The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-31

wagon the BlSmarck-IonSue river anu
Dalles- Baker City routes Witness sug-
gested change in the figures
on the latter route, but did not
recollect its character; probably Boone's rec
objection was better than his (witness's) in
that matter, whan he said the figures had
been reduced $500. Witness explained his
reasons for suggesting a reduction on the
two routes named saying he felt confident
that the rapid growth and development OF
the country would make them paying
through increased freight and passenger
business
Mr.. Merrick inquired if he had made these
reductions to benefit other men.
Witness reiterated his answer that he only
made suggestions, and did not make reduc-
tons But it turned out, said the witness,
that he was not infallible. for he had been in
formed by Miner and Vale that the Dalles-
Baker City route was bad investment, and
they had to pay the sub-contractors more
than they received from the government
for the service. Witness said he smoked
cigar sometimes in Miners room, but denied
positively that he had participated i'll the
work of preparing bids. Witness had no ex-
pectation OF getting the Dallas-Baker City
route expedited when he suggested the re-
duction; did not bolieve he knew anything
about expedition at that time Witness had
no knowledge of the spoiled bid spoken of by
Boone. and the gentleman would have to ask
Miner about that.
Mr.. Merriek-Will / have a ehanceP
A.-You will.
The Court-You are laying out good deal
of WORT; for us.
Mr.. Davidge-They called for the defend
ants, Your Honor
Witness said if bid had been spoiled and
a new one returned with Pecks signature
within few minutes, some one else must
have signed it, witness did not. Did not
know whether or not Boone had him keep
John Dorsey and Miner away because they
were stupid and interfered with business;
did not think the remark would apply to the
persons named. Explaining his reasons for
taking an active part in business after July,
1879, witness repeated what he had said upon
the direct examination about protecting
bonds. and added that he had Endorsed notes
for his partners to the amount of $26. 900,
which had been used to secure certified
checks for deposit in the Postoffice Depart
ment If they had failed to put on
the service these notes would have
come back upon him. The notes
were given to the Vermont National Bank of
st. Albans and the Second National Bank of
Santa Fe. Witness then related how Peck q
Miner had failed in their attempts to get
bondsmen, and how he had finally induced
George Evans to go on their bond Pecks
failure had been caused by i'll health and in
ability to attend to business, otherwise he
might have secured any amount of bonds.
Could not now recollect his reason for men,
tioning Peck name to Postmaster Haycock
this intimate frend) when he sent blank
bonds An apparently personal letter from
John Dorsey to witness was acknowledged by
the latter to be genuine, but he said: II do
not see how it got into this CASE
Mr.. Ingersoll-"Mr. Rerdell kept it as
voucher" Laughter.
Mr. Merrick-There seems to have been a
distribution of papers between you, and
some of them showed have been in the Gus
todv of the other.
In the letter John Dorsey says he is glad
that Vale has bought out. Witness said his
recollection was that he wrote his brother
that Vale had cut him out, and that John
Dorsey had misunderstood it. He could not
have said "bought out.p because it was not so.
When witness returned to Washington in
December he found that Vale had filed sub
contracts.
Z "Vaile was trying to swindle the whole
party, was he not"'
A. ~ don't know that he was; / was an
moved at the time, but afterward / saw he
could not have done otherwise than file sub
contracts to cut off drafts"
Witness had not seen that letter since he
sent it to John Dorsey. He was pressed to
produce the letter or state its contents, but
waving his hand, he said, Il have no recol-
lection of such little rubbish as that"
Mr.. Merrick-"We have to look into rub
bish to find certain things"
Mr.. Davidge-"And you don't find them
here"
Witness supposed that the letter produced
by Merrick (from John Dorsey had been
stolen in 1878, but declined to say who
stole it.
You mean Rerdell, don't YOU" inquired
Merrick.
A contemptuous laugh was the witnesses
only answer. Mr.. Merrck repeated the
question, and witness said Rerdell seemed to
have been we'll pleased with the letter. He
Il
lie said he regarded that letter as perfectly
innocent and attached no importance to
the question.
Mr.. Merrick:"Yon don't seem to attach
much importance 10 any of my questions"
Witness-''I don't know; l should think
that nobody else wouid."
Witness said he had examined his letter
books; that they were much mutilated; some
one had gone through them and cut out
about COO pages. Had seen some of the
papers since then i'll this trial. The books
were now at witness's house, but had been
offered under restrictions in evidence in
courJ and rejected few days ago.
Mr. Merrck read in evidence a letter to T.
J. Brady dated March 4. 1879. signed by wit
ness for Peck and John Dorsey. Dorsey
saws that being duly empowered to act for
Peck and John Dorsey, he protests against
the sub-coutracts on file in the name of II.
VI. Vale, demands that they he cancelled af-
ter \ pri l, and that no sub-contracts be
filed urnn their routes, except those in the
Indian Territory, unless under power of at
torney. Witness said Peck and John Dorsey
were in ignorance of Vailes operations, and
sub-coutracts had been given to Vale by
Miner. acting for Peck and John Dorsey.
Thought he first learned of the filing of the
contracts in December 1873
Mr. Merrick inquired Why he he'd waited
till March before writing to Brady.
For this simple reason q don't know
what you are trying to reachE John Dorsey
and Peck being absent, and | in the Senate
thought it would be an improper thing for
me to do while | was in the Senate"
Witness thought he had his authority to
write the letter in the winter of $3.50. Did
not assume control of the business without