The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-04-04
BLISS Eoo-BIooTED OPINION
OF Washington turtles rhe Chnm
spills His Spleen Upon Honest

OF Washington Juries- rhe Chnm
Spills His Spleen Upon Honest
Men.
Yesterday afternoon, aftor THE CRITICS re-
port OF tho testimony OF Mr.. George Bliss
closed, that able salary.absorber turned his
bigoted remarks to the Jurors OF this city ana
poured out moro OF his venom upon those
who refused to be controlled by him In tho
late star-Routo cases.
He read several extracts from tho papers
that wero presented to the grand Jury and
commented pretty freely on tho failure OF tho
grand jury to indict as no desired. Mr..
Springer expressed his opinion that the OK
hibition OF the map which was presented TO
the grand jury by Mr.. Bliss OF the venita and
Las Vegas route should have been auticient
evidence OF fraud and secured Indictment
MIR. Dliss-"You don't mean to tell that to
Washington juryY stt
Mr.. Springer with q cynlcei SMILEY
any Jury, except n Washington Jury. OF
course, / except n Washington Jury"
Mr.. Springer asked Mr.. Bliss II ho had any
s,atement to make In tho ottman case. Mr..
Bliss replied that he had no statement, but no
desired TO DO examined.
The Ottman Case
was called to witness attention ono morning
NJ y O'Clock at the Arlington Hotel by Mr..
Crowley,who asked him TO call tho attention OF
the Attorney. General 70 tho case IL was tho frst
he had ever heard OF II. AZ that time witness
was In the habit OF calling every day to SEQ tho
In which no was then very green. Witness
did 30, and the Attorney General referred II TO
witness for examination, and as Corkhill was
In bad repute, to pick out some ono TO take
charge OF It for the Government. After can.
wasting over the subject, he could ind
NO One Capable and Honest Enough,
TO take charge OF II, 80 he took charge OF II
himself, but with n proviso made by himself
that ho should not be paid for IL.
After eight hours spent In reading tho owl
dence In the case he became convinced that
ments, and ho thought. so still; but no found
difficulty In proving It, He investigated the
character of the juries which had tried the
cases against Gilman to SEQ II they were M
exception to
The Usual washington Jury.
Strange to say he was convinced they were
honest. Everybody was convinced that the
criminal suit would not hold. Mr.. Wells
claimed that In u civil suit they could succeed
In establishing claim to the s12,700 in Alex
andria. Mr.. Wells first suggested a com.
promise: "After got my report ready" said
witness, ~ told Crowley would not express
Crowley refused TO give up claim 10 the Alex
andria money, 30 reported against him." Wit
ness told tn Attorney. Geper he had better be
careful about approving this (witnoss) report,
as there would be racket about II In the III.
ture. But the Attorney General insisted that
no was not afraid OF criticism. witness con.
Quoted the compromise on the part OF the
Government In accordance with Instructions
OF tho Attorney General.
Bliss COnfesses.
Witness believed from the evidence that the
bills in dispute wore the Identical bills stolen
from the Government, but no did not believe
| he could convince a Jury OF the fact The only
person witness found who believed there
could be n verdict obtained was Mr.. Wells.
Mr.. Springer asked II witness could cito
case whero the Government compromised {
| case by taking part OF tho money and giving
| part Of II back. The witness confessed hii
| inability to do 80.
Mr.. Springer asked witnoss II he did moi
| concede that all the money either belonged e
the Government or TO Ottman. Witness con
fessed that that was true.
The chairman bothered tho witness con
sidorably by pressing legal points and point
ing out ways that should have been followed
by tho Government.