The New York herald., 1874-07-29
GEORGE BLISS.
he Movement 70 Remove the lalled Mates
District Attorney from Office.
THE ALLEGED BURNING OF THE MAILS.

George Bliss, United states District Attorney for
,he southern District OF New York, entered his
once in the federal building in Chambers street
Yesterday morning looking healthy and blooming
alter his summer soiourn among the White Noun
tains. He had scarcely closed the door behind
nan when it opened again 10 admit the fore
man OF the United States Grand Jury. aud tbe two
gentlemen renamed closeted for about an hour,
while a representative oil the HERALD quietly
waited around the premises and laid his plans Tor
the capture OF whatever Information OF public I'M
portance should come IRON within; for he rightly
conectured that the visit had no very remote con-
nection with the efforts which have been making
ior some time past fer the removal OF the District
Attorney from Office.
THE PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT.
twill be remembered that some ten or twelve
days ago Il petition, signed by Walter Gibson.
wilham H. Pierce and j. H. Fl. Haws (he last
mentioned Grand JurymaD) was laid before
President Grant, praying Tor the removal OF Mr..
Bliss. The petition preambled THAI Gibson was
the pp bsher of a local sheet IN the upper part OF
the city that afidayiC OF his was subscribed
before Comlssioner shields setting forth that
about March IS, 1874, he mailed some copies of his
publication at station l. post office: that Will
liam r. Pierce, then money order clerk OF station
H. saw the superintendent thereof Garret h.
George Bliss was then and is still United States
District Attorney aud L. II. Purdy hi assistant.
THE CHARGES
set forth that alter the arrest OF Tuuison
MIR. Bliss unreasonably postponed and finally
abandoned altogether the examination OF the
cused before the Commissioner; that Mr.. Bliss
would give Gibson and PIERCE satisfaction TOR
doing when they made inquiries of him on the
subject; that when they inquired If he would allow
answer;i that at that interview he confessed he
based his action what he was told by Postmas.
ter James, and not upon any knowledge he him.
self had acquired; that when going out OF town
last month he left instructions with District Attor-
ney Purdy to deny Gibson all admission 10 the
wards procured and accepted an invita-
ton from the secretary; rnomas 5. TILES
was driven out again by orders OF the Assistant
District Attorney; that Mr.. Bliss induced Hermon
Griifin. foreman OF that Grand jury TO advise Glib
son 10 Withdraw ms case; that slr. Bliss alter
wards brought Iunson ana one A. Frank Shaw
evidence i'll the case; thar he inumldated Snaw.
WHO holds position III the Interna, Revenue De.
partment by threatening him win the OF hrs
sltuauon; and. finally, that the whole conduct OF
MI Bliss III tins matter was anything but correct
or comnendaDle.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BLISS EXPLAINS
To the inquiries of the foreman OF the Grand Jury
yesterday morning Mr.. Bliss declared rnat he did
NOT Know any OF the parties above said to have
been offered as witnesses. and mad never seen
either shaw or Tunison until "A lew moments
Grand Jury room. He added tnat the
District Attorney has discretion under both the
United States ana state courts to refuse to nave
the Grand Jury occupy irs time needlessy in hear
ing volunteer matter TO the exclusion OF such
legitimate ana discretionary business as he might
brlng before 1t. Mr. Gibson he said. claims his
compaint-wnether so advised by counsel or not
Is iinmaterlal-tnat tue District Attorney must
usher in 10 the Grand Jury any persons who might
pretend they nad complaints TO make. Thus turn ,
ing the Grand Jury into an ilIilnitable conference
knowledge or consent of the ofiicer supposed 10
nave the legal culture and disrreton necessary 10
know the statutes under when the criminal might
be punished, as well as tne weight evidence re-
qulred TO prove pr'JnG Jac,s that crime had been
committed. The authorities this absurd opin-
ion quoted in Mr.. Gibson's petition were, MIR. Bliss
thought. selected by non-proiessonals rom ram
MR.. Bliss sYMPATIIZES.
When the foreman alluded to the frightiul as
sauit by vltriol made upon hr. Gibson some time
ago the District Attorney expressed great sym
p;.tiy with Mr. Gbsons misiortunes, but he
thought that matter not worthy oil more than Il
short note on the subject. which he proposed to be
able TO address to the foreman to-day to-inor-
row. Mr.. Griffin then TOOK his departure.
ENTER COUNSEL TCNisON.
The foreman of the Grand Jury had scarcely re-
counsel ior Garret q. Iunison, to he admitted.
dr. kIilian briefly stated ms business. he saii
that Tunlson Is confident OF being able TO prove
his entire innocence OF the charge or burn
nm DS Mr. GIBSON; ,nat the accused
had already submitted TO an investigation
conducted by the Post Ofice authorities and an
examination before COMMISSIONER shields III the
crmer OF vhIcn he was wholly. and i'll the latter
parualiy, eXODerated; that Tunison had written a
letter 10 the District Attorney requesting TO be
submitted 10 another examination before q United
states Commissioner, and he counsel now came
TO ask II the District Attorney meant 10 act on
mat letter. lie hoped or such thorough sitting
" the whole case as would result in the punish
Inent Of the compliments for what he considered
ineir falsehOod and malice. IL Is understood that
tue Post once authorities consider that Tunson
ought TO press this matter before Commissioner
even II he himself were to bear the expense. as
mn . l.l- ma 4ItaAU
racks OIL pubic officials, and TO show persons likely
10 engage in tbat business that there arc penalties
wncn follow the attempts.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY on ECONOMY.
Mr.. Bliss replied that lie would give 1unisou's
request lOr an examination some consideration,
an; would probably come 20 some conclusion on
the subject to-day and INFORM Mr.. killian what IL
snail be. At the same time he indicated that he
saw no reason why the United states government
sdcuid lie put TO a needless expense where the
evidence seemed TO negative all guilt the part
Of the accused.
It u considered very probable by his acquaint
ances that Iunlson VIII perseycre until he secures
a thorough examination OF his case somewhere
Utner. Indeed, ne can scarcely afford TO do other
wise, and neither the Post ONCE authorities.