Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-28
STAR ROUTE HISTORY
As Narrated by Attorney General
Mcveaub.
President GarfeIds Feelings and lnten-
tons Regarding the Wholesale
RObberies Perpetrated by
Dorsey and Brady.
THE JOURNALISTIC MUD-THR0WERS.

PHILADELPHIA, November 27.-The fol-
lowing letter from Attorney General Wayne
McYeigh, to the President, just before his
retirement from the Cabinet, will appear
in the Times tomorrow:
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, November q.
My DEAR Mr.. PREsIDENr:-Your letter
has lust reached me, and will come to see
YOU and talk over once more the subject
of which it treats in the same spirit OF con-
ciliation in which we have heretofore dis
cussed it. VIII telegraph you N advances
of my coming, which will be just as soon
as can free myself from the engagements
here. l wish you to consider again the
reasons why / cannot share your opinions
upon this subject. As | have already told
you, l
Knew Comparatively Nothing
about the Star Route frauds until Presi-
dent Garfield called my attention to them.
He spoke earnestly of his duty to have
them thoroughly investigated, to remove
all persons who ought to have prevented
them and see that all persons were prose
cuted against whom reasonable grounds for
such course were developed by investiga-
ton. He said he had explained to the
Postmaster General the same views, aud
also why he wished him to consult me
rather than the District Attorney OF the
District. The Postmaster General called
upon me and we went together to the
President. He was quite as emphatic as
before in the expression Of his own opin-
ion on the subject. He spoke OF the
frauds -
as loathsome ulcer on the body polite,
and nothing would do but to cut it out
with all its roots, no matter where they eX-
tended. He stated that, while 1t did not
belong to my department, cert nnly not
al that stage of the matter,yet he wished to
associate me with the POstmaster-General
to the extent of having the latter at per-
feet liberty to consult me at any time
about it. He said he intended to remove
Gen. Brady as soon rs the Postmaster
General could find a satisfactory successor.
At subsequent interview he regretted the
delay in that matter, and urged his imme-
diate removal, as he held him princi.
pally responsible for the great frauds
which he evidently was
Convinced Had Been Committed.
As soon as Gen. Brady's resignation had
been demanded his newspapers, not un-
naturally, began abusing President Gar
field, the Postmaster General, myself, and
everybody in any way connected with the
investigation. On this subject | speak
without the slightest personal warmth, for
thenceforth ceased reading them, and |
only know what have been told by Others
or read in other newspapers. President
Garfield subsequently expressed regret
that he had exposed me to such attacks by
connecting me with the matter not neces-
sarily part of my duty at that stage, but
] told him regarded it as
An Honor to BE Abused in HIS Com
pany.
In this spirit and in this companiOnship !
went on advising with the President and
Postmaster General as occasion arose. My
functions were slight and infrequent.
Woodward was the special agent OF the post
Office department, best acquainted with
these frauds and most Jealous in their in
vestigation. He not only possessed the en-.
tire confidence of the Postmaster General
but bad been commended to me personally
by Senator Hawley as a man OF excellent
Judgment, and not only of undoubted
but of aggressive honesty. When, there
fore, Woodward thought it desirable he
should have the assistance OF Gibson, and
the Postmaster General ceincided III that
opinion, / went with the latter to
the President and explained the
matter to him, and received directions to
employ Gibson. When subsequently
Woodward and Gibson agreed in requesting
the employment of Cook, precisely the
same course was pursued with the same re-
suit Whenever they brought me any
person supposed to possess knowledge OF
frauds ] advised him to tell the truth. |
also insisted from the first and upon all
proper occasions that there was no possible
vindication for anybody accused,
Exeeps at Open Trial
before a court and jury, or q frank aban.
donnent of the case by the Government. if
the evidence did not, in the opinion Of the
President Justify the prosecution.
That was my whole connection with the
cases up TO the wonnding of President Car
field, except that the day before be was shot
he repeated TO me his efforts to have Rid
die appointed District Attorney of the
Distritt by President Hayes, and directed
me to see Riddle, offer him place in his
name AID, if he accepted il, advise him by
telegraph aud he woHld reply, asking me
TO request Corkhills resignation. | wrote
Riddle, asking to see him, but he did not
see me uAtil the night of the day President
Garfield was wounded and when we were
Expecting Him to- Die.
1 then told Riddle in one of the upper
rooms Of the White House what had oc-
Cured As you had the best of reasons for
knowing, never expected President Gar
fielCRto. recover, and as l did not fer mo-
ment entertain the idea of remaining in
the Cabinet after his death / supposed
such connection as bad had with the Star
Route eases was substantially ended, and
that any further relation which the depart
ment might have with them woHId de-
yolve upon my success. As President Gar
field continued 10 live, continued TO do
whaSever was necessary, but nothing more.
When We were considering the removal
of the President to long Branch EOrkhill
led Ne If knew whether any OF those
cases would be ready for the grand jury. l
told him knew Roahing of the details of
the cases, and that OF course Cook, his own
special assistant in the cases, was present
and could give him
Any Information He Desired.
AS felt sure the responsibility of
the Government would devOlye upon
YOU at an early day, desired to do moth
ing which could avoid to embarrass or
commit you. therefore postponed Sc
lecting the leading counsel until / was as
charge c Sf these matters that
lit ought to be delayed no longer,
thereupon the Postmaster General and
met and discussed the subject. We agreed
that in view of the circumstances We ought
to select from the leaders OF the bar gen.
tlemen not only OF the highest ability aud
character, but gentlemen whose political
=
ably be not only cordial but confidential
with you, and with my successar, and that
you should approach these cases with every
advantage. It was in this spirit that We
selected Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Brewster, and
with the selection of these gentlemen,
considered, my relations to Star matters
ended.
As soon as President Garfield died in
! Termed you Of my
Determination 60 Leave the Cabinet
as soon as you could appoint my successor,
| and few days afterwards made public the
announcement Of that determination. At
| ter your return from New York you kindly
asked me 70 reconsider IL. and as kindly ex-
plained to you why could not do so. You
then decided upon my successor, and upon
| YOUR assurance that he would he nominated
TO the Senate not later than October 26.
| left Washington on Tuesday. October
25. having made my sdieus, and leaving
the Solicitor-General, with your approval,
in charge of the department. On Thursday
last, at the depot you explained to me
why you had not been able TO do as yon
expected, and why you had decided to
leave the Solicitor. General in charge until