New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-19
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF COLONEL COOK.

| lIE w NIlHDhhNAL AL VI COohs 4
HIS CHANGED RELATION TO THE CASES THE CAUSE
| A SHARP LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY-GEs'
ERAL-THE PROSECUTION NOT CONNECTED Win
ANY QUESTION OF POLITICAL ADMINISTRATIONS.
WASHINGTON, March lS.-Colonel William
A. Cooks letter OF resignation from the Star Route cases
and the reply Of tho AttorneyG have been made
public Colonel Cook under date OF March IS, after an
| nouncing his withdrawal, says in part
Respect for you and Justice 10 myself require that
influenced me in this deternnation without any solicit
tatlon on my part was selected by the late Attorney.
assist in the prosecution Of the Star Route and TO
take charge Of them After considerable reflection can
months avote9 most % nv time 70 the inycsgation OK
the various and the preparation necessary for the
At The re1nesi OF President Garasd and until the period
Of the DEMONSTRATIONS had frn6nent interviews with
him, well as almost daily consultations with your Inn
which mad not their direct or Implied sanction. shortly
before You and Mr. Bliss, IN September last were re-
were so far completed that Of the cases were In
condition to be submitted TO the Grand jury but uner
peoed circumstances ana Contingencies pfeyentsn tns
being done promptly was desired The result was
that criminal infornation against Thomas J. Brsdy
and others was filed IN connection vito mail route -.
4Ol0 from prescott Arizona 70 o. santn & re-
on motion which was made 70 quash the inlorinsaoH'
and endeayored os far as time ard opportunity allowed.
Gted uses and, while holding myself ready 10 perform
any required work. have not voluntarily evsded any
5a5o1 cases s@' by h. Pss:
Administfaton ihi: was to have been expected
within the terms and intention OF my appointmsnt
wis6"s an3 vas resronsbe primarily to f. These con.
siderations strongly inclined 10 retire from the cases
the practical withdrawal shortly thereafter OF Mr. Mae
yeagh from his office, But was Induced 70 remaih
from different considerations and among them because
mad goo believe that you desired me to DO 20
and because IL supposed my retirement might inter
fere with the hndlnG OF indictments in cases which
seemed to mo demand judicial inquiry and determine
ton Ipdicments have however been tonnd ehIeny I'm IN
lie has familiar with these wen othersl BY
ed and prepared prior to september last and perhsp.
otherwise Whether the strongest ana most lnporans
cases have been included In the indictments NOT ZOE
me to determine.
TIE ATTORNEY GENERALS REPLY.
The reply of Attorney General Brewster is dated
March II. After expressing surprise and stating thaS
he saw necessity for the withdrawal Of Colonel Cook,
the Attorney General saysi
Ihave read With care the which you say ruls
you As they the conclusions of your own
and relate exclusively TO yourself will rot DO more
thSR hSR @Gst aGsts Se na Il is ne as have stated that
you selected by my as hs M bss
now hold wOud have continued TO act Ior the Govern
ment hal believed you wola and as Mr. Bss mas
supposed policy - any Administration:
did not think aud do not now believe that the posi-
tion with any question OF political administration ihey
pubco they conGded to all of us as lawyers, not
"a nolificans Hence have had control or them as
Attorney eppral bave treated them as public cases.
ana haye poen instructed by The President 70 give them
nv yi mt at enton and to that they were prose-
otcd with diligence and with eanesness 10 practical
res H. and the instructions have. before rms, a an
act Of public duty and an act OF personal uey 10 nn
made known and announced. cannot permit the I'M
plication you appear 10 raise by, your refer
ence 10 your havins been retained by the Iate
administration pass without objection. fou
we're not responsible to any particular Admin
israof, as a POLITICAL respOns bilty Nor were these
casps r arc thev TO be conOunded or associated WITH
ony de of pocy supposed 20 b. connected WIN any Ao-
minsfrotion They are instituted for The purpose orlus.
rice and Justice only They viii conducted by counsel
upon principles regulate the administration OF JUS
tcc and not with reference 20 the wishes or policies OF
ouv Prpslen, no matter what hs na'cc laay be- Had
Won continued IN the Gnd aborcd ln lnem' your
| usefulness would have been appreClatec
Mr. Bliss whom the matter was coihialted AT tHe
ugtance of the Post ONCE Department ny whom DO was
speciay invited mas exercised his peculiar hkiil In
6ethoiziug aud organizing ana executing All that was
necessary prepare tho way for securing te bnanS
over and indictment Of the accused ana lie cd secure
those results The indictments because II their funda-
mental nature myself caused 10 be prepared by Mr..
KeT, OF philadelphia, gentleman e5hspcuousy
experieuced as craftsman OF criminal
pIcadngs he "a aE acknowledged eminent expert In
That branch OF the law. Those indictments have been
found and they nre soon " De- trlsd before o
traverse Jury this uHctre, the Of these trials,
vou announce TO the purpose TO withdraw from
time and submit the matter to me for my cOnsdra
ton and actOn Of tha you must Judge both as 70 the
for Withdrawal ana the DtncsS Of the time.
All that can can say ID 10 acknowledge your request
and accept f. aud g. return thanks for yOr civil express
sjous Of personal aud professional respect for me