Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-06-09
lMsflTyy!Ra THE WORK.
Tho Legal Force Dcivins Into star Huutc
Muttrrs SGn Known Individuals Com
ncctra by I;umor viii, the Frauds.
Special to the Chicago Inter @, can.


Special to the Chicago Inter O,can.
Washington, June 2.-.rhc appoint
ment of Colonel Wm. A. Cook as spe-
ciai attorney for the government in con-
ducting the prosecution of persons
charged with fraud in connection with
the star route service bas had the effect
of reviving confidence in the purpose of
Postmaster james and MIR. MacVeagb,
Cook professedly stands ut the head Of
the bar in Washington us q successful
practitioner in criminal cases and sin
gularly successful advocate. Associated
with him in the sitting and arranging OF
evidence TO lay before the grand jury is
A. M. Gibson, who has peculiar qualifi-
cations for the work in hand. and brings
to il u great familiarity with the methods
OF the business in the postoilice depart
mcnt. The attorneys have already COM
mcnccd their labors, and expect to be
ready to submit evidence to tho grand
jury about June Goth. AS some doubts
exist about the Legality Of the summon
ing of the present grand jury, a
new one will be summoned to consider
the star route cases. The attorney gen
cral proposes to proceed carefully and
deliberately in the investigation and
trials that may result, SO that, if possible,
justice may be done to the government
and to the accused. 1t is understood
that recently much evidence, valuable
from a legal point Of view, has been OBJ
tanned by the special agents, and the
prospect of making a successful issue
before 4 judge and Jury has been mater
rally improved, and that it was this fact
rather than tho demands of other busi-
ness upon the attorney for the district,
that led to the employment of special
council for the government.
New and startling rumors arise with
every hour connecting the name of this
or that we'll known individual with the
expected indictments, but when hunted
down all such rumors prove to be with
out responsible parentage, or to have or
iginated in the minds OF restless men.
The representatives Of tile government
decline to communicate to anybody
names and details, the publication Of
which might defeat tho ends of justice;
but 1t is inferred from the tenor of their
velsatlons that they expect to prove
Il widespread and successful conspiracy
on the part Of contractors and Of others
to defraud the government, and that the
attorney gencrai's policy will lie to ask
Indictment in no case unless fully salts
!, fled that the evidence he has will insure
conviction.
Sixth Auditor NpGrcw is feeling en-
ceedingly indignant over his compulsory
; resignation, and asserts that he has beer
, very badly treated. He said to-day that
he committed no act that was not oper
to tho fullest investigation, and that he
had simply discharged the duties of his
, office rs he was compelled to do by law
, The postoilice authorities expressed
, themselves to-day rs satisfied with th'
! evidence furnished them duplicating
9 McGrew and Lilly, and that upon thi
| evidence both men were removed. Ml
IIcGrew will be succeeded by d. S
man and former chairman of the repub
lican state committee TO be fifth auditor
!, II had been arranged that an Indiana
! man was to have the first vacancy, ant
! it was claimed for Indiana when 1t wa
. . known that Mr.. McGrew was to 80 out
:. :. The president held, however, that mas
: much rs tho state of Indiana was sc
!, deeply interested in the star route scan
dal that in order to insure an impartia
administration of the office he had bet
: ter place some one else there, whose stat
u pride could have no cause for hllmila
i ton, 10 matter what happened. Fo
J. this reason it was decided to change pla
|. ces and send the new man to the fit
$ auditors chair.
:. As intimatcd in these dispatches las
u night, Judge Crowell, the pay clerk,
Il Minnesota man, is promoted to deput
auditor. NIuch sympathy is felt for th
> discharged officers and the opinion
d generally expressed that only the clea
n est evidence of their criminal connet
d ton with the frauds of the ring shoul
e have caused such summary action.
# The employment Of Mr.. Gibson q
: government detactivein the star rout
d matters was not noised abGut much to
some days, and gradually came to til
,s knowledge of the public. No appoin
20 20 ment made during this administratio,
y, caused so much local comment. 1t
:, :" reported that Col. Corbin called upo
% the president to-day ana inquired ii 1
- = knew Of the fact that Gibson had bee
j" engaged in the service of the depar
= mcnt. The PRESIDENTS understood
;s have expressed astonishmcnt at the al
>. nouncement and professed ignorance
" the fact, promising to have the matt
!, looked into. 1T is regarded as singulG
"a if true. that the president had no know
!. edge on the subject.
lt