The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-06-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
June IL, 1881
The abuse and indecent attacks of
the scurrilous Star route organs up
on all engaged in the prosecution of
the robbers increases in virulence as
the end of the trial draws near. The
latest is aimed at Mr.. Ker, one ofthe
attorneys, who happens to be a dem
ocrat. Threats of startling disclos-
ures have been profuse and hints
about dragging other people down
with the accused Star-routers have
frequently appeared in these journ-
ais. But the only fulfllmen. is an in
sinuating paragraph to the effect that
Mr.. Ker was in Washington during
the war as a prisoner for disloyalty
or something of that sort. Mr.. Ker
has seen this insinuatioD about him,
and, while he laughs at it, he sug-
gests that it may fall under the no.
tice of some n who does not know
that the paper publishing it is en-
tirely without reputation for truth,
and thas the story will lead some one
to believe that he was O rebel prison
er in the old capitol. The fact is,
MI. Ker says, that he enlisted in
Philadelphia on May 5, 1861, in Cap
tain 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 stampede. In a few
days he was detailed with a part of
the company to guard the rebel pris-
oners in the old capitol prison. At
shat time he was not a democrat nor
a voter, for in point of fact he was
only 10 years old. He was relieved
from duty at the prison, rejoined his
regiment, was promoted to be cap
tain, served under Sherman, was
mustered out in August, 1865, and
is now a member in good standing
of George G. Meade Post, No. 1. G.
A. r. of Pennsylvania. It may prop
erly be added to what Mr.. Ker says
that he was one of four brothers in
the Union army, two of whom were
killed.
The compromise by the Depart
ment of Justice with Ottman, II OF
the supposed robbers of the Treas
ury a few years ago, has justly excit,
ed a good deal Of comment. The
history of the case ought to be, and
doubtless is, we'll known. The.rob.
berry in question consisted in the alb
straction during Office hours, some
eight years ago, ola package of $47,-
600 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 Gilman, a saloon
keeper, Brown, a gambler, and one
Halleck, o clerk in the Treasury
Halleck turned state evidence and
confessed that he distracted the
package and delivered most of the
money to Ottman, who planned the
robbery. About $50, 900 in e notes
like the ones stolen was found de-
posted in two banks in Alexandra
and attached by the government.
After two trials, in both of which
the Jury disagreed, Halleck, the prin
cipal witness for the government
died, and Ottman has since been un
der bail, with the Indictment still
pending; also a civil suit for recov'
cry Of the money held in the banks
under attachment. Several years
have elapsed since the last mistria.
and nothing had ever been done a
bout it until recently. The employ
ment by Ottman of Congressman
Crowley, q friend of the administra'
ton, as his attorney to secure a com
promise seems to have been a shrew6
stroke. On the part of the govern
ment, the case was referred to Geo
Bliss, the Presidents friend, who
gets $4,000 or $4,000 year fol
prosecuting the S%tar-route thieves
and between these two q compromise
was agreed upon by which the money
held by the government under at
tachment is released. Ottman says
he got $4,000 of it, and the question
which some curious people are ask
ing is who got the rest? This com
promise appears to be n of the
greatest performances yet of the Ar
thur administration. 1t is expected
that the republican regime will use
every endeayor to profit by the op
portunities which its most astute OBJ
servers believe will pass into otheI
hands on March 4, 1885. But thii
compromising" away of thousands
Of government dollars, which are
known to oe the identical notes bold
ly stolen from the Treasury, in ordel
that some pet lawyers may divide
the greater part amongst them, il
about the most barefaced fraud tina
was ever perpetrated. Evidently i
is quite time for a change ofthe par
ties. PHoNo.
The canvas IN Rarnum'S circus