Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-08

An Exuannaaion By District Attorney
COTkhill.

II kxwx0DO44Oo - A>sSssA~s
CorkhiIl.
WAsurxGroy. Nov Z. District Attorney
! Corkhill TODAY on the opening OF the court.
made long personal explanation to the enecf
that Mr. Cook had been appointed Assistant
| ATTORNEY General for the prosecution OF the
star route cases last June. at which time At
torney General Mcveagh notified him Cork
hill) of the fact that he (Corkhill) has had
nothing to do with these cases. Corkhlll also
stated that it was untrue that his adJournmens
of the Grand Jury caused the presentation OF
the star route case by information. He said
the fac, was that on the 18th of July last.
the counsel for the defence came into court
with the remarkable notion that the case be
presented to the Grand Jury, and on that oc-
casion he stated that he knew nothing OF the
case and that Mr.. Cook was the only man
who could speak for the government IN the
matter Mr. Cook then and there stated that
| il was his intention after the summer was
over TO present some case to the grand jury.
| On the first Monday in October the Attor-
NOV General informed him that since the
Presidents assassination he had not gwen
the star route cases any special attention. ne
knew nothing about it. and that Corkhiii neea
| not bother himself about them. ana when MS
services or those of the grand jury were re-
/ Qulred, he W0ulu De nOtIheu " a"S P~
having special charge Of them.
| The 2Sth of September he was informed oy
Mr. Cook that the Attorney General wanted
to see him and in company with Cook he
called on the Attorney General and was then
requested to sign the criminal information.
| He then protested against the abuse wnicn
he has been receiving and against the inslnu-
a,ions that has been published about the
adjournment of the grand jury, and he sald
that If the Attorney General, as his superior
officer. made a statement of the simple facts,
thi, abuse " ould be al once sl!enced.
AZ the conclusion of District Attorney
Corkhill's remarks, the argument was re-
sumed on the motion to quash the lnforma-
ton. VIM. A. Cook opposed the molten.
| Assistant Postmaster General HattOh'
First Assistant Postmaster General Hatton
has returned from Iowa, and resumed the
charge of his office today. He will also act
as Postmaster General during James absence.
star Route Cases.
The argument in the star route cases was
resumed this morning. VIM. A COOK ar
gued against the motion to quash the informal
ton. He declared that for upwards OF ten
wears the prosecution of cases by criminal
information has been in use in the District OF
Columbia and in the very court in which they
are now engaged.
In conclusion Cook said the Information
has been denounced as absurd, contradictory
a. d ridiculous, but when the eye OF pure ana
enlighted criticism is applied to it it will be
found that it has clear, distinct and plain state
ment of crime embraced in it. and one that
will justify by ample proof the conviction OF
tIe defendants, unless they can vlndlcats
themselves, not by extraordinary and pecu-
liar legal propositions. but by the accumula-
ton of facts. 1t is SAID there has been delay.
Why? 1t was no easy task to ascertain the
accumulation of filth and wrong in Augean
stable. keys and locks Of which have been In
possession of Thomas j. Brady. 1t has re-
required almost Herculean power to let in a
stream of purity on the deeds that were per-
petrated while he presided over that depart
merit. 1t was unavoidable delay. stop.
stop. STOP" was the wild and vOciferOus cry of
Col. Ingersoll in conclusion of his eloquent
appeal.
Why, stop, stop, stop" was an appropriate
cry for the defendants. 1t is the cry OF de-
tected guilt everywhere. But there is another
cry that comes down the ages wherever man
hood has struggled for its rights, and that is
''go on, go on, go on There is form (and
here the speaker spoke more slowly and with
a great deal of feeling) that passes and rises
before me, of one over whom nations tears
have recently fallen. | see him now as saw
him in the White House few nights
before he was stricken down. and from his
pale white lips comes to me, at least, the
cry ..go on, 90 on" And, if your Honor
will permit it, will go on with the aid my
bretheren of traduced and denounced
Attorney General, whose life is without stain
and spotless, of virtuperated Postmaster
General, who from childhOod's hour. has had
no accusation brought against him; With the
aid my noble, venerable and learned brother,
(Brewster) and my absent associate (Bliss),
and the indulgence of your Honor, l will go
on until these defendants may have
fair and full and just trial.
Criminal information had been expressly au-
thorized in the District of Columbia. In
supplement to the revised statues, page So. a
provision was found. In this case the stat
ne of limitations required the filing of an in
formation He had no notice, directly or in
directly, of recess of the grand jury
He had been called to Long Branch to consult
with the Attorney General. Postmaster Gen.
eral and MIR. Bliss, and when he reached the
city, on his return, he learned that the grand
Jury had adjourned There was but one
pathway open, and with labOriOus effort
with constant work. information had been
prepared and filed. Cook then proceeded to
to argue that the conviction in this case
would not render the accused infamous, and
therefore the position of the defence on that
ground could not be maintained.
At 3.2O, the court adjourned until tomor-
row, when Brewster will open his argument.
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