Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-27
MIR. KER'S REVELATIONS.
THE FAILURE TO 1ND1CTKE1LoGa
POSITION OF NIB. BLISS IN The MATTER.

POSlTlON OF Mr. BLISS IN THE MATTER.
MI. W. W. Ker continued his testimony before the
Springer committee to-day. He said that some time
before the March uSS2 grand jury adjourned flnal-
ly, Col Bliss came to him and said: "Ker, you
needn't bother about those indictments Parker,
salisbury, &c.) any further; intend to arbitrate
them and take them out OF the grand jury" Wit
ness repled:-"YOu can't" Bliss asked, "Why
not?" and that ended the conversation. After that
witness understood that Bliss had proceeded to take
the cases from the grand jury room.
GRAND JURY WITHOUT RECORD.
The witness said that the grand jury Of March,
1892 kept no record Of any kind that there is not
the scratch OF pen in existence to show that any
such jury ever existed. Witness did not know
whose fault that was
Chairman Springer submitted the book Of records
OF the grand jurieS. which he had procured from
District Attorney Worthington The witness read
Irom the minutes OF the grand jury OF December,
1881, 10 the effect that presentments against San
oelSon sweet, and Others for perjury, were handed
to Col Bss,and he returned them to the jury WITH
out preparing indictments. "for reasons best known
~, az nuns III, as tne record stated L was the Mitch
whoever was responsible for that omission ought to
be held accountable: Bliss was IN charge OF the
cases before the grand Jury. That grand fury in
dlcted Brady and Price,
But FAILED TO INDICT KELLOGG
Witness, anticipating the indictment OF Kellogg,
included his name In the Indictment, and had to
rewr1te 1t, because the jury ignored the case
against him. The witness said he was busy prepar-
Ing indictments against the SaulSburys and ali
other combinations, but he stopped and tore them
up Dy order OF Col Bliss, who said he was going to
arbitrate these cases.
tne M 1act that those men were not indicted made
Col Bliss sick as Bliss testified before the commit
tee1; me witness answered that he had nothing
10 DO with Col Bliss sickness Bliss was witness
superior and he obeyed him.
Mr. KER's FEES
In answer to the charge that witness had
charged the government an excessive sum for his
services, Mr.. ker read letters from Philadelphia
LAWYERS to the effect that they had examined his
work and thought his charges moderate Witness
mentS
WHAT WAS DONE TO INDIcT KELLOGG.
The chairman asked for a statement Of what
was done to indict Kellogg. The witness said that
Mr. Merrick got into communication with Walsh
At conference between witness, Bliss and Mer-
rick the former said 1t would not be proper to pro-
ceed against Kellogg while he was Senator, as
that would disqualiIy him and upset the republl-
can majority In the Senate, but 1t was necessary to
1ndlct him else the statute OF limitations would bar
the case. When the grand jury ignored the case
against kellogg Melrick insisted that the June
grand jury should be called together and the mat
ter laid before 1t, the honor OF the prosecuting
counsel was at stake. The jury was convened. and
Bliss at Merrcks insttgaiOn. went before it. After
Gays session the jury reported that they had no
presentment to make. The government counsel
considered
THE ACTION OF THE JURY MYSTERY.
Col. Bliss was opposed TO bringing the Kellogg
matter before the next succeeding grand jury, and
Mr.. Merrck insisted that he should. The Attorney
General sent for counsel and asked about the case
Bliss insisted that Kellogg should not be indicted;
Merrick demanded that he should, and 1t led to
cal prejudice. The Attorney General stopped the
discussion, and said that politics had nothing to do
with the cases; that the law knew no distinctions.
witness held that Kellogg ought to be indicted
BLISS DENOUNCED WALSH
and said he could not be believed. The Attorney
General directed the prosecution OF Kellogg, and
he was indicted.
The point was raised that the committee had de-
cided not to 60 into the Kellogg case
M Mt her Sald ne dldnt care TO tell anything un-
less ne explained the whole case. He wouldn't be
hampered.
SHARP DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
ON "WHITEwAsHIEG KELLOGG"
Chairman Springer said 1t was admissible for the
witness to explain what reasons governed the
prosecution.
Mr.: Milliken said that If Kellogg was dragged in
at ALL incidentally or otherwise he (iilllken5 would
insist upon permitting Kellogg to come before the
Mr. Van Alstyne spoke OF whitewashing Kellogg,
and Mr. MilliEen took exception to the term
embarrassing"
Mr.. Van Alstyne, with some warmth, said the
term was not original with him 1t had been used
In regard to this case on the floor of the House
Mr. Milliken insisted that II Kellogg was smlrched
his right to be heard in his own behalf right that
ought to be accorded to any man, whether he was
TWhte T%d G,saaI, man, Niger % or re red InJun"
tilt between Van Alstyne and Milliken increased in
warmth as 1t proceeded.
Mr.. Ker said that he wanted to make such state
ments only as were necessary in simple justice to
the government counsel
Chairman Springer ordered that part OF the testi-
mn ra ftny fn Mr. oil No,
and asked the witness to state the circumstances
IN 4 MANNER THAT WOULD NOT REFLECT UPON KEI-
LOGG.
Mr.. Ker replied that he had been criticised and
charges concerning the drawing OF the Kellogg In
dictments had been published, and he did not want
all, unless he were allowed to explain the facts as
they were. 1t was question OF doing simple JUS
tice to himself and other government counsel
Mr.. Van AlStyne asked II he demanded this priv.
Witness replied that he did not exactly demand
it. but ne asked that he be allowed to explain their
position; he had no GeSire to cast any reflection
upon Mr.. Kellogg in any way, or say anything as
to his guilt or innocence.
ceed with his statement in his own way, and the
committee should decide afterwards whether 1t
should be retained in the record or stricken out
THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION.
In relation to the decision OF the court that the
statute Of limitation operated upon the case wit
but not in the last instance. Mr.. Milliken asked
him to explain what he meant by this He said
that on the 31St OF December. 1SS3 when the stat
ute OF limitation was pleaded by Judge Wilson,
Kellogg's attorney, Judge Wylie ruled that the
brbe dated from the time OF the payment OF the
money, and covered both that date and the date Of
the drawing OF the drafts. Upon this decision he
based his indictment, and finally the decision was
reversed
THE CASE AGAINST KELLOGG.
Witness said that from his knowledge Of the tes-
timOny in possession OF the prosecution the case
was as strong, Il not stronger, against Kellogg
than against the rest. He said that upon Bliss
advice he put the dates in the Indictment
He was asked II this was against his own judg-
ment
He said it was not
AS TO COL. CoRKHILL
Witness said that great deal had been said
against Col Corkhill, but he cwitness) had never
seen anything out OF the way in him He had rem
dered him material aid in getting out the indict-
mentS. Witness said that Bliss told him that Kel-
from Price and used 1t for political purposes In
Louisiana.
A CHALLENGE 10 Mr. KELLOGG.
Witness said, also, that it seemed that Mr. Kel-
logg had gone about the newspaper onices and
talked about him. He had been informed that he
{Kellogg) had told certain correspondent that he
would or ought to take q shot gun and blow out his
(Kers) brains 81 want TO say right here" said the
witness, 'that II Mr.: Kellogg wants that kind OF
satisfaction II he will let me know the time and
place shall be there II he wants that kind OF sat
isfactlOn he may have It. My character has never
been aSSatled.n