Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-16
The Case OF District Attorney Fisher,

HIS RESIGNATION REQUESTED AND EX
GOV. WELLS NAMED TO SUCCEED HIM.
Some time ago papers were filed with At
torney General Pierrepont complaining OF
TIE management of the office OF the District
Attorney in this city. While they did not
affect the integrity of Judge Fisher as an Of
ficer, it was set forth that he had appointed
his son TO the position of an assistant, and
that this son was unfit for the place for rea-
sOrS set forth in said papers.
These charges were supplemented by 9th
eTs; the treasury department complained
that there was not vigorous administration
Of the office; the Post Office department also
complained, and particularly with reference
10 the conduct of the prosecution in the mail
contract frauds. Then came a complaint
from the War department, charging that the
District Attorney had given an erroneous
opinion upon an abstract of title TO property
purchased by il upon the assumption that II
was a clear title, when ii was not
EEsIG NATION REQUESTED.
In view OF the complaints Judge Pierre
pOnt sent for Judge Fisher some time since
and invited him To refute or explain them
away. Meanwhile additional complaints
were lodged with him by members OF the bar
of the District and prominent citizens.
Ab0ut a Week ago JUICE PIerrepoat con
cludcd that the Interests Ofjustce would be
subserved by change in the office. Accord
ingly at private conference with Judge
Fisher ne indicated TO him that his resign
ton would prove acceptable. After having
discharged this unpleasant duty he wrote a
letter to eX Governor Wells, of Virginia
now OF THIS city, asking him II he would ac-
cept the OH 2, and on Tuesday last received
a reply that he would.
On Wednesday the Attornev-tieneral
again II Dictated 10 Judge Fisher that his
Re ignatiOn not being 6 oIthc)ming EN-
barTasscL him considera 81 y, aud plainly tDl1
him that he had Offered the place 70 Ct ".
Wells. and that gentleman had accepted il:
that he was constrained 10 this course not
tectusc he did not have a nigh appreciation
OF Judge FISHER integrity but sOlely because
the Office had been administered with a
lOOser esS which seemed TO him inexcu sable
Judge Fisher that night left for 10
ranch To enGeavOr to have the President
intercege with the Attorney General for
las retention.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN JUDGE PIERREPONT
AND JUDGE FISHER.
Judge Fisher returned this morning AMI
had a long Interview with Judge PIerrepOlt.
Judge Fisher indicated to him that the PreSi-
dent had declined to interfere, aud left the
matter solely in the hands OF his law-Officer.
AT tire interview this morning Judge Fisher
asked that time be granted him To Dring en-
dOrsements from the bar of the district to
| show that his Office had always been yigOr-
| Ously conducted. This Judge Pierrepont
| says he does not think he can do, inaSmuch
as the local complaints against the District
Attorney come, he says, from some of the
| most eminent members OF the District bar
| planning of his, the District Attorneys SON.
and the general arrangement of prosecutions
in the District were filed with the A ttorney
Gene al.
THE COMMISSION OF GOV. WELLS.
1t is the intention OF the Attorney General
TO have the commission of Gov. Wells pre-
pared at once and forwarded TO Long Brancn
for Executive signature. So far as he is
concerned, he will not retrace the steps he
has already taken, because before so doing
he was fully convinced that a change should
be made. II is expected that Gov. Wells
commission will be sent to-day.