Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-23

sent the Indictment against him, 80 that we
% can come here and try It. DO not say that this
day, week, month or q year, but do insist that
they shall 60 to work az It and IL is the duty OF
tne court-no, / win not say II Is the duty o.
court now to say to the grand Jury that they
ought TO go work In this case, and II they
find that the evidence has been prepared thai
ceed with 1t with all possible and reasonable
bring this grand jury In and instruct them them As IS
proceeding to the examination OF this case. and
II 1t Is true that the government has its case
prepared not to have 1t delayed for three
combine for three months longer and that this
matter may be jadicially Investigated.
RKMARKs OF COL COOK.
Col Cook.-I desire briefly to refer to q few
misapprehensions OF my brother Wilson. First
OF all allow me to say that have not furnished
the press so much as perhaps single word:
certainly nothing OF any importance whatever
In relation to the star route cases. represent,
to great extent, the United States and as that
fepresentauve e Ia % Il is only proper that snoud
appeared in the press has not emanated from
me, nor from any one Immediately connected
with the investigation OF these casea The
for its own acts. How it obtains
information is perhaps not a judicial inquiry
That the records OF the Post Office department
ft to examine them is true. they could not do
1t. IL Is impossible, your honor, that we could
conduct an investigation involving an exami-
nation OF the records OF the Post ONCE depart
time, before the examination is completed
that parties representing General BRADY
tho wno Do. .o-0sy gay mas no connection with
formal accusation whatever should be allowed
10 engage Ia the same work is utterly imprac-
ucoole, and II is absurd, as my Brother Wilson
ton Of these records, intricate. complicated
and varied as they are, we will present our
action to the department Due respect to
say that each day several hours 0 are re
devoted with the assistance of clerks
In the examination OF these records
rsao,o In 20 one case WI the examination OF the
hence; If IT is supposed by the gentlemen on
lawful privilege, this Is not the mode to secure
II. They can 60 before you formally, regularly
ard professionally, and ask for q mahdamus
upon the Postmaster General, setting forth ex-
actly what they desire, what privileges belong
ard II there is any, that entities them to legal
examination OF the records OF the Post ONCE
department. your honor, exercising q tu-
dlcial function, viii grant that right. But II
1t Will probably be found that there Is
more In the Imagination than In the reality.
Up TO this time what fact is it that the learned
office records especiallyl If they inVoVe
q gentleman who has been perfectly
familiar with them for three years, ami whose
memory, ns3,[s Il is not to be presumed, has been
OF the Post Office department q few weeks
since. Indeed, your honor, it is proper that /
might pause here and ask my brother Wilson
What record he wants OF the vast amount that
may be In the Post ONCE department.?
WHAT prCopnc nm aDv ouu
Mr.. Wilson.-There ale In the departm. .rt
what are called the records proper and then
there are the file OF the cases. each case. II ny
friend Will allow US to examine the flies of
these cases they will 60 as very great service.
confer upon us favor that oushI
to be granted: In those nles there are
possible for any man TO carry In his mind.
and which Will be eXeeedingly important IL my
friend Colonel Cook should succeed In getting
any indictments against anybody. These are
the things which we want to see. They show
the reasons for the exp dition OF the service.
The reasons for the increase OF the service and
many things OF that nature which are exceed.
time to examine them; and while friend Col.
onel Cook is engaged In getting up his tncict-
ments, II they VIII only give us half chance
quarter chance, upon very few moments
notice OF an indictment In this court we will %
to uiaL.
Col Ceek.-I have paused for light. but
nave received IL not.
MI. Wilson.-The light shineth in the dark
ness, and the darkness seeth IL not.
Col. Cook.-It is my brother Wilson who
states be Is In the dark In respect to his client
am In the light f all sne envtT ums s acoeTd. aceg
ing to- bis representation, ana 1t may
be we'll for him to make a more ap-
propriate quotation. Now, If your honor
was desired, his response was the flies and the
records. What files? What records? In con-
necttcn with what routee at what perlod2
To develop what truth or fact? / pause again
Alas, the oracle is silent.
Mr. Wilson.-Do you wish me to answer?
Col. COok.-Just as you please.
Ar. wilson, am afraid that darkness still
prevails
Col. Cook-This furnishes no fact upon
which, IL there was judicial inquiry, there
could be an investigation, Let me correct what
is another misapprehenson. Every one is
aware, by the fact that there is always some
mysterious eppaI emily fmpenetrable way In
which newspapers ascertain what Is assumed
porters and editors publish as facts. They
may ce correct or incorrect IL does
not appear up 10 this moment that what has
STAR. is correct: or that any fact that has ap-
peared 10 the papers, or thSt any statement
that has eEanated from any OF the departments
Is correct l have said that have not furnished
the press with single word or line. aud Will
not The press has complained to some extent
that l was ret1cent intend to remain retlceGt
untI CAL speak Cut DOluly ana U1SGuctly,
That which is true of me is true OF every one
that Is connected with me, so far as know.
Is this court TO take notice Of floating rumors
in the press? and that is what gentlemen on the
other side would require. But let me say 60
Jour honor, that 10 call fn the grand Jury and
instruct them-wnich Is the proposirioI-would
be without any authority, without any
precedent whatever. and / have already
stated what may repeat, that there is no one
case, whether there are ninety-three
or many more In which there has been time to
accumulate ard preare evidence to present to
the grand jury; and would be false to the gov
eminent, false TO your honor, and disregarding
10y duty II / should allow any case to be pre-
sented 70 the grand jury until the preparations
are com plete No one occupying a judicial po-
sItiop, am sure, Will with more reluctance
PRESS Oh any case when the statement is OPEN
iy and deliberately made that neither the writ |
ten DOR uDw ritten testimony has yet been re-
dnced TO proper form TO present IL 1nteiigentiy,
falrty end lDpartialy 10 the grand jury. This |
state mont may be regarded as authoritative |
and absolute. |
Col. Totten.-Do you propose to REFUGE the
records to foTm9
Col Ccok.-I propose 10 examine the records |
TO ascertain whether they indicate that any |
fraud or corruption has been pracdced by the /
officers OF the Post ONCE department. Including |
Gen. Brady as well as others and star route /
contractors. i add another thing. Gen, /
BTsdy cannot be ignorant. Ir Is vain
10 attempt to create that impression. Tne |
records OF Congress refute 1t When an |
inmeDse appropriation of millions OF dollars
was solicited for the star route contracts there