Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-27
IMPORTANT REMOVALS
By President Arthur-Letter by the At
torney General.

and Geo. E. Spencer, government director
of the Union Pacific X. r. Co npany, upon
charges made by the attorney-gereral and
Colonel Bliss, of having interfered with the
ends of justice in connection with the 81 IT
route trials. These offices Ill all be filled
immt 1ately. so there NAV be no interruption
to public business.
To prevent anv possible embarrassment in
the affairs of the marshal's office, suspen-
sioa of that officer will be withheld until his
successor is appointed.
The Presidents action in this matter was
based on the following report:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, DC, Nov "a, 1882.
To the President OF the United States:
Sir The letter of George Bliss, counsel
for the United States in the star route trials,
addressed to you dated November IL, 1882.
and referred to me by your order, has been
carefully considered. The facts set forth
in it are not new to men. From eonsidera-
tons of legal well as official policy,
have thus far abstained from calling your at
tention to there matters. | am much better
satisfied that Bliss, acting as counsel in the
case, of his own motion, has submitted to
YOU the sublec therein dealt with. Since
I received the letter, Merrick and ker. col
leagues of Bliss, called upon me and invited
my attention to the subject in the same man
ner that Bliss has in a letter written by
him to you. 1t is my opinion the ends of
Justice have been interfered with by all
the persons complained of bv Bliss. Merrick
and Ker. The marshal of the district is re-
spousible for much of the opposing senti-
ment to the case of the government, that
was exhibited in court and out of court, dur
ing the trial of the star route case. His neg
ligence and irregular conduct in selecting
the talesman | sternly objected to at the
time, and so informed him. The public inter-
view that he was guilty of and referred to
by Col. Bliss is one that must subject
him to the severest censure as an officer of
the court and as an officer of the govern
ment. He was guilty in this of an offence
which has been punished by the courts as a
gross act of contempt. l recommend his
immediate removal. He is an unsuitable
person and has injuriously interfered with
the proper conduct of this star route case
and given his personal sympathy and the
sympathy of his office to the indicted de-
PENDANTS.
Second-D B. Anger, postmaster of this
city, and his associate, Myron NJ Parker.
are subject to all charges presented by Bliss,
and | think they should be removed. No man
holding publc appointments should be per-
mitted to use their influence and power of
their position, as they have now theirs, or be
permitted to interfere with such prosecutions,
or any prosecution charged by the govern
ment in vindication of the law.
Third-The man Hema, recently appoint
ed to the head of one of the departments in
the public printing office, is by law (section
376) incapable of holdng that office, inasmuch
as he controls public newspaper; but will
further add that the paper he controls Gas to
which control positive evidence as given
upon the trial of the cause) is paper motor
iously and cOnfessedly owned by one of the
defendants. a defendant most culpable of all,
since it was bv his official malfeasance the
corrupt orders were made and the frauds
successfully perpetrated. His paper has
been engaged from the beginning of these
prosecutions down to the discharge of the
jury in the most violent abuse of all who
were supposed to be interested to bring the
defendants to justice. The Judge was not
even spared. The counsel were persistently
att cked and witnesses were openly assault
ed, denounced and terroriZed Dy one cOntin-
uous current of personal abuse and calumny.
| am of the opinion that this man should be
forthwith removed. and am astonished that
those who have charge of the government
printing Office with public knowledge of
these facts, should venture TO appoint him.
He is not man to be trusted in the respOn-
sible position he holds.
Fourth-In con- junction with Bliss, l re-
specially call your attention to the conduct
of George Z. Spencer upon the day of your
departure from this city Immediately after
the adjournment of Congress a communca-
ton by Bliss and other counsel in the case,
was sent through me, lodging with you, a
complaint against George Spencer. These
papers did not reach you at that time this
I,,r tha1 ,tta he, s A., -
fact the evidence had closed and the counsel
were addressing the jury. These papers are
now before you. Bliss by his letter. which
yoa have referred to me and | called your
attention to them. By them it appears that
Spencer is a delinquent and abscondng wit
ness that he can testify to material and inn
portant facts, and that he has left the CITY
and has ever since secreted himself and
avoided the process of 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 government and the
administration of public justice is concerned,
and because of his censurable delinquency |
unite with Bliss and other counsel in the
case in asking his immediate removal. Time
enough has been given him to appear and
explain and not one word has been heard
from him, and as he has disappeared as if he
were dead have directed the most thorough
search to be made for him. and thus far no
trace of him can be found. That search will
be persisted in and if he can be had and
brought into court and made to answer for
his act OF gross contempt and disobedience
and Obliged to testify to those facts which
are within his know ledge and are so essen
tal to maintain the prosecution of the de-
PENDANTS.