New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-03
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE NEWS AT WASHINGTON
STAR ROirTE PROSECUTIONS.

STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS.
Systematic INVESTIGATIONS IN PRoGREss-rHE
CASE TO BE PRESENTED To THE NEXT GRAND
JURY-iSFoRyATloN ABOUT TIE SMITH AUDI
ToR's OFFICE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNg.l
WASHINGTON June 2.-Those who have thought
that the Star Route prosecutions would end in smoke
will be disappointed. Certainly the persons who
have the most to fear from active prosecutions do
not entertain that opinion. The plans Of the Cow
ernment are now beginning to he understood. The
lul in the prosecution for the last two weeks has
been only apparent. The Investigations have been
proceeding as rapidly as was practicable. The re-
movals in the Sixth Auditors office yesterday wcre
one of the results of the inquiry.
II IL now the purpose of the Department Of JUS
tice not to present its to the present Grand
jury, the time Of which has nearly expired. There
are reasons which the astnte criminal lawyer Will
lam Cook, employed by the Government 10 aSsift in
the prosecutions has suggested which make il inad-
visable TO proceed until new and more carefully
selected jury has been formed. Attorney General
MacYeagh has said that il shall not be the fault of
any legal machinery if the Government is not sue
ccssfn He certainly thinks that the case of the
Government ia isabsolntely incontcstahle. II may be
the last OF June before indictments are found
and. owing to the long summer vacation,
the trials may not be held before fall but the De-
partment of Justice promises the spcc,lict possible
trial TO all accused persons. The number of persons
who will he presented by the Attorney General for
indictment will be larger than has generally been
supposed 1t is pretty well known that il will in-
clude Dorsey and Brady. n large number of Star
Route contractors and, il is sald other persons
who have been notably conspicuous in the defence of
the Star Route Ring.
Now that the Sixth Auditor has been removed,
Il.
remember that some six years aSb there were extra
ordinary stories Of operations Of straw bid contract
ors in connection with that Bureau which ended in
the disappearance of of the prominent clerks Of
the office, who was made the scapegoat. II has
since been learned that this fugitive clerk was paid
by the Star Route Ring to permit himself to be
known as the scapegoat. When the Democrats first
obtained control of Congress the chairman OF tho
Post Office Committee put in possession of in
formation 10 the operations of this clerk and de-
tectives put upon his track. but he coud not
be found Within the last few weeks he has ap-
pearrd in Washington and il is believed that he has
placed his knowledge at the disposal OF the Govern
mcnt prosecutors and that il is i'll part due to this
information that the removals of Yesterday were
made. But the Government officers '!o not need to
back six wears to discover for their action
in that particular. Officials of the Sixth Auditors
office have not learned the trick If not writing let
trrs and the Government has possession il is said,
Of some letters written by the Deputy Auditor
which 1t will be troublesome for that person to ex-
plain.
There probably will he good many more removals
in the Post Office Department within short time.
Almost every day evidence is being discovered of
the ramifcations Of the ring Yesterday ii was
found that of the cOlored employees particularly
devoted 10 Brady. has been acting IN his interests,
and conveying 10 him, at his residence here such
hformltion "a conld be overheard III the Depart
ncnt Of the PURPOSES of the PosmaSer-G
The colorcd man has been given position where ho
can see and hcdr less.