Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-24
The Hill Investigation.

TN CHICAGO WITNESSES TELEGRAPHED TO CONF
HERE-AR. BLISS BEFORE THB CoMMIrTEK-HR
DECLINES TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS
When the hin investigating committee met this
morning the chairman asked If Mr.. Coleman
wished to see Mr.. Bliss. II So he would send for
the gentleman, who was in the Secretary's ONCE.
MI coleman answered in the Affirmative but Mr.
Bliss had gone and messenger was sent In search
OF him. Meanwhile Mr.. Totten discussed with
terday relating to the nature Of the evidence to
De taken in Chicago In answer to an inquiry
rom MI. Totten, Mr. Coleman said that the wit
charged because he would not do what Newton
Mr.: Eth said he did not believe that Mr. King
mac Deen employed upon the heating apparatus.
MI; Alexander said that he had conferred with
the secretary yesterday In regard to the PROPOSE
after expressing his belief that the witnesses In
mat city could be induced to come here had tele-
graphed request to that efYect.
MI. Coleman remarked that he had not named
all OF the witnesses whose attendance was de-
SIRED sired, but presumed that they could be brought
Mr.. Totten said that he was tired OF the
frequent delays Ten weeks was long
enough for man to be searched and roasted on a
because nothing had been shown to the com.
mlttee-not even carelesSneSS-tO warrant the
trip. They had been
IN SESSION FOR TEN WEEKS AND NOTHING HAD
BEEN DONE.
Now the prosecution wanted to investigate the
whole city OF Chicago In their endeavor to black
guard Mr.. HILL 1t was not fair. II any wrong
had been done 1t had been done here, and II wit
nesses were necessary they could be brought here
ne should continue every day to protest against
this eternal dlly-dallytng There was way to
STOP It and he trusted that the committees sense
or far dealing would impel them to do it.
Mr.. Coleman replied that he had heard enonph
OF this honest official wanting to be Investigated
every morning Mr. Totten had said that he
wanted the investigation stopped. II he thought
the investigation was proving nothing why was
he here. The committee did not request him to
attend e,a and II Mr. His acts were all honest he
could not be hurt and there was no reason for his
attendance. The investigation had run on for
several weeks but 1t was an Investigation OF
facts that would be good ground for criminal
prosecution, II they were not barred by the
statute Of limitation The counsel did not want
there to be taken would show that the govern
ment had been defrauded.
Mr. Totten reJolned that the gentleman had
cording to his clients tMurch's) e~timony II it
was emitted TO belief it showed that he entered
eminent. He did not want to stop this investiga-
ton; he wanted 1t to go on, and did object to the
frequent stoppages.
Mr.. BLISS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Bliss appeared at this stage, and retired
with Mr.. Coleman for consultation. They re-
turned in a few minutes, and Mr. Coleman asked
that Mr. Bliss be examined by the committee
Mi. Bliss was accordingly sworn. He said that
ne was o. s. district attorney for the eastern dis
Illct Oh MISSOURI. lie had read the interview pub
lished In the ST. Louis Post Dispatch on June 23d.
MR.. BLISS DECLINES TO ANSWER
Mr.. Coleman asked II he knew of any witness
who would appear before the committee. either In
st Louis or Washington, in connection with the
facts mentioned in his interview.
Mr.. Bliss.-"I shall decline to answer and would
IKE 10 give my reason. l understood that this
committee Is Investigating specific charges OF
which know nothing whatever, and In connec-
/ or rol
want testimony"
The chairman.-"To be sure the committee is
any wrong act on the part Of MIR. Hill the commit
tee will hear It,"
Mr.. Bllss.-"1 presume that the committee is
actlng according to the rules Of evidence"
The chairman.-"The committee will hear any,
thing you may know OF concerning misconduct by
Mr.. Bltss.-s'I know Of nothing will answer
any question touching facts or my knowledge. but
DON'T propose TO give incompetent testimony"
MR. BLISS DECLINES TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE
INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Coleman asked II Mr.. Bliss was CORRECTLY re-
ported in the interview published In the Post
Dispatch.
The witness declined to answer. He did not
concede the right or the counsel or the committee
W ,naunre ABOUT what passed In newspaper
Qw"Are the facts herein set out true according
Al decline to answer because n true they
are not relevant 10 the pending issues"
Mr. Coleman made some inquiries touching the
cnarges made In the interview, but the witness
mentioned.
Mr. Totten then asked II the indictments OBJ
Gated upon facts occurring before Mr. Hin assumed
onlce but the witness answered that he could not
tell without consulting the record.
Mr. Alexander, referring to the newspaper
artlcle, inquired II 1t was true that Mr. IsaacS IA
former superintendent OF the St Louis buldng)
1 RI
the vouchers for stonework
The witness answered in the affirmative.
COUNSEL AT IT. AGAIN.
Mr.: Totten objected, because the matter re-
ferred to had nothing to do with tho case, and
endeavored to have the question and answer
stricken out He said that MIR. Hill was willing to
nave anything Investigated, but objected to this
htarSay business.
Mr.. Coleman asked why the COMMITTEE was here
and the counsel engaged In lively colloquy.
me committee declined to strike out the ques-
OF what 1siacs would swear to. The committee
would inquire into the matter, and If necessary,
W0ui cauS1 ISaacS to attend.
Turning to Mr.. Bliss the chairman said that the
committee would be pleased to have any informa-
ton he might possess that would aid the commit
Tee IN It's inquiry.
Mr.. Bliss made brief explanation OF his reasons
Tor attending the session OF the committee. dis
Claiming any desire to avoid an appearance.
SUIT FOR SIC, COO DAMAGES FOR LIBEL--Messrs. G.
W. copper and w. Willoughby to-day. for Thomas
EcSft1lU
lDel, laying damages at $40 GEO. The declaration
sets IOrth the publication in the Critic on May 9th
1883, or "a false and malicious statement" which
ne tLucas) claims was intended to defame and In
lure his good name and reputation. He sets out
the article is headed The Principal Pimp OF John
W. thompson & Co.." In which is an account of
plalntlHs arrest In Baltimore, and says that the
lntehtion OF the article was to convey the impress
sion mat he was an associate OF thieves and
,h ne was a participant in theft, and
employe OF the Department OF Justice.
He further complains of an article In the critic of
May 10, 1888, commencing "What truly delight
Jul state of affairs 1t is when the slums and cutters
and the prison cells have to be raked over to get
witnesses to testify against men who have Tor
years borne good character in the community and
who are presumed to be innocent until proven
guilty. Just look at partial list OF witnesses
FIRST there IS Tom Lucas a recognized associate
OF thieves and pickpOckets, who was arrested in
Baltimore Tuesday" He further complains of the
publ, alton In the Critic of May 14th headed: ga
remarkable dream. collection OF choice spirits
Ihey form an entirely moral organization. Judas
lscar1ot. Benedict Arnold, Ananias and Sapphira
as partner saints, in which his name appears as
vice president" and claims this was written for
The purpose OF inJuring him, and therefore claims
damages in $4,000.
The TRANSFER OF CENSUS CLERKs.-There will
De no general transfer OF clerks from the Census
91ce to other bureaus OF the Interior department
was stated at the rooms of the civil service COM
MISSION This morning that few OF the best clerks
had been transferred to NIL existing vacancies To
[urlOugl clerks fndpf1nitelV. with the view of