New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-18
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
MR.. BLISS on COOKS WITHDRAWAL.
A PLAIN STATEMENT or THE FACTS FROM THE
NEW YORK LAWYER.
TBT TELEGR lPH 10 THE TRIBCNE.I


suits has been accepted by the Attorney General.
Mr.. Cook wrote a singular letter to the Attorney
General which has not been made public. In this it
is understood that he ntimates that he crowded
out of the cases. because he was appointed by the
last AdmInisrati and not by this, and causes it
to be that he does not believe the present Adj
miustration intends 10 prosecute to conviction.
A correspondent Of The TRIBUNE found Colonel
Bliss at the Arlington Hotel this evening and asked
him what he thought of the resignation of Colonel
Cook aud the reasons which he gave for it,
Il don't care TO say anything replied Colonel
Bliss, 'and yet have nothing to conceal The pub
lie Is not likely TO take any great interest in che
question of who withdraws from the Star Route
prosecutions. It may take little interest in the
question of who remain in them as bearing
on the question whether they are to be prosecuted
earnestly and with desire TO secure conviction.
think without vanity that may say that have at
least shown earnestness since have been in the
cases. and that so far there has been success in
securing indictments which certainly surprised the
accused persons. If the people want any further
assurance that the Government is in earnest, which
! do not believe they do, they likely to find It
when they discover who TO take part in the trial"
did you anticipate Colonel Cooks with
drawalr
No. 1t was entire surprise to me-"
there
yourselfF
Nothing of the kind No unkind word or word
of difference has ever passed between might
perhaps fairly stop here" continued Colonel Bliss,
were it not that Colonel Cook has allowed to go to
the public an interview which / have
ascertained correctly states what lie said
and which involves a personal attack upon me. The
one fact which he civcs-that | have bought The
Republican and paid to Mr.. Brady my own check
for $4,000, is conspcuously untrue.
was one of some thirty gentlemen who pur-
chased The Republican, my contribution being 81 600.
The negotiation was not made By me- AMI MIR.
Brady could have had no knowledge that was one
of the parties interested until after he had bound
himself beyond the power Of withdrawal. Since
then have secured the in iictment Of Mr.. Brady,
and do not believe that be has any doubt that in
tend press for hi, conviction do believe that
Colonel Cook has any doubt rher, Colonel Cook
advised the purchase Of The Republican before it
thought He seems intimate that he has been left
aside i'm the recent procec ngs in the prosecutions.
If there any ground for this belief his part, it
has arisen entirely from his own course. l
have taken no steps which have not had
the prior approval of the AttOrGey-Geu-
eral, and many Of them have had the direct ap-
prevail of the President Colonel Cook without any
authority from any one, assumed, or says that he
assumed to promise immunity to guilty parties
in Philadelphia. This done without any
knowledge of mine and under circumstances which
satisfied me tba. if done it intended to be con-
ceaed from me. When the fact brought to the
notice of the Attouey-Genera he wholly
refused Colonel Cooks right to act as he
did and overru.d it; but that action
of Colonel Cooks rendered postpOnement Of these
cases for three months necessary. Colonel Cook
does not seem 10 have considered il necessary to his
professional vindication that he should withdraw
from the cases upon so marked a rebUke by the
Attorney General"
Have You recently advised with Colonel Cook
IN regard to the casesp
No; have not advised with him in regard TO
nv intended action IN every case. Circumstances
arose which led to think 1t
was better TO procure the arrest of certain
persons before Colonel Cook had any knowledge
of the proceedings. | laid the facts before MIR.
brewster and was directed by him TO take that
course. The parties were arrested and have since
been indicted. have not sought to freeze Colo
mel Cook ont of the cases, nor Mr. Gibson The fact
il that BISON voluntarily retired after his work had
been finished His work was a work Of inyeStiga-
non When that was completed the passed
into the sphere of prosecution Mr. Gibson obviously
had no further scope for his abilities. As to Mr..
Cook. without charging the fact is that have for
some weeks stood in the way of bis dismissal. It Is
true tha procure the discharge Of his detectives
| did not know thar they were employed
in the cases until after had been concerned in
them many mon rs. / never knew what they did
or that they did anything. ard it was only when
bills for their services accidentally came to my
notice that | first knew Of their employment. !
could no for detectives in the case ut all,
and certainly not for the whom he
-L,,an ha a ~ ven Y
turr 10 give upon the vouchers which he presented
for their PAYMENT. There is somewhere an intima-
non alleged to proceed from Colonel Cook
that he remained in the cases because
he considered it important to do so,
for the purpose of affective the acton Of the Grand
Jury WITH the principal casc-that against Dorsey
and Rr1dv-s, far as IL went before rhe Grand jury
never saw the witnesses mr. knew Their
names With the evidence OF the records o.
the Post Office Department, he was acquAinted only
from abstracts furnished hun by Mr.; woodward,
and he had no knowledge of their mode Of apphca-
ton to the cases before the Grand Jury. lhere
was an idea abroad tat there might be
some scope in the proceedings before
the Grand Jury for "jury tixers.' There certainly
was ON the Government ii e no room for any person
coming under that category, but | presume
Colonel Cook would hardly. choose to range
himself there if there had been room
there was some application to Marshal Henry TO
pursue course winch he deemed bo;h improper
and Illegal and tina. there was also IN Application,
more or less formal for permission 10 appear before
the tIrand Jury. and tnat atter consultation win
the Court IL refused.
1t will NOT do for Colonel Cook to seek to pose As
a friend OF GARFIELD and, Therefore. martyr TO bis
devotion 70 him. he evidence exists or
General GarfeIs remOnstTauce when he
learned that Colonel Cook had been
employed in the aud Of the measures which
were taken TO reconcile Genera. CARRIED 10 IL;
| presume the Attorney neral has accepted
or will accept Colonel Cooks withdrawal from
the cases. When that shall be done II there Is any
pubLc interest in the matter do not doubt that
lis letter and the Att0rney-GeneraIs reply Will De
at the service of the public.