Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-08
CORKHILL EXPLAINS.
A Denial of the Charge of Lack of
Interest In the Star Route Cases.

WASHINGTON, November 7.-At the open
ing of the Criminal Court this morning Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill made personal ex-
PLANTATION as to the charges against him of
want Of interest In the star route
prosecution, that he had been re-
lax, neglectful and inattentive
to his duty in that respect. He said the At
torneY General had on the 1st Of June noti-
fed him that an investigation was in pro-
gress in the Post Office Department in
connection with the star route cases, and
that the persons engaged in the investigation
desired the appointment of Mr.. Cook, and he
thought 1t proper to notify him (COrkhilD
Of Cooks appointment. He had a long
conversation with Mr.. MacVeagh, in which
he said Cooks appointment was entirely
satisfactory to him, but he desired to have
his own position properly and plainly
defined. That he was ready and will
ing to perform any service required of
Of Marshal had given him all the business
he could attend to. The Attorney General
not only assented, but said no officer so
situated could give the necessary care and
attention demanded by the star route investi-
cation. Cook was formally appointed. He
had never given himself out as his Cork
hill's) assistant, but as a special assistant
/
charged with the prosecution of
the star route cases. He (CorkhilD therefore
had not been consulted in connection with
the prosecution. Cooks consultations had
all been with the Attorney General, whose
assistant he properly claimed to be. 1t
would be seen that he (CorkhilD could know
nothing Of the case or be in the slightest
degree responsible for 1t. He also defended
| his action in adjourning the grand Jury
from September to October 81, and said on
July 18th counsel for the defense in the star
| route case came into court with the remark
able motion that the case be presented to
| the grand jury, and that Cook, who was the
only man who could speak for the govern
ment, stated that it was his intention after
the summer was over to present the same
cases to the grand jury.
1t was then his intention, as the court
knew, to adjourn the grand jury till the
first Monday in October. The assault on
the President had, however, occurred, and
he had consultation with Judge Cox, and
the grand jury was adjourned to September
18th. Then it was called and remained in
session till September 19ih, doing no
business except examining a small pension
case. The grand jury was then respited for
two weeks, according with the previous un-
derstanding. At this time he had no knowl-
edge that there was any immediate inten-
tiOn to present the star route cases to this
grand jury, but had the best reason to sup
pose that there was not. He called upon
Attorney General MacVeagh on September
5tb, aud informed MIN that he would have
| no business or the grand jury when It assem-
| bled, and If any of the star route cases were
ready for presentation, the grand jury as at
his service for the next three weeks. Other
wise he would adjourn the grand jury for
three weeks. The Attorney General told him
that since the Presidents assassination he
had not given the star route cases special at
tentiOD; that he knew nothing Of them, and
that he (COrkhilD need not bother himself
about them; that when his services or those
| Of the grand jury were required he would
| be notified by the person having special
cha'ge of them. Under such circumstances,
the grand jury was respited for two weeks.
On September 25th he was informed by
| Cook that Mr.. MscVeagh wished to see him,
| and in company with Cook called on the
Attorney General and was requested to
| sign criminal information. He then pro-
| tested against the abuse which he had been
receiving and against the insinuations which
| had been published about the adjournment
| of the grand jury, and said that If the At
| torney General as his superior officer
made a statement of the simple facts the
| abuse would be at once silenced. Mr.. Mac
! Neagh said it was true that he (Corkhill)
had called upon him, and informed
| him of the proposed adjournment OF
| the grand jury, but that he was under the
| impression he had told him to see Cook.
| He (CorkhilD assured him that such was not
| the case, and the conversation ended. 1t
had been known to every one connected
with the star route cases that the grand jury
| had adjourned. On the day of its adjourn
ment 1t was equally well known that on in
| timation to himself or the court the grand
| jury would have been resummoned without
one days delay. He desired, therefore, to
| tate plainly:
First. Tdat he was now and had been
| ignorant OF every fact connected with the
star route cases.
Second. That the adjournment of the
grand jury Til the first Monday in October
was decided upon and directed on July 19oh
without any reference to the star route
| cases.
Tlird. That it would have been call
| Immediately If It had been desired.
Fourth. That before the grand jury ad-
| jOurned he called on the Attorney General
and informed him of the proposed adjourn
ment, and asked him the direct question
| whether any of the star route cases were
ready, and the Attorney Generals reply was
that he (COrkhilD had nothing to do with
| them, and that when his services were need
| ed he would be notified.
Judge Cox remarked that so far as the
facts stated by Colonel Corkhill had come
within his personal experience bis state
ment confolmed substantially to his recOl-
| lection.