The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-31
THE STAR ROUTES.

Dorsey Still under Cross Examination.
WASHINGTON, March 30.--In tho Star route
trial this morning Mr. Merrick continued the
cross-examination Of Dorsey
The witness said he had been unable 10 find
certain checks required by Mr.. Merfick He
had over l4,O0O checks and they were pretty
well mixed up.
Mr.. Merrick asked the witness TO produce
his bank book on the German American Saw
ings Bank, which be refused to do, and was
sustained by the court.
Boones testimony was then taken up. The
witness said II was accurate in all respects save
one, that the witness had promised him a third
interest on the business. What he did tell
Boone was that he thought the arrangements
would be agreed 10 by Peck and John Dorsey
and the witness believed Boone had SO testified
in the former trial.
Postmaster Hayoock and Peck were intimate
friends. Witness had not mentioned Peck
in his letter TO Haycock because he did NOS
wish other contractors 70 learn tnat Peck was
bidder. At Miners request he had paid
Moore $3.50 and sent Rerdell to fetch the pig
con holes from Boone's house. He did not rec
elect directing the insertion of a clause provid-
Ing for expedition in snb contracts. He had no
recollection Of having seen the sub contracts
up 10 February, 1878, or OF changing form
prepared by Boone.
A searching examination was based uLon
the sub contract clause providing for expedi-
tion, bnt witness steadily denied ali recoilee-
bid book only once when the bids were in
PREPARATION lie believed Miaer, aud not
BcoDe, filed In tire figures. aud witness went
over tae book with Miner. Witness "a ade some
changes IN the amounts proposed 70 be bid, but
did not change the bids themselves. He re-
membered that be changed two sets OF figures
in this way .--0n the Bismarck Tongue river
aud the Dallas aud Baker City rontes. He ex-
plained bis reasons for suggesting reduction on
the Two routes named, saying he felt confident
the rapid growth and development OF The conu-
tfy would make them paying routes through
increased freight and passenger business. Wit
ness had no expectation OF getting the Dallas
Baker City route expedited when he suggest
cd a reduction Of bid. He had no knowledge
s's@ sse spJisea bids spoken Of by Boone Ard
about that.
Mr. Merrick- Will have 4 chance
A.-You WILL
The courl-You are laying outa great deal
of work for us.
Mr.. DAyidge They are called for defendant
Your Henor
Witness explaining his reasons fOr taking an
active part Ia the business after July, 1879 said
that he had endorsed notes for the partners TO
the amount of S26 900, Which had been used 70
secure certified checks for deposit in the Post
Office Department III they had failed to put
op the service these notes would have come
back upon him. The notes we're given to the
Vermont National Bank of St. AlbAns aud the
Second National Bank Of Santa Fs.
An apparently personal letter from John
Dorsey 10 the witness was acknowledged by the
latter TO be genuine, "but | don't see how it
got into this case, said he.
Ingersols-Eerdell kept j. as a voucher.
(Langhter).
MIR Merrick-There seems to have been
distribution Of paper between you, and some OF
them should have been in the custody of the
other.
In the letter John Dorsey says he i glad
that Vale has bought out.
The witness said his recollection was that
he wrote his brother that "Vaile had cut him
out" and that John Dorsey had msunder-
stood II. lie could not have said bought out
because It was not so. When witness returned
to Washington In December he found Vaile
had fiedFsub contracts
Q-Vaiie was trying TO sEindle the whole
party was he not?
Al don't know that be was. was annoyed
at the time, but afterwards saw that he could
not have done otherwise than file the sub-con-
tracts to cut of drafts.
Witness had not seen that letter since he
sent it 10 John Dorsey. He was pressed to
produce the letter or state its contents but
moving his hand, he exclaimed, II have no
recollection Of such little rubbish as that"
Mr. Mefrlek-We have to look in rubbish
to find certain things.
Mr.. Dayidge-ABd you don't End them here
Witness supposed the letter produced by Mr.
Merrick (from Mr. John Dorseyl had been
stolen in 1878, but declined to say who stole it.
You mean Rerdel, don't you," inquirad
Merrick?
contemptuous laugh was the witness oply
answer
Mersick reiterated the question and witness
said Rerdell seemed to have been we'll pleased
with the latter He refused to return any
more definite answer. He said no regarded
that letter as perfectly innocent and attached
no importance TO the question.
Merrck-You don't seem to attach import
ance to any Of my questions.
witnessI don't know. / should think no
body else would.
Witness said he had examined his letter
books. They were much mutilated. Some
one had gone through them aud rutted out
auont six hundred pages. He had seen some
OF the pages since then in this trial. The
books were now at witness house, but had
been offered under restriction In evidence in
court and rejected fow days ago.
Merriok read in evidence letter to l.. j.
Brady, dated March 4, 1879 signed by witness
LOT Peck aud John Dorsey. Dorsey says that
being duly empowered 10 act for Peck and John
Dorsey ho protests against the sub contracts on
hle in the name of II. Nj. Vaile and demands
that they be cancelled after April /. Witness
thought he first heard OF the filing OF the sui
contractors In December, 1878.
Merrick inquired why he had waited TIL
March before writing to Brady.
Witness.--For this simple reason / don't
Know what you are trying to reach. John Dor
sey and Peck being absent and ] in the Senate
| thought that Il would be an improper thing
for mo TO do while was In the Senate.
Witness thought he had his authority for
writing the letter In the winter of 1STS-79.
Did not assume control OF the business without
authority. Had the powers Of attorney up
ON every route, but could not say whether he
had them before March ith.
Merriok began an inquiry in relation TO the
letters of authorization. Witness did not
know where the letters were and insinuated
that Rerdell was better informed. Adjourned
till Monday next.
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