New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-22
THE STAR ROUTE MAIL CASES.
THE PROMISE OF VIGOROUS PROSECUTION BOZ
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL.

THE PROMISE OF 4 VIGOROUS PROSECUTION BOTH
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL.
WASHINGTON Dec. 21.-COTrespOndence be-
tween cneral James and George Bliss, OF
counsel In the star Route mail cases has been iurhshed
FOR prblicatiou Mr. James under date Of December H.
1881, wrote
From, an examination OF the records OF ths Depart
,,rt f@vc bern convinced that money has been paid
out o the funds Of the Government 20 certain persons
49, crcHWsfances which bring such payments within
o, az of the Revised Statutes in number of in
stanccs The evidence, which seems 10 me scent - ~
maintain suits by the United States to recover
srh noneys is on file in this Department. Copies OF
much OF IL are already in your hands In compliance
from from S mS a. 5 fo the weE Of cydcncs viii cause
suits be instituted N the name OF tue untca lo nSs Ss
for the recovery OF huch money, lilesah5 P''u L wv
parties " hO received the same
The reply OF Mr. Bliss which written on Decem-
ber 49, was in part as follows
;,her T frat became connected with the cases known
"a The star Route cascs, called the attention OF the
~, sb as YOU suggest lie fully agreed with me, bnt
be matter has been delayed IN consequence OF Ic hcA-
pccted labor connected with the preparation OF tue
criminal cases.
7 was and am unwilling that any idea shond 90 forth
that criminal proceedings were to be forDorne or De
lIyed and civil proceedings ltuted II IIaus SIch
as I be eyc can be shown 70 have been committed IN
these cases cannot be punished by coyctons IN tne
criminal courts, 70 s more port2 10 SHOW tnis lfct 10
the law power and the public and thus secure
change the law, than 10 recover Ior tne
even the whole OF the large amount wrohgIuny lakti
from the Treasury do not believe that onr crIihaI
laws defective the United states statues ue III u
criminal matter-, are 40 deiecu'e tnaI clueS suCh 10
these not punlshaDIo. u ~, -, 49, .,.,,, ~,
Nor 10 10 believe that there VIII De any hesation on
the plrt OF urcs In cOuylcng on proper Huon
evidence as believe We can present Under TINS con,
ctinp have temporarily put aside the question on civil
IL and have devoted myself 10 the criminal cases.
rn ynu familiar as you with these cases can have
nftlc idea OF the amount Of LABOR wnch mas neceSSt,
rily been bestowed upon the preparation OF
them. The witnesses are scattered over
tbousands OF miles. Hardly one OF them Is less than
800 miles from this city ARD many OF tnem are Twice
tb,t distance. These witnesses have been sought Out
by your IN spectors with energy hdeity ana perse-
aucr rarely combined in suD0rdinates either IN pup
nc H. tamn alton breaks AMI omissions in the chain
~ tcsfiuopy have been discovered aud supplied The
crimins cases naturally divide themselves INTO iolf
r Hyr great combinations. This week we
have completed satisfaction the preparation Tor
The Grand Jury and trial OF the evidence az TO one
- these combinations Though, as general RUE, l
not To say anything as TO Wht We expect 10 40
may mention that lntenu 70 iSSa a,ar hcfor, The
prnas for about sixty witnesses 70 Appe vloIr lot Iii Du
Grand Jury as after the New Year as That body VIII
be ready 10 examine thcni' -, l., 49,. ,..,
tion OF the criminal connected with the other
great combinations so much indeed tha 80 lAi as eau
perceive there Is no danger that '9 SdtuH VI mn -
mons can bar any OF the cases hope they VIII Dc
ready for Grand Jury and for trial az soon as jury
Under these circumstances your request for the
commencement OF eiyil suits seelns 10 me
timely Personally | have 40 authority 70 COM
,a,cs such sults but you and | know that the
senior counsel who yesterday confirmed as A.
General will not hesitate TO give the requisite
tIrv for ono Of the chief reasons for his selection
49, tha I1.tion was his ayowed determination 10 press
t6 Star Ronc eases shall at once transmit TO him a
me- tnG 2''S our sftcr and ask his approval when re-
i.d viii cause civil suits to be commenced in those
casrs in which the evidence in the possession OF the
You will know agree with me That these clvll suts
sboud NOT in any way supersede the criminal prosecl-
si,a tr nnIishynent OF the offenders is OF infinitely
ore imuortaucc than the recovery OF money loh CIV
ami criminal proceedings will be pushed as rapidly as
wi Justice 10 the Government and TO The de-
snJsnts though il ia quito possible that you Will not
find the progress 50 rapid as you deslre'