Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-18
I'd Edition.
THE STAR ROUTE BUSINESS.
MR. W. 4. COOK TALKS FREELY.
GUrTEAU,s BILLS OF EXCEPTIONS.
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI FLOODS
THE INTERNATIONAL SHOOTING MATCH

THE STAR ROUTE PROSECUTION.
The Cook-Bliss Unpleaxansne~s-wha
| Col. Bliss Says About Col. Cook
| What Col. Cook Says
About Col. Bliss.
| STAR reporter asked Mr.. W. A. Cook this morn
Ing, "What have you to say about the interview
| with you in the Post of the nth instant9"
| Mr.. COok.-"There was no formal interview W it'll
me, and neither furnished nor uttered to any one
anything Intended for publication, except the fact
| that had rendered my resignation. The alleged
interview. while containing some truth, is incor-
| rect In some of It's statements. may, in proper
| time, furnish the public with all the facts as
sate In my letter That there other facts besides
| those detailed in itn
CONCERNING Mr.. BLISS AND THE REPUBLICAN,
| Mr.. Cooks attention was here called to the in
terview with Mr.. Bliss, in the Post of this morn
Ing.
The Colonel said: sMr Bliss errs in his state
ment as to the purchase OF the Republican 1t is
| lhcorfect In some particulars. There is no fOun-
f aaeRe os stating that advised the purchase Of
see further on, that I would have been con-
suited in the matter Of the purchase OF that
made to appear was sold to New w" York parties
But IL is true that Mr.. Bliss did state earnestly and
| emphatically to me that he had purchased the Re-
publican, but that should nc let it be kno,rn to Mr.
Gibson on any one else. What have said in regard
to the payment of the purchase money was that it
Us SAID IL was paid by check on Mr. Bliss bank or
| the one In which he deposits in New York. did
say that regretted, in view OF MI Bliss connec-
gagged in any way In the purchase OF
the Republican, from Mr. Brady or any one
else; that would not have, under any considera-
ton, engaged in negotiating with any one involved
| III The alleged star route crimeS.n
| THE PHILADELPHIA CASES.
| MIR. Bliss makes the statement that you promised
immunity to parties in Philadelphia. Is this cor
Col. C.-"That assertion is untrue The facts are
that among the parties indicted in Philadelphia
were MessTs. Matthews and Black, both of whom
Associated With them were parties Of r. less cbaraS
ter and reputation Col. z. +. Boyer, a gentleman
Of stand d, in that city, was interested IS
OF the Attorney General (Mr. Mcveagh) ana Mr.
Bliss and Mr.. Brewster lie tCol. Boyer called
Philips, the acting Aste lT@se general erSm AZ
ter consultation with HIM and acting
upon the reference it was proposed that the United
| States should be paid the amount claimed to have
been lost through these parties $4,000, and 1
stated that thought the offer Was just and fair
one, and it would be for the best interests of the
government to accept the payment This he rec
commended in view OF all the facts as presented 10
me- and of the character OF the parties. and said
1 would not hesit4te to recommend an adjustment
OF the Criminal Cases against them, but this rec
concentration must be subject to the action OF Mr.
valentine, the US. attorney ut Philadelphia. This
| was what recommended, land would do so under
the same circumstances at any time. This is what
MI. Bliss has seen tit to pervert into granting i'm
"Mr Bliss states that you did this without con-
Mr.: COOk.-"I was not aware until saw Mr.
Bliss interview that he had any special
Col. Boyer came to me with a special reference
OF the case from the acting Attorney General, and
In .t me absence Ss,a OF all the others"
! "COl Bliss states that your action was over
ruled.
Mr.. Cook-"As there Is no truth in the state
| ment that granted immunity, there could be no
| oVerruling or any action taken by me. The Attor-
ney General, as he had the right to dc, although
me money Was paid by Messrs. Black and Mat
thews, directed that the prosecution should 60 On.
| have never received rebuke from the Attorney
General On the contrary, the relations between
| the Attorney General and myself have been OF
the most cordial kind and my voluntary retire
ment VIII not affect these relations"
THE CASES IN WHICH MR. COOK W As NOT CONSULTED
Referring to Mr. Bliss statement that he had not
advised with him In some cases, and did so after
con sultation with the Attorney General, Mr. Cook
| said that that was scarcely consistent with the
statement that Mr.. Bliss had not done anything to
freeze him out OF the cases Mr. Bliss had told the
Attorney General that it would not be proper be-
cause OF his lMr. Cooks past relations to Boone,
intention to arrest Boone ana Others was shs
said. MI. Cook, SIT was not until after
those cases were instituted that was informed Of
5th, 1882, in which he had the audacity to state
that was at liberty to assume either position that
III
| knew all about it-that is he gave me the liberty
OF lying or telling the truth I at once called on
the Attorney General and said to him in substance
that had not yet sunk so low personally or pro-
REASONABLY as to accept from Mr. Bliss, OF any one
else, the privilege Of violating my
In letter dated January 6th Stated that was
not aware OF any relations between myself and Mr.
Boone or any Others who may be involved in the
ton with me, and the most active CO
operation ~, on my part in the prosecution
In reputation of Mr. Bliss statement to the Attor-
ney General, afterwards appeared in the cases,
What Mr. Bliss Waa cali H tns
| To others 1t would look like freezing out pro-
cess artfully gotten UP without any facts to sus
| tain It,"
MR. COOK AND THE GRAND JURY
Mr.. Cook, continuing said that ii he had left the
cases when they were before the grand jury, it
would have been thought, to the prejudice of the
cases, that there was nothing in them. II
lied methods used before the grand
jury it was done without his knowledge.
had determined to press the cases against what he
called the Dorsey routes and Boone combin stlon
He seemed to be absorbed with these cases, and
to have little disposition, and no time or
| opportunity in the outset to take up others
Mr.. Bliss was accustomed to refer to them as the
.'chter DEVILS" and acted as respects Brady and
Influenced him. 1t was not true that he
lMr. Cook) did not know the names OF witnesses
procuring the indictments were nearly all
| procured before he was retained in the case
Nearly all that he did was the result OF looking up
| and using the labors OF others Mr.. Cook said he
had been connected professionally with many emf
nent lawyers at different times but this was the
first time in his life that there had been failure
| to have free consultation and conference.
Mr.. Cook, after referring to his practical re-
tirement from the case since the death OF
President Garfield, said he could not con-
scientiously remain in them when they
were conducted in disregard OF his wishes
There were other reasons that Influenced his
actions he satd, bat they can be given out here
after. Those would go back to the date of his re-
tentiOn, and would embrace the whole history OF
| the cases during their tendency. His relations
with Col. Blifs had always been kind and cordial
1t was to a considerable extent through his efforts
that he (Mr. Bliss was engaged in the case
While personally he entertained the kindest feel
| ings for Mr.. Bliss, personal respect and profess
sionai respect required him (Mr. Cook) to antago-
niZe some OF his statements. It was also due to
| the ublic that the facts should be known.
G:ufteau's Bill Of Exceptions
THE PRISONER WRITES To MR. w A. COOK WHO VIII