Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-11-18
TIE STAR ROUTE CASES.

The decision of Judge Cox that Brady
and his partners in the star route cases should
have been proceeded against by indictment,
instead of by information, practically re-
ieves them from further prosecution, as the
time within which an indictment could have
been filed has expired by limitation.
1t is difficult TO believe that the lame and
impotent conclusion of the legal proceedings
was due wholly to the tardiness or indiffer-
ence of the Government counsel. The ex-
PLANTATION made in open Court by District
Attorney Corkhi fixes upon the Attorney
General a responsibility which cannot be
measured by the assumption that he was
simply negligent or ignorant II was as
well known to Mr.. MacVeagh in July as ii
was at the time the information was filed
that the case against the chiei-conspirator,
Brady, would be barred by the statute of
limitations if actions were not brought until
October. He knew of the existence of the
law requiring the perpetrators of infamous
crimes TO be prosecuted upon indictments
by the Grand Jury, as well as Judge Cox,
who dismissed the cases because that law
had not been compiled with. lie was well
aware that the proceeding by information
was open 10 the objection which was nc
tually taken to it, and that, by adopting that
form Of action, he would be giving Brady
chance to escape. This knowledge he had
at the time when District Attorney Cork
hill called upon him about the middle Of
July last) and stated that the Grand Jury
was about 10 adjourn for the Summer, and
desired To know if il was his intention to
bring the star route prosecutions before it.
His answer was that Col. Cook had charge
of them, and that Mr.. Corkhill need not
bother his head about them, In September
following Col. Cook had similar interview
indictments was discussed and disposed of
in the same off-hand and careless manner
On the 18th Of that month"; when the grand
jury had adjourned. and it was too late TO
take the only lawful course open to the gov
eminent, the Attorney General gave orders
for the preparation and filing Of an inlor-
nation.
His assiduity and apparent earnestness
during the investigation were widely ac-
cepted as sufficient ground for the convic-
ton that when the cases were ready for
trial they would be pushed with CORE
spending vigor He and Mr. James were
every where recognized as the champions
of justice. The public believed that they
were waging an unequal battle against a
powerful ring having its friends and hackers
in almost every branch of the government,
gave To these gentlemen, through all the
channels 10y which il could reach them, re-
peated proofs Of its confidence and sup
port Mr.. MacVeagh had, therefore, every
indueement which could move faithful
and upright public servant 10 perseverc in
the course which had brought him 50 much
applause and popularity. The first disap-
pointment came with the postponement OF
the cases in July. With that postponement
il became evident that these gigantic frauds
were never % be opened up TO the public
there were too many prominent officials
who would suffer in the public estimation
l reaching from ex-Presdent Hayes, ex-Post.
naster- General Key 10 the Postmaster of
PINE obscure village upon the frontiers Of
country. The curtain has fallen, the
e has ended and the perpetrators go un.
shcd
uggestion has been made by the Balti.
Gasette that the representative men of
emocratic party of this State meet in