National Republican., 1884-05-13
He Talks at Some Length TO Mr. Springcr's
Committee.
He Tells the Circumstances Of His Con-
nection With Star Routes.
His Opinions Of the Government Counsel Given With
Decided Freedom.
He Apologies for What Ho HAS Said OF
ghe Attorney General.

NNN'N''N
tee, was again before tho committee yoster-
day. He said he had consulted counsel. and
thought ho was prepared to answer such
questions as might be asked. In answer to
inquiries, he said the jury was called to con-
slider the charges against Senator Kellogg,
and that Mr. Bliss urged that body to act at
once and promptly, because tho statute of
limitation was about to run.
"What witnesses were before youp was
asked.
"Mr. Walsh and clerks from tho postofice
department" the witness replied.
Mr.. Hutchinson testified that Mr. Walsh,
was present during two days session of the
iury-Thursday for several hours, and Friday
during the whole day. He continued: Mr..
Bliss interrogated Mr.. Walsh. The latter had
some papers, two or three drafts or checks,
that had evidence of having been paid, aud u
telegram signed, think, X. / don't remem-
Der the contents of the dispatch. This Is not
fresh in my mind. Nearly two years havo
passed, and tried to forget it. ! think tho
check was drawn on Walsh, as banker, by
Kellogg, and amounted to about $4,000"
"Tho jury failed to find q bill 2"
"Yes sir. We acted on testimony entirely,
and the testimony presented was not suffi-
cient to warrant an Indictment Mr.. Bliss
promised on Friday that Price would be there
as a witness on tho following day, but he did
to got Price there and, l think, said his
evidence would be clincher. My impression
was that he wanted the testimony to make n
Gaze. When Pric, failed to bo present, Mr..
Bliss said he didn't understand IL. We won't
to court, said we had considered everything,
and had made no prcscntment."
"Did you in that grand jury hear Bliss say
that 1t was very serious thing to indict n
United States senator" asked Mr.. Ryan.
"He said it wa serious matter. He didn't
say very serious / think tho statement
was made during tho testimony of Mr.. Walsh
and before our deliberations"
Mr.. John A. Walsh who gave his business
as speculator; age, 80, and residence New
York, was next examined. He said "YOu
want to see me, understand, in relation to
my dealings with Mr.. Bliss
Mr.. Walsh said he became u contractor by
discounting the drafts of Mcdonald, Kirk &
Co., contractors on tho route from Santa Fe
to Prescott. He testified that ho advanced
about $4,000, nearly all of which had been
advanced on tho recommendation of Brady
aud the assurance that the pay on the route
would be increased. Afterward. Mr.. Walsh
said, the members of the firm. consisting
besides Mcdonald and Kirk, of j. j. Hines
and L. w. Fisher, disagreed. Mcdonald
asserted that the only way to pay Walsh for
advances was to mako him II suDcontractor
The witness continued Hines declared war
to the knife. He demanded $4,000 from me
to placate him. l said wouldn't pay it. He
began to attack Brady and the postofce de-
partment, and really threw them into the
greatest state of excitement. Mcdonald and
Fisher went one way and Kirk and Hines the
other, and they proceed to grind me. l took
the route finally aud Hines put on his war
paint and hatchet and began terrifying tho
department.. In the meantime tho pay and
service on the route had been reduced.
was to get 800. Hines came to me again
and said he wanted money and said ii
didn't pay I'd get left. WE'LL, replied, IN
get left anyhow He wanted $4,000 and he
proposed TO have tho pay on tho route
increased. l asked him how to get more
pay. He said it would be easy enough l
agreed to pay Hines money, and almost
simultaneously the pay OH the route was
increased to $l35,000 annually for the next
three years. But the increase did not last
long. A regular whiIlwind was raised;
Hines had gone too far in his war, and an
investigation was begun. The newspapers
claimed that there was Is fraud and that |
was in it. was called before an investigat-
inr committee, with Blackburn as chairman.
l told the committee it was makinGa mistake,
but tho committee went on. Nothing came
out of the investigation, how
ever. After the investigation 1
was approached by Chaco Andrews,
nice young man. deyoting his energies and
intellect to the sixth auditors office. He
handed me list. l was glad TO see any list.
He had me down for 5000. What for?'
asked. THAT congressional investigat on 4"
he said Well, l didn't have any money Tor
the congressional investigation. Thon An.
drews said tho 'old man" wanted to geo me.
Brady was the "old man" | went to SEQ
him. He asked about the money. said /:
Andrews was not In earnest" "Yos in
deed" he replied. my God" / said, ~
haven't any $4,000" Shortly after the route
was cut down one trip. My whole line was
thrown into the utmost disorder.
Complaints began to come in, folt things
eliminating and growing quite serious. Hines
was annoying me for money and | told him
was being wrecked. Then Hines sked
me If didn't have temporary Arrangement
with Brady? | told him no, and he then
said was being prosecuted, and that he
would 70 to war and would 20 and beard tho
lion in his den. The war was begun and |
looked on. About that time Brady wanted
some moro money. Ho wanted to get about
$24, 900 from me. Really | WAS in quito an
embarrassing position. He wrote me letter
saying that he was going to raise CHATTANOOGA
stock and said he was in need OF ginger
He said he was u little Gramped' and wanted
to borrow my stock that | had purchased a
week previous. II was really difficult to nc
cOmmodate him and | told him so. His
manner was not very charming aud said
the stock WAS going to the deuce. concluded
that had better settle with Brady, and
wrote a note asking him to meet me. He
came, he-l might quote but | wont-he
captured. l referred to an increase on nv
route, and he told me he wasn't making in
creases for amusement. ] spoke OF petition
He said petition were not good unlOs3 tho
fates were pTopitiOus. He wanted 5000 tor
the congressional investigation fund.
asked him to settle the matter, and get ono
of his faithful adherents TO take the route
off my hands. lie invited me to come round
and see him. | went the next day. Brady
was not talkative, and was sent to the sixth
and he said his father (the late lamented)
wanted to sec me. l saw him. Old Lilly
said he had been to See Hines to
stop his yawping. Lilly offered mo S25,-
600 for the route and | wanted $4,000.
My stock had cost me S35,O0O l thought at
one time that would get the $4,000, but
didn't. l concluded / couldn't make much
money in Washington, so | went to New
York, among tho wolves. Then | asked
permission to sublet the route and 1t was
granted. tried to make Brady feel bad, aud
told him thought he would be indicted.
de said There was no danger; that he had
corner on the grand jury. | went on per-
forming the service on tho route az good as
anybody. Brady said it was not being per-
formed properly. Then came an
order revoking my permission to sublot,
and think Brady declared me a falling
contractor. That ended me- | bowed
Of course, and went out. The new admins
tration came in. Ny family were living hero
aud l visited them ON SaturdaVs. Once
calla1 unnn no -