National Republican., 1883-04-07

handwriting; had not received letter from
him since December, 1873. Nor did he know
Pecks signature; was no judge of handwrit-
ing, -, uu o,, n,,a,..,,,nu y
queried the court
A. 1 think so.
The court. think do.
Mr.. Merrick endeavored to recall to the
memory of the witness q certain mule
whacker" on the Tongue river route. He
did not remember going driving with such
person. rs.
O. Didn't you get ducking in the Little Mis-
souri, riyer2 ITO the court) want to refresh his
recollection.
The court. A good way to refresh it uaughterl.
But the witness still failed to remember the
circumstance. Speaking of the attempt to
establish side postofiice upon the Tongue
river route the witness said that Rerdell
made the attempt on his own responsibility
Witness had refused to assist him, but finally
consented to present the petition to P0stmas-
ter Lannsberry, and he had always respected
that gentleman because he had refused to sign
It. Since April, 1879, witness had been con-
nected with the Rankin Ice Machine COM
pany, of New York.
The prosecution read in evidence q letter
from the witness to Rerdell dated Baltimore,
Dec. 9, 1892
Dorsey begins by referring to converse
tion he had had with Rerdell, and says that
upon mature consideration he has come to the
conclusion that there was moro in his re-
marks chat "he would like an immediate
trial W than at first appeared, and that there
was something beneath the surface. He be-
gins to suspect that Rerdell Is not acting in
good faith and he warns him that If he ever
hears of his doing anything calculated to
iniure tho defendants in this trial, he John
Dorsey will prosecute him for forgery and
for another crime that he will not now men
ton. He concludes with the assertion that
he can put his hand upon proofs Of the acts,
day and dates.
The witness said that he wrote that letter
entirely upon his own responsibility, inde-
pendently of s. w. Dorseys direction.
The cross-examination closed, and Mr.. In
gersoll began the redirect examination with
a request for an explanation Of the letter TO
Rerdell.
The witness said that at the beginning of
this trial motion for continuance had been
signed by all of the defendants with the ex-
ception Of Rerdell. In the course of con-
versation with Rerdell when walking up
Pennsylvania avenue, Rerdell said that he
supposed witness thought that he should have
signed that motion. But he could not con-
scientiously do it; he had antagonized the
court at the beginning of the first trial, and
he had no desire to repeat the experiment.
His business had been damaged, and he had
been broken up" Witness replied that, as
|
he did not think that Rerdell had moro than
q lamp post, but did believe that he was act
ing solely from policy. Witness reminded
| Rerdell that his (Dorsey's) business had also
been greatly damaged, and yet Rerdell knew
that he (witness) had done no intentional
wrong.
Rerdell assented to that, so for as witness
was concerned. Witness, in continuation,
told him that he would have taken the stand
| during tho first trial, but his counsel regarded
it as an unnecessary proceeding. The condi-
tions were now changed; everybody had been
terrorized and
Mr.. Merrick cut of the explanation with
an objection, and argument ensued.
| The witness remarked that he might have
| finished his explanation in less time than the
| argument had consumed.
Mr.. Merrick But God knows what II would
have closed with Dorsey. tLaughter.l
Mr. Ingersoll explained that it was the wit
ness's intention to show that he had been con-
vinced of Rerdell's treachery at that time
The court, however, refused to permit the in
quiry and to admit an explanation of the
forgery above mentioned.
The testimony of the witness closed with a
denial of any evil intentions in making ath'
davits connected with the routes.
Adjourned until Monday.
| Much amusement was created in the court
room during the afternoon by the circulation
of an illustrated humorous paper containing
sketch of the star route trial in 1901, the
court facetiously remarking that the likeness
of Mr.. Ingersoll was well executed.
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