Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-06-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
Attacks OF scurrilous Star Route
Organs.
Treasury Bobbers.

FFrom oarre0ular CorrespORdeaf.l
wAsHIxeroS, d. c., June II, 1883.
The abuse and indecent attacks Of the
scurrilous Star-r0ute organs upon all
engaged in the prosecution of the rob-
bers increases in virulence as the end of
the trial draws near. The latest is aimed
at Mr.. Ker, one of the attorneys.
who happens to be democrat. Threats
of startling disclosures have been pro-
fuse and hints about dragging other peo-
pie down with the accused Star-routers
have frequently appeared in these Jour
mails. But the only fulfillment is an in
sinuating paragraph to the effect Mr..
Ker was in Washington during the war
as prisoner for disloyalty or something
of that sort. Mr.. Ker has seen this in
sinuation about him, and, while he
laughs at it, he suggests that il may fall
under the notice fsome one who does
not know that the paper publishing it is
entirely without reputation for truth,
and that the story will lead some one to
believe that he was a rebel prisoner in
the old capitol. The fact is, Mr.. Ker
says, that he enlisted in PHILADELPHIA
on May 3, 1861, in Captain John NJ.
Carson's company, and after his return
from the first battle of Bull Run the
company was sent to Washington to
guard the station and stop the stam-
pede. In. few days he was detailed
with a part of the company to guard the
rebel prisoners in the old capitol prison.
AT that time he was not democrat nor
voter, for in point of fact he was only
10 years old. He was relieved from du-
ty at the prison, rejoined his regiment,
was promoted to be captain, served un-
der Sherman, was mustered out in Au-
gust, 1865, and is now a member in good
standing of George G. Meade Post, No.
l, G. A. r. of Pennsylvania. 1t may
properly be added to what Mr.. Ker
says that he was one of four brothers in
the Uuion army, two of whom were
killed.
The compromise by the Department
ofJustice with Ottman, one of the sup
posed robbers of the Treasury a few
years ago, has justly excited good deal
of comment. The history of the case
ought to be, and doubtless is, well
known. The robbery in question con-
sisted in the abstraction during office
hours, some eight years ago, of a pack
age of SAT 900 in Treasury notes all put
up ready for transmission by express.
No clue was obtained until some time
after, when suspicious circumstances led
to the arrest of Ottman, q saloon keeper,
Brown, a gambler, and one Halleck, q
clerk in the Treasury. Halleck turned
state evidence and confessed that he alb
stracted the pockage and delivered
most of the money to Ottman, who
planned the robbery. About $4,000 in
new notes like the ones stolen was found
and attached by the government. Af-
ter two trials, in both of which the jury
disagreed, Halleck, the principal wit
ness for the government, died, and Ott-
man has since been under bail, with the
Indictment still pending, ALSO civil suit
for recovery of the money held in the
banks under attachment. Several years
have elapsed since the last mistrial and
nothing had ever been done about it un-
til recently. The employment by Ott-
man of Congressman Crowley, a friend
of the administration as his attorney to
secure compromise seems to have been
o shrewd stroke. On the part of the
government, the case was referred to
George Bliss, the Presidents friend, who
gets $35, 900 or $40, 600 Il year for prosecu-
ting the Star-route thieves, and between
these two a compromise was agreed up
on by which the money held by the gov
ernment under attachment is released.
Ottman says he got 5000 of it, and the
question which some curious people are
asking is who got the rest? This COM
promise appears to be one of the greatest
performances yet of the Arthur admin
istration. 1t is expected that the re-
publican regime will use every endeavor
to profit by the opportunities which its
most astute observers believe will pass
into other hands ON March 4, 1885. But
this comprising" away of thousands of
government dollars, which are known
to be the identical notes boldly stolen
from the Treasury, in order that some
pet lawyers may divide the greater part
amongst them, is about the most bare
faced fraud that was ever perpetrated.
Evidently it is quite time for change