National Republican., 1883-12-03
EX-SENATOR SPENCER.
What Tho Distinguished Defendant Has 10 Say
in His Own Behalf
a Decidedly Spicy Communication or the
Other Side from Col. Bliss.

nEx. Senator Spencer and his counsel are en-.
GGGcd in preparation OF replies TO the nterroga.
tories propoundcd to the iOnuer by Mr.. Il. T. Mer.
rick, of counsel for the government, under tho
orders OF the court Mr.. Spencer will describe in
detail his whereabouts and his journeyings from
tho first Of july 1889, the date OF his departure
from Washington, until he was brought back lie
will aver that he was not hiding, but tray.
cling upon important business that at
tho time he was subpmnaed he had
come cast for short stay In connection with
important business matters ia Nevada, and that
when he came 10 Washington, IN answer TO the
subpoena, lo remained here for two weeks, occu.
pylng rooms at tho Arlington hotel, near that OF
Col. Bliss, and the latter refused to see him. lie
will assert that he knew nothing that would be of
value as evidence with regard to the case In con.
nectton with which ho was Subpmnaed, and tina /
William Il. Chandler, on his behalf made state
nenl to this effect to Mr.. Bliss before Mr. Spencer
Lett Washington.
Mr.. Spencer will say that tho statement that he
had seen Dorsey pay money to Brady Is false, and
that DC nover TO his recollection. saw them to :
Rethor. he will say that the star route investga.
tiOns were gotten up by his instigatlon, and that
upon request of Postmaster General James he
consented TO remain in Washington at his own
expense and without compensation during its
progress upon condition that he should not be
known in tho matter.
He will assert that he received the promise. both
OF President Garfield and Postmaster General
James, that his connection with the investiga
tions should not be known. Respecting his visit
70 Canada and England, he will state that he came
from Nevada last winter upon private business
remained IN New York n short ume and then
went to Watertown, n. Y, his native place, and
thence to Canada, where he remained until ne re-
ceived from Nevada descriptions of property, the
sale of which he was negotiating in England.
The papers being received, he went abroad to
complete the negotiations.
Col. George Bliss, the special assistant attorney
in the star route cases. has submitted to the attor
ney general detailed and connected statement
Of what was done by the government TO secure
Af ~. 81 nafn
ness on the trial OF Dorsey Brady, and others. He
says that in May or june 1882 on the first trial he
sent subpoena for him first 10 Nevada, but found
he had come east, and 1t was finally served ON him
at the Everett house. in New York, on June 10 by
l. spectDr Newcome, OF the postoihcc depar me IT,
MIR. spencer came 10 Washington aud Col. Bliss
saw him several times, but had no conversation
with MIN as to his testimony; that on July 10 a
mutual friend called at his Col BIiss's) room and
Ss FSm R Ss ded Ss
had left Washington for New York about July
or 3, and then learned that his business
in Nevada was suffering by reason of his absence,
and had gone to both Col. Bliss hous aud Office
in New York to see II he could be relieved as
witness s 4 but falling TO tind the colonel he had
return, but denied that he ever saw any money
paid TO Brady.
Col. Bliss says that he told the gentleman that
ifSpencer did not return immediately he should
ask for an attachment against him; that the al
tachment was prepared and sent to Ogden; that
Inspector Seybot of the postotce, was sent to Og.
sary was telegraphed; that when they reached
Spencers home they found he had lett, saying he
was going to Washington.
The first trial closed without Spencer being
found, but in October following efforts were again
made to tind him, and he was raced from his
nome in Nevada to San Francisco, and then that
near the Canada border Before a process could
be gotten to the marshal of that district Spencer
had had crossed into Canada. going to Kingston.
apparently no business there except getting
communications from this side OF the line. He
sailed sail from Halifax for Europe about June Is
trial was about TO close arrived in New York after
1t was ended. An unsuccessful attempt was made
to arrest him in New York, and it was then de:
clded to take no further steps in the matter until
autumn, though his whereabouts were ascertained.
Col. Bliss incluAes in his report the affidavit he
submitted TO The court dnrinE the first trial. in
which he stated that he believed Spencer could
testify that on one occasion he was present In the
room of $. w. Dorsey when the latter took from
bills of $1,000 each, and laid the envelope,
with the bill In 1t. on the table, telling him
he expected Thomas j. Brady to call In
cer) what sort of u man Brady was aud how he
Dorsey did business; that ina short time Brady
called, and that Dorsey told him some one had
aforesaid envelope, put 1t in his pocket, and left,
carrying 1t with him that prior to that time, and
when speaking of Brady''s calling, Dorsey had
stated that Brady was thief, aud that he (Dor.
sey) was interested in mail contracts; that Spencer
could also testify that j. W. Dorsey came TO
his (Spencer's) room in the Everett house, New
York, and said that his clerk (Rerdelll had "gone
back on him." and had "given away" the whole
story, and some days later Dorsey had said to
Spencer that the matter had all been fixed up;
that Mr.. James W. Bosler had set up with his clerk
ull night, and had succeeded in persuading him
TO make an affidavit denying his original state
ment.
In conclusion Col. Bliss says:
"If l had ever had any doubt hat Spencer could
have given valuable testimony for the govern.
ment to the effect indicated in the affidavit of
July 26, that doubt would have been dissipated by
his subsequent course in so persiStenly evadlng
service until after II had become impossible
that he could be compelled to testify. OF
course there is no possible doubt that
he made to Postmaster General James, his secre-
tary, Mr.. Van Wormer, and to Gen. Garfed's
friend, Mr.. Boynton, the statements which are
in the affidavit of July 20. and his
course since we sought to make him witness
goes far to show that he was then telling the
truth
II. c. WINDsoR's shoe parlors, No. 1923 New York
avenue. is crowded with new and elegant stock
Dress and evening Shoes specially.