did believe
he was acting solely from policy. Witness re-
minded Rerdell that his (DoTsey's, business
also had been greatly damaged, and yet Rer-
dell knew that he (witiess) had done no inten-
tional wrong. Rsrdell assented to that, so far as
witness was concerned. Witness, in continua-
ton, told him that he would have taken the
stand during the first trial. but his counsel re-
garded it as an unnecessary proceeding. The
conditions we're now changed, and every body
had been terrorzed and-( -(Merfick cut off ex-
planaton with an objection, and argument en-
sued. Witness remarked that he might have
finished his explanation in less time than the
had consumed.
Mr.. Merriek-But God knows what Ii would
have closed with, Dorsey. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Ingersoll explained that il was witness's
to show he had been convinced of
Rsrdells treachery at that time
The Court, however, refused to permit the
inquiry, and to admit an explanation Of the
forgery above mentioned. The testimony OF
the witness closed with denial OF any evil in
tentious in making the affidavit connected
with the routes
Adjourned until Monday