Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-13

OF His Partner, Cole, by Star Route
Defendants.
Mr.. W. A. Cook to-day continued his testimony
before the Springer committee.
when you closed your testimony said Mr. Van
Alstyne, "you stated that the appointment OF the
new counsel In the star route cases was for poti-
cal motives; have you anything further TO say on
that Subjecte"
"Yes; said the appointments OF Mr.. Bliss ana
MI. brewster We're Influenced by political motives
mean by this that these men would never have
oeen selected but for their political relations with
the expected new adminiSt ration Associate coun-
sci would probably have been employed. hut Mr.
Bliss would certainly never have been selected on
account OF his superior ability. The names or
Judge Fullerton and Mr. Henderson. of -. Louis,
were urged against Judge Fullerton: and against
MI. hthderSon IL was urged that he had been en-
gage gaSed IN the prosecution OF the whisky ring-Bah-
be advisable TO employ him"
A STAR INTERVIEW.
Witness then referring TO Mr. Bliss bills OF indIct-
ment, said that he desired TO call attention
to an Interview published In THE EVENING
STAR OF March aoth. 1882. in which Mr. Ker saws
that Mr. Bliss did have supervision over the bills
out they were all under the control OF Col. Cook.
Also that there was enough documentary evt-
oence TO secure conviction. This. witness ex-
pialned. was not the case. He then again
CRITICISED THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CASES
py the prosecution Witness plan or proceedings
would have been TO secure indictments in each in
dlvldual case. BY this means the whole matter
could have been disposed of IN a few weeks and at
ouC small expense. This was a simple plan,
while the one adopted united the interests OF the
government officials implicated with that OF the
CONTAGIOUS. and made the cases more complicated
THE LIBERAL COMPENSATION OF SOME OF THE COW
ERNMENT COUNSEL
witness said, referring to the compensation CT
tqe government counsel, that he received a sum
NOR rEht
ana MI. Bliss agreed was Just. "When Mr. Bliss
came 1n," he said. "it was understood that a. ne
was New York lawyer and the services OF New
York lawyers Were more valuable than those of
other lawyers, his compensation should be greater
When Mr. ker was employed, as he was a Philadpl-
phla lawyer witness thought that as he was not a
New York lawyer his compensation would be
less. as should also have been Mr.. Merricks ac-
corning TO the Same argument, he being ONLY 4
washington lawyer. But these gentlemen col the
same rates or compensation as Mr.. Bliss" Witness
SAID he thought the object in employing Mr. Npr-
rick was not his known abillty-though he was the
aDleSt or them all-but because the prosecution
Thought that IL would be well. i'm case they failed
III Their prosecution. to guard against the assaults
OF the democrats by having distinguished demo-
crat as one OF their chief counsel
Dld i, or did not" asked one OF the committee
understand you In your testimony yesterday To say
that the prosecution
DID NOT THINK THAT COL coRKHILL WAS TO BE
In these casese-
Witness replied that the government counsel did
not think 1t safe TO trust Mr. Corkhi with the Sc
crets OF the cases His action seemed to bear out
thelr suspicious At the conference of the counsel
AT Eioeron. when Attorney General MacNeagh,
MeSsrs. Bliss. Gibson and witness were present
Ines It decided upon the cases they would try lie
the Wlthess Came 70 this city To present tie eases
10 the grand jury, but when he reached here he
Iound That Col. Corhhill had adjourned the grand
Jury. The jury had then been in session for but
two days
Did Col Corkhin know that you intended to
prsSit m an tIe Gases to that grand Iury?" was asked
~
" Did ne ever explain his actione" was asked
believe. replied the witness. "that he told
the Attorney General that it had TO be donen
WOODS OFFER TO WITNESS.
The witness said he did not know who Wood rem
resented. Witness had an offer both from the de-
PENDANTS and from the United states. and he con-
sldered 1t his duty to accept the EMPLOYMENT bv
the government. He thought it proper To state
!hat There had been number OF cases In which il
ilid been alleged that the Treasury had been de-
frauded, notably the case OF Jerome J. Kinds while
M. JeWell was POSTMASTER General In these cases
olle witness had appeared and there had been no
49,, What is the object OF this statement?" asked
"The object OF this statement said Nr Cool- ..Is
tnlS understood you TO inquire why accepted
!he employment OF the government. 1 felt lust
thlS, tilat having acquitted many or having
been connected with the acquitta, of 50 many mai
II there had been these frauds and wrongs upon tie
goaerhiaent as alleged it would be proper Tor me.
considering my experience, being solicited ly the
Ohlted States TO respond favorably."
QUESTION OF DUTY
"Ihen," said Mr.. Fyan, 'h was not question OF
compensation, but question OF patriotisme,
"lt was question OF duty" said Mr. Cook.
Mr Cook was questioned as to why he refused an
offer OF $4,000 from the defense and accepted
5000 from the government. He said ne had an intI
nation that he would not get any rnor. from tbe
government II he had claimed more He had a
practice that yielded him about $4,000 annually,
and If he gave year to these cases he would mn
In bill for $4,000 or $4,000, and not think il ex-
orbitant.
Mr. Cook having referred to fees he received ~
nominal Suln.Nr Fyan asked s.If that Is a nominal
Bliss" ~
"Exorbtant." said Mfr. Cook. "Nine was at the
rate OF about sao day, while his was at the aver
age rate OF $50 day.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF Mr. COOKS PARTNER Ry ST.p
ROUTE DEFENDANTS.
The witness said that his partner Mr. Cole was
employed by Mr. Rerdeu or Mr. Dorsey. and paid |
81 500, by draft Mr. Bosler of Carlisle pa
he witness received no part OF this sum- his part
neIshp with Mr. Cole extending only To civil bus-
ness
Mr.. Cook was asked by Mr. Stewart whether he !
had received, directly Indirectly the benefit of /
any portion OF the S2.500
The witness said Mr. Cole kent their accounts Iya
mad paid witness money in settlement, but witness
did not know from what source the money carne |
MI Soie had made no present 10 him or 10 any |
member OF his family.
.Did you tell the President asked Mr.. Evan. |
that me DEFENDANTS, or any one OF them, had en-
II did not" said Mr.. Cook. "I never had any /
ject"
Ibid you ever go TO Dorsey's house after your
employment by the government"
mo, sir" said Mr. Cook, ''Mr. Dorsey sent for |
me prior to my employment by the government /
The witness stated that toward the latter part OF
May carriage was sent TO his house with |
WRITTEN MESSAGE FROM DORSEY
witness to call at his house. Witness
had not then accepted the offer OF the government
He called on Dorsey. who desired 10 retain him. but
witness said he refused to accept his employInent
at that time, saying he would consider the mat
ter Dorsey. the witness said. offered him roll of
money, which the witness refused.
''You had not then" said Mr. Fyan s.made nm |
your mind that as Heretofore you had acquitted |
so many men, you would now try to convict
some"
81 had not" !" said the witness
The witness said he had never had any reason TO ,
doubt the integrity sincerity OF Mr. Gibson He
poyment OF Mr.. Cole 10y Rerdell would subject wit
ness TO 1nvidouS cr1ticiSnl Mr. Cole and he were
OF each other entirely In their criminal
practice He had never given Mr.. Cole any Inform
alton, though he may, on some occasions given him
q reference to authorities
The committee at noon adjourned till tomorrow,
when Mr. Cook VIII again be examined.
Pistols At a Pound Party.
A SHOOTING AFFAIR NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT
Last night pound party was given near Mount
Pleasant by Nathan Brown, yQDg colored man.
When the party was dancing ast set, about
midnight, pistol shot was heifo followed by a |
scream. One OF the visitors named Joseph Ware |
had been shot, the bullet entering behind the ear
and passing under the scalp to the back OF the
mead. Ware was taken to his home, No 1863 18th
,franf fhG hal u-aS