Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-29
SHOULD ALSO co.
The UusaVOry Record Of George
. Bliss, Special Attorney.
A Strange Scene Enacted in a District
GOurt-A Suspicion that HOwgate
IS Absent on lsaye-ln-
teresting Gossip
AND MISCELLANEOUS NEWS NOTES.

WASHINGTON, November zo.-Salu nlgn
department official this evening, speaking
of the late Presidents removal: There
are several more steps to be taken by the
President fhe is toPurge the Government
service of all persons who have had any
connection with the Star Route thieves.
One Of the first that ought to go is Mr.. G.
Bliss. He has long been an obstacle to the
proper administration of justice, but
whether the President has known Of tn.
character OF his performances is doubtful.
At any rate the government has seen it to
stand between some Of the most eminent
OF the thieves and punishment. Mr.. Bliss
has always been the agent to aid in their
escape. Ihe men who have now been dis
eharaeS, -s-srs--z'---s, -
Are Not the Greatest Offenders
who are to be found in the public service,
and the President will give the best guar
antee Of the honesty of his purpose if he
asks Mr. George Bliss to resign his position
as special counsel of the government. In
the first place Mr.. Bliss is responsible for
bringing TO trial what was supposed by the
government lawyers and detectives to be
the weakest case against the COnspiratorS.
Ii would have been SO weak that a verdict
of not guilty must have been found, ii Mr..
John A. Walsh had not testified. It was
not Mr. Bliss intention that Mr.. Walsh
should testify. He knew him and the
Evidence that He Could Give,
but he proposed to let the case 60 to the
Jury without securing this vital testimO
ny. Fortunately the Government had re
tanned Mr. Richard T. MerriCk, and it was
he who saved the case and demonstrated
the guilt Of Dorsey and Brady Mr.. Walsh
was " Itness in that case, simply because
Mr.. MerriCk compelled his associates to
call him. 1t was only at the end OF long
struggle that Mr.. Bliss yielded and con-
sented to save the case. He insists that he
i in earnest in the work OF securing a CDn-
yictiOn of the Star Route thieves, but his
actions at this time seemed to be those of
q man determined TO secure an acquiital.
How Bliss Plotted TO Save Kellogg.
When kellogg was before the grand jury
the administration was greatly alarmed.
Mr. Merrick had shown himself too Jealous
in his pursuit of the thieves. All his asSO-
Ciates and superiorS looked at the Kellogg
case from the political point of view, while
he looked at il simply as lawyer engaged
in the prosecution of criminals; but he
knew all about the evidence, and Mr.. Bliss
did not dare to refuse 10 send kellOgg's
case before the grand jury. Every effort
was made TO prevent an indictment. 1t
was alleged that MerriCk was Democrat,
and desired Hellogg's convection to secure
the supremacy OF his party in the Senate.
Even Judge Wylie forgot his position and
Joined in giWng expression TO the -alarm.
lie went 50 far as to charge the grand jury
That They Must NOt Indiet,
except on evidence that would convict.
While Mr.. Bliss carried on the work OF pre-
venting an indictment in the jury room
itself, Mr.. Walsh charges that copy of
the testimony in the contested election
case of SpOiOrd vs.. Kellogg was serrepti-
ouSly introduced into the jury room in
order to influence the members OF the jury
Kellorg This is precisely the Of
fenss indicted. Mr.. Bliss knows
for which Foreman Dickson stands
not only that WalSh's accusation Is
true, but it is very probable he knows the
iuryman zone of the tslesmen elected by
Marshal Henry who introduced the 6ooX.
Attorney General Brewster and the Presl-
dent can undOu ubtedly find out all about
how Kellogg Vas saved from indictment,
if they make diligeut enquiry.
Oiher Charges Against nr' Bliss
Mr.. Bliss has also TO answer for sending
the case against the largest thieves 10 aiDl-
trauOn, They are the cases hSdluSI tue
Salisbury and Parker combinations, ana IN
yolye the most important routes and the
largest amounts of mouey taken dishon-
estly from the Government. The lnten,
tion is not only that the arbitration shall
fix the liability of the contractors, but that
there shall be no criminal prosecutions
against the powerful men who compose
the combinations. The arbitratorS are In
gersOn. Bliss and Second Postm aster Gen
eral Elmer the first two having the right
each 10 choose an associate. An explana-
tiun from Mr.. Bliss as 10 why SALISBURY
and Parker and Elkius are to escape criml.
nal prosecution will be interesting, and
the President ought to have 1t.