National Republican., 1883-02-17
He Explains tho Free and Easy Methods Of
Amending Petitions and Atidavits.
In Their Account Books Gen. Brady's
Name was Spelled VIM. Smith.
When Congress Began to Investigate Brady Ordered
These Books Copied,
And witness Played Sick While lie
Pushed this Work Along.

the stand aud testified rs follows Miner
handed him u petition on the star route from
Mineral Park to Phoebe, and requested mm
To intcrlmc the words, "thrce trips on II
schcdulu Of sixty hours Something had
irl,tcn erased in that place, but witness did not
RI remember what it was, or who mado the
crasurc. IL was either Miner or himself
The number of tho route had also been
changed
Mr. McrriclS presented witness with pc
ttion for expedition ON the EhrenbcrE. Min
crgl Park ruutc. signed by John Dorsey.
Witness said he had never seen it before.
Another paper was shown purporting TO have
bcecn signed by j. w. Dorsey. Witness said
IL was not in John DOrscys handwriting, and
nj the date set out in the paper Nov. 20,
1879 John Dorsey was other in Montana or
Dakota Gould not say who signed the name.
Two letters IN John DOrsoys handwriting
were identified by the witness, and read by
Mr. McrriCk despite the objection of tho de-
fcnsc.
Mr.. Mcrricl; explained that the first one
was offered rs un admission Of j. w. Dorsey
TO show whore he was when he was supposed
to have signed an affidavit in this city.
Mr. MgcrsOll objected to the witness read
ing his testimony of yesterday, and although
ho said he was only making corrections he
was not allowed 10 examine the record.
Mr.. Merrick then read the two letters from
J. w. Dorsey. In the first letter, dated Bis
marck, Oak, Dec. %, 1873, John Dorsey
writes TO his brother that he has inclOscd
blank drafts according to instructions. IL
they are all right he supposes he will send
Mr.. Miner. He Is glad to hear that VaiJc has
bought out, and has no doubt that the route
(Bismarck Tongue river will pay him or
also speaks of the difficulties he has ex-
pcricnced in starting tho service The
other lcttor is addressed to Miner under
date of Sept.F27, 1873 apparently it
is from kansas City,. and asks for
money 10 pay the men who ara clamorous
f.r their mon ". He inquiries what S. w.
Dorsey means by $3.50 mill" on TIL, Bis
marGk route.
The witness continued: S. w. Dorsey
Instructed him to prepare the affidavit on
the Toqucrvillc-Adairvillc route. Witness
I requested him to make the calculation.
Dorsey said he (witncss) could do it himself;
IL was only necessary, in making the calcula-
tion, TO preserve the proportion of 100 or 200
per cent. in allowing for tho increase. Wit
ness carried out the instructions, although h
had no idea of the number of men and ami
mails required on either schedule; he simply
figured so as to preserve the proportion. Wit
ness had number of these blank atlidavits.
They had been taken from his Office immc-
diately after the return of the verdict in the
last trial. When witness was released from
Jail he found his desk open and his papers
scattered. s. w. Dorsey was the only man
beside himself who possessed " key to the
Office. Among the papers carried of were
letters passing between 5. w. Dorsey and
himself and J. w. Boslcr.
"That was fat burglary" interjected Mr.
Ingersoll.
The witness said he had sued Miner Vaile
Il Co. for services rendered. MIR. Merrick
Seered to read the record in that case to show
from Vales statement who constituted the
firm. Objection was made. and the court
said that it would be necessary to prove the
kn .hS ,rna Wi ntII
Mr. Merriclk read the record. 1t showed
that Rerdell on May 20, 1879, sued Vaile and
Miner for $33333 for services rendered from
December, 1873, to March, 1879, in the trans
action of their mail business. The defend
ants replied that they arc not indebted tt
Rerdeli, but that he is indebted to them il
the sum of 5000. They allege that Rerdel
was employed by them in connection with 5
w. Dorsey, to act for them in certain mai
route business, but that he had been fully
paid, and that 300 had been paid to Charle
Perkins on his account
Another letter from Vale to S. W. Dorse!
was read by Mr.. Merrick. 1t is dated Ma
tional Hotel, May 20, 1879. Nailc says
"Rerdell has sued us-Vaile, Miner Il &C
though alleging that the firm is onl.
Vaile and Miner, for what he claims rs wages
&c. If it goes on 1t will expose ou
private affairs in which you arc interested
1t will draw out who are the real partners o
Vaile, Miner & Co. % He cannot re
cover anything and will draw himself int
serious difficulty. 1t seems to us that yo
had better get him to withdraw his action n
once, as we have but twenty days III whic
to make answer. We don't suggest this be
cause we believe that he can recover, but
serve the poor fellow himself. He was in tn
employ of the district government ut tn
time, and no man can serve two masters n
once. He has wronged no one" The lette
concludes with renewal of the recommend
alton that Dorsey induce Rerdell
withdraw his ssuit. The witness said that whe
tho case came to trial u compromise wa
effected In the court house, Miner drawing
check for 5000 which was signed by Nail(
The witness was not allowed to relate certai
instructions relative to the preparation of pt
titons and subCOntrRCts given by 5. w. Dol
soy to his brother when the latter went
California. Witness kept the books for TIL
concern for time. S. w. Dorsey gave hi
instructions in reference to tho entries to b
made in the books. Objection was made TO
relation of the instructions, but il was owe
ruled. Holding paper in his hand, witne
said S. w Dorsey instructed him to open n
account with the names on that paper.
Mr. MerriClI proceeded to read the pape
1t is headed u. S. Senate Chamcr, Wasl
ington, lS7-Accounts cash loaned Dorsey an
Pe,k s. w. Dorsey, Sl0,50O.p Under hea
OF Dorsey, $4,000; under tho head of Peel
$4,000. Expenses, blank cash, blank prot
and loss, blank j. IL. Mitchell, blank; g.
Smith, 5000. John Smith had been scratchC
out and Sam Jones substituted. The witnc
said that he wrote " Sam Joncs" under "Joh
Smith because $. w. Dorsey called attentiO
- to tho fact that there were two Smiths, an
said no had better make ono Sam Jones
ILaughter.l Tho witness was asked to O.
plain the meaning of these entries, He sal
that subsequent to the receipt of the paper
w. Dorsey asked him if he had charged Brad
with q certain amount (it was either $500
SG,50O, or $1,000 for there We three dillerel
papers) Witness answered that he had l
account against Brady. Dorsey replied, ''Wh
damn It, he is William Smith l thought yC
knew who William Smith was"
Witness said all of these amounts aboN
mentioned had been charged to Brady.
After the usual recess the witness resume
his testimony. He said that upon the Occ
sion when Dorsey told him who Wm. Smit
was (some time in juno he left the hou
with Dorsey and stopped at Middleton
hank, where Dorsey drew some none
Thence they went TO tho Postoilice depar
lnent. Dorsey requested him to wait
Turner's room (No. 22), and went in to s.
Brady. He soon returned, and they left II
office. 1t was after they roturned-perha
that night--that Dorsey told him who Smi
was. Did not know how much money DoTsC
drew at the bank.
The court said he did not see tho intontiC
~ 1,oo,sou ne corrso In couldnit bo,