Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE STAR ROUTE.



mail business in 1862. He described at some
length hi, early relations with the other de-
PENDANTS. With Brady, he had never been
intimate, and never had any agreement or IN
Outstanding that Brady should extend favors
to him. either for money or for any consid-
GRAFTON whatever. In explanation OF bis con-
net:tion with the routes that form the basis
of the case, the witness said that in July,
1875, Miner came to him in great trouble,
and requested advice in regard TO putting
service upon his routes. Miner offered to
give the witness all the contracts he owned
and had in charge. lie had powers of a,tor-
Dey from Peck and John Dorsey. There
were over ten routes.
Witness afterwards reconsidered this de-
cision and entered into business. He was
asked TO give reasons which led to his re-
consideration. The court ruled that Wales
connection with the concern was not set
an oftense-that had consisted in corruptly
procuring expedition and increased service.
The witness was induced TO reconsider his
action, and assume the interest in the bust
ness from a desire TO help Miner, who
seemed to be in great trouble. Before he
came in. the witness went TO Brady al Mn
er's request land sought an extension OF the
time allowed for putting in service. Brady
consented to grant the extension, but 10 con
sideration was given for this action. Wit
ness said he would see started, ali the Miner.
Peck and Dorsey routes, but not Watts
route Did not know at that time that Boone
had any interest in the contracts. Did not
know that Senator Dorsey was interested in
them. Never heard of Moore. The witness
man, Williamson, went to Oregon.
The witness signed the contract in October
1873. 1t was dated back from no sinister
Il
that were outstanding. The witness learned
from Miner of the existance of these drafts.
They had been hypothecated at the German
American National Bank for money. Wit
ness failed to make terms with the bank, and
filed sub-contracts on the routes. This led
20 the trouble between Senator Dorsey and
himself, the Senator charging that he had
been unfairly represented inasmuch as his
security had been impaired.
Henkle offered TO show that Dorsey and
Vale had a rumpus in the bank, and that
the former struck his name from the agree
ment, but the court refused to 90 into the
details.
The witness placed the date of the quarrel
at Dec. LIST. Their next meeting was upon
March 9TH and 9th, 1879, at Dorsey's house
They had quarrel and ended bv dividing
up the routes. A valuation was made of the
sion, the witness taking 40 per cent, Miner
80 per cent and S. w. Dorsey 30 per cent
Henkle-Where did Brady come in?
Answer know nothing about Brady.
Continuing, he said that he went to Dor
sey's house TO effect a separation. for nothing
on earth would have made him go on with
Dorsey. After the April following, the wit-
ness did not see Dorsey until June, 1881
subsequently, the witness consolidated his
interest with Miners. As to his feelings
toward Dorsey at that time, the witness never
disliked man so much in his life as he did
him. They are pow friendly because of
common persecution.
"One touch of nature makes the whole
world kin" interjected Ingersoll.
The witness denied positively the whole
conversation at the National Hotel as de-.
scribed by Rerdell, in which the latter was
offered some mail service, and its enormous
profits pointed out.
The witness said he would have been
perfectly willing to have withdrawn al! his
money and drawn out of the business if he
could have done so. When Rerdell went
west, Jan. 4, 1879, he went on his own be-
half. having been given sub-contract by
Miner for the entire term, upon the White
River Rawlins route. Miner had condition
al contract with Rerdell, by which the Latter
was to be paid $1,000 for services in looking
after certain routes. Witness had no inter-
est in the White River route after Rerdell
took it. On one occasion had paid Sub-Con-
tractor Perkins 5000 on account of that route.
Witness denied the truth of Rerdelfs state
ment that he had induced Brady to accept
the affidavit of sub-contractor Perkins as the
basis for the expedition upon the White
River route. After Dorseys refusal to furn-
ish Off, i,y;t h.aS aid tha nnla N rat IN
Rerdeli, and witness had enough business of
his own to occupy his attention. All Rer-
del's statements upon this subject were spec
ifically denied. Witness had never prepared
an affidavit upon any of their routes. Miner
managed all of that, also the correspondence
with the exception of the Jennings letter {;
did not know who filed the petitions upon the
Vermillion-Sioux Falls route; had very
indistinctlv recollection of the facts in con-
nection with these routes.
These routes were made the subject of a
detailed investigation.
Witness did not know until this trial that
the mail had not been carried according to
advertisement upon the Kearney Kent route.
Henkle offered to prove that the Bismarck
Tongue River route was a losing investment
for the contractor instead OF gigantic fraud
upon the government.
After some debate the offer was accepted
and the witness said they had spent 1900
on that route over and above receipts.
On cross examination Bliss asked when s.
w. Dorsey assumed an interest in the routes.
Witness answered-"Not until some time
in March after our division"
Taking up the plea to Rerdells suit, Bliss
demanded an explanation of the statement
that Rerdell had been employed by Vaie,
Miner and S. w. Dorsey.
Witness went into another long explsna-
ton. He admitted that the plea to Reriell's
suit contained careless wording, but believed
such errors were common with lawyers.
Witness said he knew very little about the
routes when he signied to Brady his inten-
ton of taking them up at the mail letting of
1865. Witness bad bid or over a thousand
routes. He bid in the name OF his cousin.
Sprague, so that he (witness) could act as
bondsman. Sprague had no property.
Questionable was only figurehead, dunn
my, wasn't he?
Witness denied this, but admitted that he
(Sprague) was not expected to have anv
voice in the business. Witness got very few
contracts as a result of that letting.
Adjourned.
Gen. Howe's Successor Appointed.
The President has appointed Walter o.
Gresham of Indiana, to be postmaster gen