New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-01
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT BEGUN.

THE FRAUDS TO ESCAPE
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3O-Proceedings in the Star
Route cases were begun to-day by the filing of an
information by George B. Corkhill, United States
Attorney for the ID strict OF Columbia, and William
A. Cook, Special Assistant Attorney General, who
prosecute on behalf of the United States. This is
the first instance in this district that proceedings of
this character have been begun by information but
the adjournment Of the Grand Jury until October
and the operation of the statute of limitation rem
dered this step necessary.
The information sets forth in effect that on the
first day of October 1878, in the city OF Washing
ton d. c., and within the jurisdiction of the court
Thomas j. Brady. Second Assistant Postmaster
General; John l.. French, chief clerk; William III
Turner, clerk in Contract Office. together with
George l.. McDOnough, Samuel p. Brown, and cer-
tain other persons knowingly. wilfully unlawfully,
fraudulently and corrupty, etc.. did conspre, COM
bine and agree together to deiraud the UDied
States out of large sums of money in causing and
procuring unnecessary and improper and extrava-
CANT additional compensation t. be paid by the
Unted States for additional service III carrying
the mails
The general charges set mp in the document is Of
conspiracy to defraud the Government and an at
tempt is made to show the fraudulent proceedings OF
the alleged consprstors in the manpnlations of the
contract for carrying the mail the route between
Prescott Arizona, and Santa Fe. New Mexico, dis
tance of 460 miles. The theory of the operations
acccr riding to the document presented to-day Is
briefly this: The contract was originally awarded
to George L. McDOnough TO carry the mails on this
route once week taking 80 hours to perform
it for 1881 per annum. Before the time for be-
ginning the work under the contract, it is charged
that an increase in the number of trips from once
week to seven times a week authorized and All
additional compensation of Sl7,750 was allowed.
The alleged consprators then in like manner, before
work began increased the speed and time, so az to
make it ninety instead of $50 hours and added as
compensation $56, 799. The result was that a con-
tract originally awarded at $l3,313 was increased
to SS7, ,S62.
After a time, McDonougE was first authorized to
sub-et his contract to John A. Walsh and then the
contract with McDonough terminated alto
pether. and when this was accomplished Walsh
necessarily dropped out. After the McDonough
contract rad been terminated In accordance with
law the contract was offered to the sure les, but on
such terms that they could not accept. Ihen there
being no contract, General Brady, it is charged,
under an alleged provision of law made contract
with Walsh TO cover this route once week IN loo
hours time for S1S.500. After he had closed this
contract he then. in the same manner rs before
increased Walsh's contract so that Walsh was to
receive 1886 900 year, although his original con-
tract was for SlS,5OO
After a time Walsh failed to be satisfactory
contractor 1t is charged that General Brady beg~n
to annoy him. first by reducing the number of trips
and cuttinp off some twenty thousand dollars OF his
comnensation Then the route was changed, and
alleging that it had been shortened twenty thousah
more of the compromising was cut on. AiterWara
the contract was annUlled altogether. The docq-
ment charges the alleged consDra tors with defrand-
ing the Government ont of S350,OO0 IN manipn-
ang the contracts for mail service on thls partIcu-
lar route between July l. 1879, ana June oo' loo%'
The following order was issued:
In tbe suprcme Court of the District Of Columbia hold
ing criminal term June term, 1881, and now 10 W.T.
e = lame. and p Henry Woodward, ana motion OF
eorgr COrkhill United states ATTORNEY for me DIS
trnav for The ned states II Is ordered that the n-
forr1at0p annexed said attavts be exmDe aglDst
Gaorce T. McDoaongh and Samuel p. Brown for con-
smacy 70 defraud the Uutcd States apd that The same
be filed. and that warrants ne rsueu III tue pi'tiJ
form prayed f0r WALLER . N'A' 'u'"
One of the counsel for the Government referring
to the contemplated action against other persons
than those mentioned in the document presented
TODAY said that papers are in active preparation
IN he presented against ex-senator Dorsey and
several other persons who have held office under tho
Government and that the counsel engaged In the
nrosecuton OF Star Route cases intend to proceed
against them just as fast as the formal papers cah
be got ready. Nobody, ex-Distrlct-Attorney bliss
said to-day, connected With Star Route frauds Is 10
escape prosecution. except such persons as may
choose to appear and give testimony against the
Others.
Warrants are said to have been issued for the
arrest of all persons charged with the conspiracy in
the document presented to-day, excepting General
Brady.
All, THE GUILTY MEN TO BE PUNISHED.
1 Talk WITH COLONEL BIIss-wHY THE INFoRMA
roN WAS FILED-DoRsEY's CASE TO DE CON-
slpERHD NExT-GENERAL BRADY APPARENTLY
UNrRoUBLED.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE rRiBUNHl
w.suryGroN Sept 3O.-Colonel Bliss was ques
toned this afternoon in reference 10 the ihiorna'
tiop filed against General Brady and Others lie
said:
"The method of procedure was new and l think
unaxnected TO General Brady and the other defend
ants but we were forced to accent it as the only
ono left. Owing to the recent adjournment OF the
Grand Jurv until next month"; it was feared that un-
less we brought action in this manner our case
,vould be lost through the expiration of the three
wears limitation by statute within which
conplaint must be male. The action OF
Colonel Corkhl in permitting the Grand
Jury to adjourn. considering the serious
ipurv 10 our case that might have followed, was
great surprise 20 me and to my associates whether
il WAS Intentional or not l do not know. Colonel
Corkhin says it was not. The information we have
filed is equivalent to an indictment, and is accom-
panied with warrants for the arrest OF the persons
charged with conspiracy. Their arrest, however,
will not be necessary as the accused VIII come Tor.
ward and give bail, General Brady having Ssnlhed
his readiness to meet any and all the charges that
NAV be brought. As to the result of course 20 ono
m nronhpSyInn the results
Of criminal cases believe the testimony is sufii-
cien TO send every one of them to the penitentiary
The next step now in the will be the rial be-
fore the Supreme Court of the District. How soon
that can be reached cannot tell We are ready
my time The other cases will be proceeded with