Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-27

Of the government and the admins
tration of public justice is concerned,
and because Of his considerable delin-
quency | unite with Mr.. Bliss and other
counsel IN the case in asking his immedi-
ate removal. Time enough has been given
him to appear and explain. Not one word
has been heard from him. and as he has
disappeared as if he We're dead. l have
directed most thorough search to be
made for him, and thus far no
trace OF him can be found. That search
Will be persisted in, and if he can be had
he will be had and brought into court and
made TO answer for his act of gross con-
tempt and disObedience, and Obliged to
testify to those facts which are within his
knowledge, aad are so essential to MAIN
tain the prosecution of the defendants.
Fifth. George o. Miller. one of the po-
lice of this District, in recent judicial
inquiry, with the audacity of a criminal,
confessed under oath that he had been en-
gagged and retained in the service of the
defendants in the star route case. and had
persistently assisted them during the
course of the trial. Because of this con-
fession, so made by him, | applied to the
Commissioners of this District to remove
him, and that removal has taken place.
Sixth. All of the other matters alluded
to in the letter by Colonel Bliss have be-
fore this been disposed of. and | have no
occasion to consider them. In connection
with this reference made to me. | Will
further report that in the public DrOsecu-
ti0n of the star route cases. and in pre-
senting the indictments, as vet untried.
to the grand Jury, I have been
aided by the vigorous, upright,
and able help given by Mr.. Bliss, Mr. Mer
rick and Mr.. Kerr. j had intended to
have been present in person during the
whole trial, but as have before orally re-
ported to you, the other duties of my office
and my department required so much of
my time that | was unable to
do more than occasionally appear. But
kept myself instructed day by day with
thorough knowledge Of all the facts con-
nected with the trial by reading and per-
sOnal investigation, and | remained here
until near the middle Of September and
made the closing argument in the case. |
thought this was necessary. as an
act of duty to the administration of pub
lie justice and to show the people of the
! United States that the government was in
earnest and desired Justice should be
! done. L have never forgotten your in
structiOn, on my first accepting office. to
| pursue this case with VigOr and rigor
1 so that the innocent should be
acquitted if clearly innocent, and that the
| guilty should be punished if clearly guilty.
and that there must be no half-hearted
sentiment III the purpose of the govern
/
After serious and prolonged deliberation
| over all the details of the case my investi-
/ cations satisfied me that the men who
were indicted were guilty men and mer-
! tied the extreme punishment of the law.
/ They had projected, under cover of official
! power and under color of official authOri-
| ty, systematic plan Of deliberate rob-
berry of the public Treasury. To car
ry out that plan they had laid their
hands upon the fund dedicated by law to
great public serVice-a service that is
cOnspicuOuSly one Of the fruits and causes
of our civilization and social comfort
commercial prosperity and our national
growth. Millions Of that money they
/ perverted to their own private
gain and divided it for their own per-
sonal purposes. 1t was a condign act Of
infamous conspiracy, and as such de-
served the seVereSt punishment the law
can intlict. Such men are traitors to
social and official duty, and they are
| pubic enemies, against whom the au-
th0rity of the law must be eXerted without
hesitation or reluctance. The higher their
past position the greater their sin, and the
sterner must be their punishment. | de-
sire to call your attention to the fact that
the officers Of the law and those who have
directly been aiding me in the discharge
of my duty in this business
have been from the first encircled
D
vile device that could be invented to harm
them, hinder their usefulness and prevent
the administration of justice. Some por-
tions of this community who surround
these defendants, and who have enjoy
ed or do still enjoy minor official
positions, know no allegiance to any one
/ but this band Of robbers, and render no
service to any one but these evil employers
From motives Of gain or other corrupt
considerations, they are saturated with
atlinties for these bad men. and
they have contributed by every
means in their power at the bidding Of
their masters to obstruct public justice.
and to detame its officers, with the hope
of securing the acquittal and escape of
the worst band of organized scOundrels
that ever existed since the commencement
of the government. Very respectfully,
BENZ. HARRIS BREWSTER.
Attorney General.
Reports are in circulation that the
| President will shortly make several more
removals Of Federal OfficehOlders for inn
peding the course Of justice in the star
route cases. Among the names mentioned
in connection with the rumOred removals
are those of District Attorney Corkhill.
Sixth Auditor Ella, J. o. p. Burnside, and
Register RamsdelI. Brewster, Cameron
and James Young, the present Chief Clerk
of the Department of Justice, are spoken
of IiIraIT tO Guaaaad Marshal TaOrv