The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-11-25
A. M. GIBSON. A
The Fellow HIS About Reached the
End of His Tether.

There was published yesterday what
purported TO be condensed statement of a
long report made by A. NJ. Gibson, who
signs himself, Especial Assistant Attorney
for the United States" Elsewhere we pub
lish extracts from this mornings Post and
Republican, demonstrating very clearly
that A. NJ. Gibson is n fraud Of the first
class. The New York Herald and other
papers to-day also dcnounce the fellow as o
fraud. Gibson has not the shadow of n
right TO sign himself special attorney of the
United States.
The following is a copy Of NJ. Gibson's
appointment
october %, 1881,
A. W Gibson, Esq:
My DEAR SIR: do not know how II hap.
cncd that no written statement was
quest of Mr.. Woodward. indorscd by the
Postmnster-Gcncrul, to assist the invcstga-
ton and prosecution of the star-routc
cases.
certainly supposed Il had been done at
the date of their request, April -, 1881, and
j send you their note TO certify that You
were accordingly employed in these mat
tors ut that date.
Yours very truly,
WAYNE MAcvEAGm
Attorney-General.
The above is the only document that
Gibson holds that bears any resemblance to
a commission. The delay in making the
appointment is only another evidence of
the loose manner in which Deserter Mac
Veagh transacts business The letter dis
closes the fact that Gibson was acting MS an
officer of the Government for five months
and drawing big pay as such without
any legal authority whatever. This
fact was finally forced upon the
learned Attorney General, and he at once
sought to remedy by writing the above let
Ter which constitutes Gibson's sole commits
sion, and is the only authority vested in
him for the prominent part he has taken
in the alleged Star-route cases.
A CRITIC reporter visited the Depart.
ment of Justice this morning. and learned
that the facts concerning Gibson's alleged
report were substantially correct. There
the report is considered no report at all. 1t
was left on Chief Clerk Mullikens desk in
his absence Wednesday afternoon. 1t con-
sisted of several printed slips which were
laid loosely and carelcssly on the desk.
There was no explanatory note, and it is
not known how they came there. Mr.. Null
liken took the alleged report to Acting At.
torncy- General Phillips just as it was re.
ceived. Judge Phillips examined the slips,
and not regarding them as anything of the
character of an official report declined to re-
ceivc them as such. 1t is customary for all
reports to be addressed to the officer for
whom intended and signed by the person
making it. The report (?) was retained by
Mr.. Mullillen, and will be kept by him until
reclaimed.
Acting Attorney. General Phillips stated
to THE CRITIC that Mr.. Gibson must have
signed himself Especial Assistant Attorney
for the United States under misappre-
hension of his duties. He was certainly
not an attorney of the Department Of JUS
tice, but was simply one of its agents APP
pointed to investigate and report upon GER
tain matters. If he was an attorney
he would have had to take the oath as
such, and he Judge Phillips) had never
heard Of his doing so. He had never met
Mr.. Gibson, but had heard considerable of
his connection with the Star-route cases.
AS an officer Of the Department it was right
for him to report to it, but there was GER
tainly no reason why he should give him
self a title he does not rightly possess, UNI
less It was because he did not understand
his true relations to the Department.