Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-07
MACVEAGH'S STORY
The ts.At'orney General Makes au impor-
tsnt Contribution TO the Bistory Of
the Famous Triais

| first no efforts had been made to secure
the indictments Of the three gentlemen
most prominently mentioned-Dorscy,
Brady aud Kellogg. Ii was then absolu
tely impossible to mako any intelligent
presentation Of the cases. II had said to
Mr.. Dorsey and his COUNSEL" Mr.. Mao
| Neagh continued, that we had no
charges to formulate. We were not then
in position to do so. had found Ger
tain records which evidenced guilt We
had also started train Of inspectors to
investigate, but not until they reported
could we tell what ought to be- done,
had no doubt that unless there was some =
thing to change the impression given by
the records We would have to proceed
against these gentlemen" The witness
entered into the details of the proposed
manner of conducting the prosecution.
He said he found himself ut the postoffice
department with Postmaster General
James, Mr.. Dorsey and Mr.. Iugersoll. 1t
was then supposed that an investigation
through tho regular channels would be
possible This prosecution" said Mr..
MacVeagh, twas source Of anxiety
and, | might say, distress to President
Garfield. IL was understood that he
favored prosecution in the courts Other
methods, however, OF correcting the
wrongs we were pursuing were suggested
Dorsey asked me If proposed TO disregard
that had no Knowledge that the presi
dent wished any other method OF proceed
ure than the ordinary channel.
went to New England to sec my
sons graduate. While there I received
from somebody here u telegram demand
| lug my immediate return to counteract an
effort Of Dorsey and others to have me
| turned out of the cabinet. II replied at
| all | said that the object was not near
| enough to my heart to shorten my visit
and did not come back until expect
ed TO. When | returned was told that
vigorous efforts had been made to turn me
out on the ground Of base conduct, 1t even
being iutimated that had engaged 10 a
| plot to steal papers sent TO the president
vas only interested to know il the presi-
dent had seen fit to receive such charges.
He said that he had declined them. These
| Charges had been made by Rerdell"
The schemes for Mscvesghs Removal
The witness, continuing, said L" Tho
| efforts TO remove me were made BY those
implicated in the Star Route frauds |
could not impute their motives. | will
just let the committee Judge. They
| would say that they wanted me to get out
because l was bad man. Until the
death of the president thought it my
duty to remain with him. They wanted
me to 60 out. After the death | thought
1t my duty to leave and they said it was
my duty to remain. A torrent of abuse
was poured upon me for declining, and
the Star Route men insisted, day after
day, that should remain. Others Joined
in the demand for me to remain and be
responsible for the prosecutions, aud ro-
presented that the prosecutions were
being left naked aud defenseless aud that
| was running away from them, when, as
matter of fact, as you know and knew,
there were four special counsel employed
IN the cases-quite as many as could be
useful to the department of Justice.
thought | was leaving the cases iu safe
hands.
Ths reason Of the change in the atti
tude OF these gentlemen was perfectly ap
parent TO me. | was known TO have beer
in very ardent political sympathy with
President Garfield on all the questions
about which the Republican party was 50
streuuously divided, almost in two hostile
camps, at Chicago. Upon every one OF
| those questions | had been in as hsarty
ACCORD with him as l had been Ia hearty
and strenuous opposition to President
Arthur.
Macteagh and Arthur.
Mr.. Arthur vas we'll known to enter
tain aud 10 have given expression to very
low opinion of sentimental politicians, OF
whom | was one, and was known to haye
long entertained and frequently expressed
very low opinion of practical politicians,
OF whom he was one ; and these gentlemen
| certainly must have seen that the presi-
dent who had called me here and had sus-
tanned me under great obloquy and abuse
IN these prosecutions being now dead aud
| buried, was in no position whatever to
bring 70 these cases the requisite moral
support. The opinion OF these gentlemen
was Intensified by newspapers edited
by Hastings and Gorham. They had
steadily taken the side of Arthur and as
steadily had opposed me with as mean
words as their tongues could express
When Arthur came here found him in
close athliatinn with these editors. When
| you, gentlemen, consider these things and
when you add the condition of affaits as
they existed in the arena of the District Of
Columbia, think you will see the impor.
prlety OF my remaining in the prosecution
against such gentlemen. You can also soc
why 1t was my duty in selecting counsel to
select gentlemen 10 whom President
Arthur would have confidence.
think that he felt at first as did,
aud when published my reasons for leay
ing had no reason to believe that had
anything but the cordial approval of the
president IN my action. He made a short
visit to New York aud then, think, came
the change in his views. Subsequently he
became more convinced that | ought to
remain, thinking the cases ought to 90 in
the same hands AZ they had started"
The Question OF rses.
The witness stated that he was on the
best OF terms with Arthur In leaving the
cabinet but declared that he was not salts
ied with Colonel Corkhill because of his
known friendly relations with the defend
ants, aud he had suggested the appoint.
ment OF Mr.. Riddle as district attorney
Just before the president was wounded. He
suggested Corkhill's removal to Arthur,
but was answered that no change could be
made until the Guiteau case was disposed
OF. Why he was not removed afterward
witness did not know. In employing Mr..
Brewster, MIR. Bliss. Mr.. Cook aud Mr..
uioson as extra counsel, 1t was stated, as
usual, that the compensation would be
hxed at the end OF the trial by the
attorney general. Witness said to them
that they would be decently aud
honorahly paid, according to tho service
required aud performed. Before retlriny
from oihce witness said he had approved
the bills OF each gentleman named for
| ~ 900, AfterWard Mr. Rrewstar ,,.aao,,,ol