Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-16
TURNS STATES EVIDENCE.
REERDELL, ONE OF THE STAR ROUT-
ERS, PLEADS GUILTY.
He Throws Himself Upon the Mercy of
the Court and Takes the Witness Stand
He Gives His Partners Dead Away-Im-
portant Testimony by the Witness Walsh.

tflal, aIIer Cne crOSS-oXamln2tlOn OF q. A.
Lounsberry, of Bismarck, ReerdelI arose,
and in a clear voice said:
IF the court please, desire to make
statement in my own behalf"
profound silence prevailed for mo-
ment. The court looked surprised, but
counsel for the defense seemed to be pre-
pared for the blow about to follow. The
court finally said: "You can make it."
Reerdell then proceeded to read RAPIDLY
the following statement:
''If court please, desire to make state
ment in person in my own behalf. After
mature reflection and full consideration of
the whole subject, I have determined to
abandon any further defense in this case,
and put myself at the mercy of the court
and government, and, if desired to do so
by the counsel of the government to testify
to all my knowledge of any facts with re-
ference to any defendants, either against
or for them, myself included; therefore,
now in person ask leave to withdraw my
plea of not guilty heretofore interposed,
and enter my plea of guilty.
and in so doing put myself upon the mer-
cy of the court. l feel this to be duty
owe to myself and family and the truth.
have arrived at this fixed determination
upon my own reflection and responsibility,
and without any previous consultation
with my counsel, who 1 believe would not
have advised me to this course, and who 1
will now relieve from any responsibility
for the course have adopted"
''Well, on my part there is no objection"
said Ingersoll abruptly.
''This is somewhat unexpected. I pre-
sumo" said Wiltshire (ReerdelIs counsel,
that Reerdell has exercised a right that
belongs to himself; therefore, nothing is
left for me to do but to withdraw from the
case, or, at least, from further partIcipa-
ton in the case.
The Court-The defendent, who has Just
spoken, desires to withdraw his plea of not
guilty and enter one of guilty. The clerk
will make the entry.
John Walsh was called to the stand.
The court remarked: Il suppose Mr..
Reerdell will remain under his present
bail. The court will pass no order at
present" Reerdell and his counsel then
left the room, and Walsh proceeded to re-
| laL6 his SGOry VI bIl0 1ALCIflOW OOtWCCu
himself and Brady.
The testimony of Walsh was a substan-
tial repetition of that given during the first
trial. He told how an interview had been
| arranged at Sheridan's house, of Brady's
explanation of the methods of manipula-
ting contracts, and of his statements and
of the per centage due by Walsh on ac-
count of his route.
Brady asserted that he, (witness) owed
| $4,000 as his pro rata of the expenses at
| tending the passage of the star route ap-
preparation bill and other congressional
expenses. Wit 1ess denied the justice of
the claim. Brady also said he owed him
| so Ger cent of the remissions of fines in
this route, and thought he would find he,
| BRADY owed witness nothing. Witness
then related how Brady had seized papers
despite his protest, and how Brady had
defed him to proceed against him BRADY
in court. Brady, he said, advised him to
sell out.
''How did you part?" inquired Merrick.
81 was very philosophical, and he seemed
to be satisfied answered the witness.
Witness said Brady had cited to him the
Peterson draft in proof of the statements
l
Counsel for the defense declined to cross
examine Walsh.
Reerdell was then called to the stand by
Merrick. He testified as follows: Became
acquainted with S. W. Dorsey in Decem-
Der, 1872; met John Dorsey in the spring
of 1878, at Senator Dorsey's home on
| I street. First met Peck about
1869 or 1870. Became acquainted with
Brady in the spring of 1879. In August,
1875, witness was appointed to position
under the district governmental the same
time he acted as Dorsey's secretary, Miner
had the Office in the third story of Dorsey's
house. Boone, Watts and Senator Dorsey
were FREQ uenters of Miners Office. Early
in February, 1873, the night be-
fore the proposals were put in,
witness began his connection with the
mail business. Early that evening he
asked witness to assist him. Witness hest
tated and Senator Dorsey asked him to
assist Miner. When he got up stairs,
| Miner informed him he wished him to
help to fix up the proposals. Miner read
| off the amounts and witness filled in the
dollars and cents in the bids. Part of the
| time Senator Dorsey was present and part
| of the time Boone was present. He be-
| lieved Watts was also present. Witness
worked until about o'clock. Miner read
off the figures from book containing the
advertisements. In December, 1879, wit
ness had conversation with Miner about
the book at his home on G street. Miner
showed him a book and told him who filed
in the figures, he said the figures were in
Senator Dorsey's hand writing. One
morning in June, 1873, witness went
to Dorsey's house at his
| request. Dorsey had before him large
number of communications. He tossed
them over to witness and asked him if he
knew what they meant. Witness read
about dozen. They were communications
from the postoffice department addressed
to Dorsey, Peck, Boone, Miner and perhaps
Watts. Dorsey asked him to take charge
of the business, and witness carried them
down to the Office in the district building.
Dorsey said he intended to take away the
business from Boone who was then attend
ing to it. Saw Dorsey again on the 9Th
following, and told him he thought he
could attend to the business after getting
a little further information. Dorsey in
structed him to go to Boone's house and
get all the papers connected with the bus
mess. /: Boone, he ! said, would
understand what the papers wanted.
| vnrr