Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-11
STAR ROUTE SECRETS.
w. A. COOK ON THE STAND.
DID GUITEAU HAVE ACCOMPLICEs,
The Witness Thinks He HEad-A De.
tailed Account Of His Warning to
Prcsi;ien; Earfield-Why lle Gave 1t.

employed as special counsel in the prosecution OF
the star route cases On the 10th of May, 1881, he
received a note from Attorney General MacNeagh
requesting him to call upon the latter, he wanted
IA SEE witness upon an important matter. When
he called Mr. MacVeagh stated that it had been
concluded TO employ witness In the prosecution of
thc star route cases Mr. Cook expressed his sur
prise. and asked for time to consult and determine
what he would do. He finally concluded to accept
the position rendered him. In some "mOde peculiar
10 the press 1t was ascertained that he had been
paced In temporary charge OF the prosecution. and
tle result Was number OF the defendants called and
offered to retain him, Offering fees at least double
those OF the government He refused these offers.
ad formally accepted the position rendered by the
government.
Mr Springer asked If the witness objected to
naming the parties who had attempted to retain
MN Tor the defense. Col Cook replied that he did
not and named
COL. wM. P. WOOD
lie said Wood called upon him and said he could
nave retainer OF S25,o00 from the defense.
Mr.. Springer asked whom Col. Wood represented?
Inc witness replied that he did not know def
ntcE. lie did not inquire particularly. but in
iefIed That Ire represented all the parties then
isilctcd or in danger OF Indictment. AS witness
UNDERSTOOD 1t he was offered retainer to defend
an who We're. or might be, Indicted. Prior to that
NJ Gibson had advised witness that he would be
olered 4 retainer by the defense. and asked that
he would not accept until witness had arain seen
nun (rIbSon). Col Cook then read his official
notice OF appointment by the government at u COM
pchsat!on to be determined when the suits tern-
TIE STAR ON MR.. COOKS APPOINTMENT
He said that when this appointment was publicly
announced, THE EVENING STAR, sthe character Of
Which you all know, published this cdltoral.n
He then read an editorial from THE STAR COM
mendlng in the highest terms the appointment of
Coi Cook, saying he stccd at the head of the bar
here. and that his appointment showed that the
prosecution meant business.
Mr Springer asked if TIE STAR had not generally
sustained the prosecution, and Cot Cook said il
District" - 49,
Continuing, the witness said that at the time he
accepted the appointment OF the government he
htd very large civil practice that engaged his
attention closely He said he was renrlljcan and
uht!er the Bowen administration was attorney OF
the city, and when the new government was created
II" was attorney for the District. This gave him a
very large acquaintance with the people here, ard
gave lm information very valuable in the selection
OF jrri"S.
Mr. COOKS INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT GARFIELD
After this Mr. Cook said he called upon President
Garfield IN the interview the President stated the
case vas delicate; involved many who had been his
special friends; that there We're many ant agonisms
regarding it; and that while lie wished him Uhe
Witncss) to act in accord with the Department of
Justice, he wanted him to remember That he uhe
lrealdenU was the head of the nation, and pri-
witness to take no action without consulting him:
10 Hihe condensed reports to him OF every thing
LEARNED; ana TO pursue his Investigations fairly and
ehelSetlcally 10 Whatever point they led.
READING FROM THE "EvEN1NG STAR"
Mr.. Cook, reading from TnB EVENING STAR re-
counted the circumstances attending a motion
made In behalf OF the accused in the court June
d, 1881, to have the star route cases taken up at
once py the grand jury. and read his statement
tneh madc In the court rejecting what his intended
course was. That statement he said, was made at
the request OF the President that he should en-
brace the earliest opportunity to set forth what
spirit animated the prosecution. The motion made
by the defense was intended to force the govern
ment to take up the case before 1t was prepared
nj 1n tn
submitted to the President by the witness in con-
nection with James Croggon, of THE STAR, and ap-
proved by the President, vino was then at Long
Branch. After this the witness and Mr. Gibson
proceeded to acquaint themselves with the case
and continued at that work until the President
was shot, when, necessarily, the work was sus-
pended.
THE INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT GARFIELD IN
WHICH MR.. COOK WARNED THE PRESIDENT OF THE
DANGER OF ASSASSINATION.
Mr.. Cook recounted the circumstances Of the in
terview had by himself and Mr.. James with Pres-
dent Garfield, June q, 1881, at which Mr. James
said, in his testimony, Mr.. Cook warned the Prcs-
dent OF the danger OF assassination. When they
called at the White House they were told that
''soine persons were with the President. The
President, when he was disengaged, came down to
see them and inquired about the case The witness
stated what had been done, and that the prepa-
ratioHS were proceeding as rapidly as possible.
~ stated" continued Mr.. Cook, ':that ought,
perhaps, to suggest that he should be careful OF
his movements, as 1t had been developed by the
tone OF the press which was Identified with the
star route defendants, In common with the appar-
emily associated bitterness OF the stalwart and
har-breed contest that an exceedingly bitter feel
ing prevailed and feared that there might be a
resort to violence; that at least such WAS the i'm
preston that was In my mind, and made the sIlg-
gestion accordingly. 1t seemed" continued MIR.
COOK, ''tO touch the President for moment. ncrv-
ously or systematically, and he responded that he
apprehcnded that there no danger"
81 said" continued Mr. Cook, that such was the
bitterness OF feeling that it would not be surprising
To me II that feeling should carry itself against
th.rS Do -+a,
Attorney General. i do not think that used the
language which it seems was placed in my lipS by
Mr.. James, but di. make the suggestion suJstan-
italy In the form which have mentioned to the
PRESIDENT. There was an intense and bitter feeling,
perhaps more SO than the gentlemen OF the COM
Ibid you have IN Your mind.H asked Chairman
Springer, "any particular act OF Violence"
"The idea had" said MIR. Cook, ''was this: That
the feeling or bitterness or VindictiveneSS was so
strong that 1t might operate upon the minds of
some of these involved In the star route cases. or
some som OF their associates or friends to an extent
That might lead to violence; that this bitterness
might assume the form OF a resort to violence"
DID GUlTEAU HAVE ACCoMPLCEs?
"Do you KNOW" asked Mr.. Springer, ''whethcr
any efforts were made to discover whether GuIteau
had accOmpliceS?"
"The1e were no decided or vigorous efforts" said
Mr.. COOK. 81 accompanied the district attorney to
his Office when Guteau was first taken there or
rather when witnesses supposed TO be present were
taken there, and suggested strongly that line Of
the Attorney General and proposed to him to par
uclpate, with his sanction, in the prosecution OF
Gulteau without compensation. l stated that /
1et 1t TO be my duty, in view az my relation to the
star route cases and to the President to do So In
little While the line OF investigation which would
have conducted to development of the assumn-
ton that existed that Guiteau had, directly or In
directly, associates was dropped, and the prOsec,l-
ttOn OF Guiteau was conducted on the assumption
that ne alone was reSpOnSible"i
DID you nave any reason to believe" asked Mr.
route contracts had instigated the act?'
MR. COOKS INFERENCE THAT THE SHOOTING oF-oAR-
FIELD WAS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL ACT OF GUITEAU
"The inference" said Mr.. Cook, sthat l drew
originally from all the facts and circumstances.
and used the knowledge had OF the intense feeling
tnat existed In connection with the star rOute
cases, was that the shooting OF the President was
not the result OF the individual action OF (uitea
have never become fully Satisfied that that as
sumption was incorrect"
Mr. Cook having f>.i the substance of the letter
written by him to t.. Attorney General rendering
his services in tAI 0Niteau case without comnen
sation. Mr.. Springer .siled him Il he had received
an answer.
~ never did," said Mr. Cook, ."except state
ment that was made on one occasion that the pres
ident had determined to select others to prosc,tc
man in New York"
"Can you,n asked Mr.. Springer, estate any facts
that led you to believe
THAT GUrTEAU ed AcCOMPLICEs?"
"Yes, SIR" sal: IL. ,zsak "The first fact was
that couc - o0i1ei'e - dble that he had
been around the city OF Washington for consider
able time, as ascertained he had been without
haVlng any associates or acQuaintanceS; that he
could not nave peen here.a hermit. He neceS-
sariy, IN the nature OF human mind and human Or