Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-29
STAR ROUTES.
DORSEF'S EXPLANATION CONTINUED
1T GREAT LENGTH.
His Correspondence with Postmasters Ex-
plained--He Gives the Reasons for Be-
coming Bondsman for Certain PARTIES
IngersOn on His cara Lively Scrim-
mage Between Counsel.

bne criminal court room this morning
before the opening of the proceedings in
the star route trial, but under the stringent
regulations imposed by the marshal but
few were admitted besides members of the
bar and others having business in the conrt
room. After making a few unimportant
changes of the record Mr.. Dorsey contin-
ued his testimony.
His letter to Postmaster CIendennin. of
Fort Smith, Ark, was produced, and he
was asked his reason for cautioninr Glen
DENIM not to allow Root, Kerns and others
to know of his (Doisey's) request for the
approval of the bonds. He explained that
the persons referred to were prominent
mail contractors, and it was very import
ant that they should know nothing of the
proposed bids, or they might knowingly
underbid for the service.
The letter to Postmaster Haycock was
also read, and the same explanation given
in regard to that.
Counsel offered to prove that the letter
had been written at Boone's suggestion.
but the court overruled the offer.
Witness said that the bonds sent to the
postmasters were never returned to him.
and consequently never used He had
no interest IN the contracts, and his at
tempt to secure the bonds was friendly
act. He had done the same thing for 9th
or persons, notably Mayor Adams. for
whom he received bonds for S64O.OOO.
That was also only a friendly act. Refer
ring to the pencil entries of figures in the
route book he said that Miner brought the
book to him and he changed only two
entries. He could not remember the routes
or figures. He had advanced money. about
$4,000 or $1,000, to John W. Dorsey g. Co.
The total sum loaned;to all, Peck. Miner
and John W. Dorsey was $4,000, exclusive
OF $4,000, afterwards paid to Peck and
$4,000 paid TO John w. Dorsey. The last
| transaction was with Miner at st. Louis
N July, 1873. Witness gave two notes to
Minor, who had them discounted at the
German-American bank. Miner deposited
$4,000 in postal drafts as security. Wit
ness returned to Washington, about Dec.
L. 1878. found that the bank had failed. and
that Miner & Peck had taken Vale into
partnership to protect Vale, Miner actino
as agent for John ". Dorsey, and Peck
had transferred q large number of sub
contracts to him. The effect of that oper-
ration was to destroy the security deposit.
ed with the bank. Witness was not consult.
| ed about taking Vale into the business.
| After some difficulty he gave another note
and got Vale to give note as security fol
his original notes, and both OF them were
retained in the bank up to the time of wit
| ness leaving the senate. The relations be.
tween Vale and himself were much strain
ed because witness advances had not been
repaid, and Peck and John Dorsey haG
been cut out of the business. After much
consideration an arrangement was finally
entered into III March, 1879, by which wit
ness took one-third of the routes. abou
thirty in number, and Peck and Jno
W. Dorsey $4,000 each.
He employed Reerdel to attend to thes,
routes,some time in April, 1879, but he re
tanned his position in the dis
trict government until May, 1879, Reerde
took the general charge of the routes. He
was not instructed to open any books
There was no occasion for it. Witness haC
his own books. Reerdel did keep a rout,
book but witness did not see it until ;
year afterwards. Witness described hi
movements in detail during 1879 ant
1880. Subsequent to the division of tn
routes witness made an arrangement will
JAS. Bosler in relation to the routes CoulC
not say whether the arrangement wa
made here or in New York
Reerdel remained in charge of the route
after that arrangement. Witness neve
had any connection however with tn
routes held by Miner and Vale, after tn
division. Never realized any profits from
them and did not see Mine
or Vale after that unit
the beginning Of this action. Witness rec
objection in regard to his thirty route
was that in some cases drafts were give1
to him covering the entire contract period
and IN others sub-contracts were giysr
| Reerdel also had some sub-contracts. H
was in Washington on April 3, 1873. tn,
date of the Chico Springs letter. Neve
saw andrew III. Moore but once, and dix
not know him. On July, 1873, Moore wa.
at witness house.
Ingersoll read from Moore's testimony
his statement of his interview with
Dorsey about mail service.
| Witness declared he never had 4 CONVEX
sation of three words with Moore in tn,
| world. His statement was made ont @
| whole cloth. Witness gave checks to Nina
in April, 1873, but did not know wbetbe
| or not they were intended for Moore. Per
haps Miner has told him something of tba
kind, bat witness did not now remember
the $3.50 check which Moore said had beer
given to him, was given to Miner, Peck &
Co. Nearly all of Moore's statements con
corning witness were, denied in the broad
est and most emphatic terms. Witness die
not recollect that he had ever requested
Reerdel to help Miner prepare bids. Miner
stopped at witness house as a guest during
December, 1877, and had the use of the up
per Office. If Reerdel did any work fol
witness at that time, it consisted only OF
writing a few letters. When he called al
the house during the evening witness had
nothing to do with the preparation of pro
posals on that memorable night, as testi
fed to by ReerdeI. The only grain Of
truth in that story was the circumstance
of him sending Reerdel to Boone's house
for case of papers. Witness reason fol
taking such an active interest in the sue
cess of the business, and for
sending Reerdel out to help John
w. Dorsey start the Tongue
river route was to protect friends who had
| become bondsmen on the routes from the
disastrous consequences of failure of any
of the routes. In reference to Reerdels
statement that he had been instructed to
establish Si6a noa+officas