Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-10
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
Opinion of Judge COx-Defend.
ants Dismissed.


WASHINGTON, November 1O.-Ir
the Criminal Court this morning
Judge Cox rendered a.decision in the
Star Route cases, discussing principal
ly the question as to the infamy of the
crime charged. The conclusion ar.
rived at was that the crime was infa.
mousand the accused should have b. en-
proceeded against by indictment. He
therefore sustained the motion expell-
ing information from the files of the
court and ordered the discharge of de-
PENDANTS.
Few in Washington are surpsised at
the decision of Judge Cox, who grants
the motion to strike off the informa-
ton against the Star Route conspira-
tors and discharges the defendants.
The courtroom was crowded, the audi
ence being very largely composed
of the friends of the accused. AS soon
as the Judges decision had been
made Mr.. VIM. E. Cook, assistant to
the Attorney General, read a state
ment which he had evidently pre-
pared in anticipation of the result.
He denied the statement of
District Attorney Corkhill that the
Attorney General had been consulted
by him in regard to the adjournment
Of the grand jury, and claimed that
the information bad only to be re-
sorted to after the government had
been prevented from asking the in
dictment until after the statute of
limitation could have begun. On the
part Of the prosecution he promised
that the accused would not long be
able to exult. They would be brought
before a grand jury and before a petit
jury, and they would have all the op-
portunity they apparently desired to
defend themselves upon proceedings
against which no technical objection
could be raised.
After the adjournment of the court
the accused were congratulated by
their numerous friends.
At the Postofice Department, the
effect of Judge Cox's decision is much
discussed. High officials assert that
the effect is misunderstood. 1t is
claimed that the government is de-
barred from proceeding by indictment
in the Walsh cases, but Postoffice
authorities deny this. They say that
the proceedings by information having
been commenced satisfies the require
ments of the statute of limitations,
even though the proceedings have been
thrown out on techpicality. In ad-
dition, it is alleged that there are
grounds for many indictments without
touching the Walsh cases. Public
opinion. however, is almost unanimous
that the failure of the government is
final as regards Brady.
After reading Judge Cox's decision
Cook said it was deemed proper that
heshould make a'statement which had
been purposely delayed until this time,
with reference to the fact that the case
against Thos. J. Brady and others had
not been presented to the grand jury.
His Honor's decision had been rem
dered, but it was due to the public
and to himself as a special attorney
for the United States, to his colleagues
and associates and to his superior Of
fcers Of the government to state
openly and more fully than had
been done why more common course
had not been pursued and why the
information had not been filed. The
assassination Of the President oc-
Cured on the morning of I'd of July.
On the Wednesday previous, at the
Presidents request, he had CONVEX
sation at the White House in regard
to the Star Route cases.
After full explanation the Presi-
dent expressed himself fully satisfied
with what had been done, but urged
that the cases be pushed as rapidly as
possible. 1t had been his Cooks
intention to complete the necessary
preparations and present the cases to
the grand jury on its meeting in Sep
tember.