South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-06-15
Letter from Washington.
FROM Oar Rsysta, CSrrssps.de~s
WASHINGTON, d. G., June IL.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., June IL.
The abuse and indecent attacks Of
the scurrilous Star.routs organs upon
all engaged in the prosecution Of the
robbers increases in virulence a. the
end OF the trial draws near. The la
tcst 10 aimed at Mr.. Ker, one of the
attorneys. who happens to be q dem
ocrat. Threats Of startling disclosur.
co have been profuse and hints about
dragging other people down with the
accused Star reuters have frequently
appeared in these journals. But the
Only fulfllmcnt is an insinuatinY par
agraph to the effect Mr.. Kcr was in
Washington during the war rs pris.
oncr for disloyalty or something OF
that sort. Mr.. Ker hos seen this in
sinuation about him, and, whilo he
laughs at il, he suggests that it may
TALL undse the notice Of some one who
does not know that the paper publish
ing it 10 entirely without reputation
for truth, and tina. the story will lead
some one to believe that no WINS a re-
bel prisoner in the old capitol. The
fact is, Mr.. Ker says, that he enlisted
in Philadelphia on May 5, 1861, in
Captain John 81. Carron's company,
aud after his return from the first bat.
tip Of Ball Run the company was sent
to Warrington to guard the station
aud stop the stampede. In q few
days be was detailed with . part Of
the company to guard tho rcbel pris-
oners in the old capitol prison. AT
that time he was not u democrat nor
n voter, for in point Of fact he was
only 70 years old. lie was relieved
from duty ct tho prison. rejoined his
regiment, was promoted to be captain
served under Sherman, was mustered
out in August, 1865, and il now a
member in good standing of George
G Meade Post, No /. &. A. r. of
Pennsylvania. 1t may properly 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
msnt Of Justice with Gilman, one of
the supposed robbers of the Treasury
few years ago, has justiy excited a
good dea. Of comment. The history
Of the case ought to be, and doubtless
10, well known. The robbery in ques
ton consisted in tho abstraction dur.
ing office hours, some eight years ngo,
OF a package of 81 900 in Treasury
notes all put up ready for transmission
by express. No clue was obtained until
some time after, when suspicious cir.
cumstances led to the arrest Of Gilman
saloon keeper, Brown, gambler, *
one llalieck, clerk in the Treasury
Hall ok turned state evidence and
confessed that he distracted the pack
age and delivered most Of the money
TO Gilman, who planned the robbery
About $50 900 in new notes like the
ones stolen was found deposited in
two banks III Alexandria and attach.
ed by the government. After two
trials, in both OF which the jury disn
greed, lIalleck, the principal witness
tor the government, died, and OFT
man has since been under bail, with
the Indictment stiIl pending; also a
civil suit for recovery or the money
hold III the banks under attachment.
Several years have elapsed siLcc the
last mlstrial and nothing had ever
been done about it until recently
The employment by Gilman Of Con.
gresham, Crowley, friend of the ad-
ministration, us his attorney to secure
compromise seems to have been a
shrewd stroke. On the part of tho
government, the case was referred to
George Bliss. the Presidents friend,
who gets $4,000 or 100000 q year
for prosecuting the Star.route thieves,
and between these two compromise
was agreed upon by which the money
held by the government under attach.
ment is released. Ottman sage lie got
81 900 Of it, and the question which
some curious people arc asking is who
got the rest? This compromise appears
to be one of the greatest pcrforman.
ces yet Of the Arthur administration
1t Is expected that tho republican re.
gme will use every cndeavor to pro-
fit by tho opportunities which its most
astute observers believe will pass into
other hand, on March 4, 1885. But
this compromising away ofthousands
Of government dollars, which are
known 10 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 barcfaced fraud that was e.
yer perpetrated. Evidently it is quite
time for n change Of parties
PHoNo.