The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-17

their case 1t was circumstance worthy
of remark that every one of the jurors,
who it is alleged were corruptly approach
ed. voted for the acquittal of some of the
defendants.
CONCERNING FALLS CHARACTER.
Some time ago, when Falls dislovalty
was first discovered. the district attorney
was advised by letter of the circum-
stances by the government counsel, and his
prosecution was recommended. After
Falls dismissal he wrote several letters to
the attorney general, who refused in the
| most emphatic language to have anything
| further to do with him, and referred him to
Merrick. He had not, however, aVailed
himself of this advice
Merrick added that he already had three
or four cases ready to bring to the atten-
ton of the grand jury, and would also be
| ready to proceed with the retrial of the
Star route cases just as soon as they are
| reached on the court docket
WHAT II. H. WELLS SAYS.
Gov. Ell. III. Wells, special counsel for
the government, who is conducting the in
| vestigation into the jury bribery charges
was asked if he had read the affidayits
published this morning. He answered:
Yes, have read Col. Ingersolf's ingen-
ious argument. 1t con aims many inaccu-
racies 1t is not true that was employed
by Cameron; indeed, l never saw that gen
tleman nor had any communication of any
sort with him on any subject until | was
employed to do plain professional duty.
Another serious mistake is to snpposethat
I am investigating the cases of alleged
bribery in any private interest. The char
acter, too, of some of the persons making
aff1davits is VIGOROUSLY bad. My opinion
is that the public will be satisfied to wait,
and see what the real facts are .
Why FALL AND TAYLOR WERE DISCHARGED
From the records sf the department of
Justice it is learned that Fall was discharged
June nth for proposing to control the YER
dict of some members of the Star route
jury in favor of the United States. provid-
ing clerkship could be obtained or guar
anteed for their relatives or friends. He
was originally employed because he was a
lawyer of good standing in this city, and it
was represented to the government that he
had in his possession evidence of the cor
ruption of one of the jurors while en-
gagged in the trial of the previous case.
When Falls improper conduct was discov
cred, he endeavored TO shield himself by
saying Taylor told him this was what the
department wanted. He was summarily
discharged for. as alleged. 1t soon became
evident that both Fall and Taylor had
gone into the Department as spies, for the
purpose of doing things to compromise it.
Taylor, another of the atlantis, had form
eriy rendered good service to the govern
ment in another case, but he was never
regularly employed. When a statement
was received at the Department to the eff
feet that Taylor made affidavits that he
was employed by the Department to cor
rupt the jurors, he denied itpositively, and
it is understood this and subsequent con-
versations were reported by concealed
stenographer, and will materially damage
his last affidavit. After his discharge up
on August 1st, Taylor, it is further alleged,
strove to create the impression that he was
still employed by the Department, the last
attempt of this kind being upon the occa-
sion of visit to me in October