Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-22
TELEGRAPHIC.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COL.
BLISS.
A List Of the Star Route Indict-
ments.
One Hundred Thousand Dollars for Fare
and Mileage.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY WITNESSES TO Be
CALLED.
SHEPHERDS GRAND PERUVIAN
SCHEME.


WASHINGTON, Feb. ala reporter OF the
Associated Press interviewed Col. Bliss,
chief counsel in the Star Route prosecu-
ton, last night. He confirmed the report
OF the indictments Of the accused, and
gave the following list: Ex-Assistant
Postmaster General Thomas J. Brady, ex-
Senator Stephen A.. Dorsey, John W. Dor
sey, brother Of the Senator, W. H. Turner,
formerly Clerk in the PostofficeD Department,
John r. Miner, Henry NJ. Vail & Co, j.
L. Anderson and J. M. Peck OF Dorsey's
firm. Peck is said to have died recently
1t il said that the presentments do not in
clude French r. Riley and s. P. Brown,
who we're included in the original informa-
ton. Bliss said that the Grand Jury was
unanimous in finding on the merits OF the
case. One Juror had some doubt as to the
application of the statutes OF limitation IN
several cases, but none whatever as to the
propriety Of returning indictments. Bliss
said, 81 regard the unanimous action OF
the Grand Jury as . vindication OF the Ad-
ministration Of Arthur, who has insisted
from the first that Justice should have full
sway in these cases, and that the guilty
| should be punished, and also the vindi-
cation Of the prosecution. In q minor
sense, it was a vindication Of myself, for l
have said all along that these parties ought
to be indicted, and / believed they would.
l never saw any case in which evidence was
collected with 80 much energy and ability.
That credit does not belong to me
nor to any Of the prosecution, but
to the Inspectors Of the Postoffice
Department, who gathered it from all
parts of the West. There has been q critl-
cism of the delay Of the prosecution. l
was alone for months, working on an
average not less than 16 hours per day,
selecting and deciding upon the witnesses
who should be called. For instance, there
was one case in Washington Territory.
There were three witnesses who were
familiar with all the facts on the lower end
Of the route. and two who were as familiar
with the important facts as to the other
end. We concluded not to call either OF
these witnesses. but some n who knew
really less about the routes than the
others, but whose knowledge was general
relating to the route. We called him, in
order to recognize the witnesses before the
Grand Jury. The aggregate payment to
them for fees and mileage was 500, 900.
The prosecution will call about $50 wit
nssses."
when do you expect to get to trial y
asked the reporter.
"Well, IL the defendants honestly desire
. speedy trial. we can begin in . little
while. 1t will require ten days to draw
up the indictments. They are being pre-
pared by Mr.. Kerr, in the Attcrney-Gen
erals Office. The Government witnesses
who appeared before the Grand Jury have
been allowed to go home to prevent hard
ships, which, remaining on 81 as per day.
would have been to them. Some wit
nesses came 4,700 miles. Bliss seems very
much gratined at the action Of the Grand
Jury. He says the Government will
institute civil suits against = several
mail contractors who are believed tc
have dishonesty profted by the Star
Routes wherever there 10 reason to believe
that they have property. The suretiss Of
contractors cannot be proceeded against,
but Bliss says the Government intends Il
make q determined effort to recover d
least . part Of the money illegally taken
from 1t and paid to contractors. This 40
ton OF the Grand Jury was Q surprise te
the accused, md their counsel said las,
night that it was . small matter anyhow,
as they had . clue that would demolist
the prosecution a. soon as the case weni
into Court. He declined to state wha'
this clue was. Bliss says there Is no ques
ton whatever that the cases are within the
statute Of limitation.