Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-27

man Helm and Commissioners
spencer Out Of Office-The Letter
of Attorney Bliss and Report Of
the Attorney General on which
the Action Was Based--Sharp
ArraignMent Of Star Route Sym.
paahiZers.
The announcement made in THE STARS extras
Saturday evening OF the removal by the President
or Marshal Henry, Postmaster Anger, Assistant
Postmaster Parker, M. d. Helm, foreman Of the
Congressional Record and manager OF the organ
of the star route thieves, and ex-senator George z.
Spencer, government director of the Union Pacific
railroad, created profound sensation. The re-
movals were based upon the following communi-
cation to the President by the Attorney General,
which was published in the second extra STAR
Saturday evening.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WAsHIEGToN. D.. c., Nov. "a, 1885,. !
TO the President Of the United States:
SIR-The letter OF George Bliss, counsel for the
United States In the route trials addressed to
order. has been carefully considered The facts
set forth in It are not new to me. From eOnstd-
erations of legal, as well as official policy, have
tnuS Tar apstalned from calling your attention
am much better satisfied that Mr.. Bliss, acting
as counsel in the case, OF his notion has SUBJ
mitted TO you the subject therein dealt with Since
received the letter Mr.. Merrlck and Mr. Ker, col
leagues OF Mr. Bliss, called upon me and invited
that Mr.. Bliss has in the letter written By him to
you 1t is my opinion that the ends OF justice have
Deen lnteriered with bv all OF the persons COM
planned OF by Mr.. Bliss Mr.. Merrick ana Mr.. ker.
The marshal OF the District Is responsible for
much OF the opposing sentiment to the case of the
government that was exhibited in court and out
OF court during the trial OF the star route case
His negligent and irregular conduct In selecting
the talesmen strictly objected to at the time
he was guilty or, and referred to by Col Bliss is
one that must subject him to the severest censure
AS an officer OF the court and an officer of the
government he was guilty in this of an ofrense
which has been punished by courts as gross act
ate He is am mis- mmea
son and has injurlously S'''S'In1 inIerfered
with the proper conduct or this Star route cas- e
ana ana given his personal sympathy and the sympa-
Second.-D b. Anger, the postmaster OF this
city, and his assistant, Myron NJ. Parker, are
}nsty Subject TO- all the charges presented by Mr.
men holding public appointments should be per-
mitIed mite TO use the influence and power OF
taeirs, Or be permitted to interfere with such such
prose- ution. or any prosecution urged by the
g9vernment M In vfndicatton OF the law.
the mead OF one OF the departments in the Public
Printing ONCE, Is by law (sec 3,765) Incapable Of
ilc newspaper; but l will further add that the
iTol S positive evidence was given ieD upon lS',
con1essedly owned by one of the derendants: a
defendant the most culpable OF ALL since it was by
MS Omcla criminal malfeasance the corrupt orders
were made, and the frauds successfully perpe-
trated. His paper had been engaged from the be-
ginning OF these prosecutions down to the dis
who were supposed to BE- Interested in bring
Ing ing the net DEFENDANTS to Justice The Judge
ans the counsel
one currens sneanpea OF pe1.
sonar abuse and calumny am or the opinion
that this man should be forthwith removed: and I
am astonlshed that those who have charge OF the
Government Printing ONCE, with the public
knoWledge or these facts, should haze ventured to
appoint n1In He is not man to be trusted In the
responsible position he holds.
PourGh-ln conjunction with Mr.: Bliss, re-
Conduct of George E. spencer: "srn Upon pc the the
day OF your departure from this city,
communication by Mr.. Bliss and the other coun
sci In the case was sent through me- lodging with
you a complaint against George E. Spencer
THOSE papers did not reach you at that time This
was during the latter weeks OF the trial; in fact
the evidence had closed and counsel were address.
Mr.. Bliss, by his letter. which you have referred
to NE, called your attention to them. BY them it
appears that Mr.. Spencer is delinquent and alb
ScOn1lng witness; that he can testify to material
and important facts; and that he left this CITY
and has ever since secrcted himself and avoided
the process OF the law. He holds an important
public position, and is the last man who should
hesitate to be present In court to TESTIFY in case
OF this magnitude, and in which the honor OF the
Justice Is concerned; and because of his censur-
able delinquency, unite with Mr.. Bliss and the
other counsel In the case in asking his immediate
removal.
Time enough has been given him to appear and
explain Not one word has been heard from him,
have directed the most thorough search to be
made for him, and thus far no trace OF him can be
found That search win be persisted in, and If he
can be had he will be had. and brought into court
and made to answer for his acc of gross Contempt
and dsobedience, and obliged to testify to those
facts which are within his knowledge, and are SO
essential to maintain the prosecution Of the de-
fendants
Fiith.-George o. Miller. one of the police Of the
audacity OF q criminal, confessed under oath that
he had been engaged and retained in the service
OF the defendants In the1star route case, and had
perSstently assisted them during the current of
the trial. Because OF this confession SO made by
him, applied to the Commissioners of this Dis
place.
sixth-An OF the other matters alluded to in
the letter by Col Bliss have before been disposed
OF, and so have no occasion to consider them
In connection with this reference made to me-
win further report that in the public prosecution OF
ments yet untried to the grand jury, have been
aided by the vigorous, upright, and able help given
by Mr.: Bliss. Mr.. Merrick, and Mr.. Ker. had in
whole trial, but as l have before this orally re-
ported to you, the other duties OF my office and my
department required so much OF my time that /
was unable to do more than occasionally appear,
but kept myself instructed day by day with a
thorough knowledge OF oil the facts connected
with the trial. by reading and personal inyestiga-
tiOn and remained here until near the middle of
September and made the closing argument In the
case. thought this was necessary as an act OF
duty to the administration OF public justice and
to snow the people Of the United States that the
government was In earnest and desired
Justice should be done. have never
forgotten your instructions on my
frst accepting office, to pursue these
cases with vigor and rIgor, SO that the innocent
should be acquitted II clearly innocent, that the
guilty should be punished II clearly guilty, and
that there must be no half-hearted sentiment In
the purpose OF the government and its officers In
this prosecution.
After serious and prolonged deliberation over all
the details OF the case my investigations satisfied me
that the men who were indicted were guilty men,
and merited the extreme punishment OF the law.
They had projected. under cover OF official power,
and under color OF official authority systematic
plan OF deliberate robbery OF the public treasury.
To carry out that plan they had laid their
hands upon q fund dedicated by law to
great public service, q service that Is cOnspic-
uOuSy one OF the fruits and causes or civllza-
ton, our social comfort, commercial prosperity
our national growth. Millions OF that money they
perverted to their own private gain. and divided
it Tor their own personal purposes. 1t was q con-
dign act OF Infamous conspiracy, and, as such,
deserves the seyerest punishment the law
can fnnct Such men are traitors to social
ana Official duty, and they are public ene-
mics, against whom the authority OF
the law must be exerted without