National Republican., 1884-03-21

as | remember, to apply the information to
the Santa Fe and Prescott case. Tho ques-
tion came up more particularly in reference
to the Dorsey case. At first | was against IL,
but subsequently agreed to il. While in New
York l received telegram informing mo of
the adjournment Of the grand jury. Why it
was adjourned do not know. The question
of tho statute of limitations was one that all
times we had to keep in view. | never felt
that it barred procedure in these cases. and
] think that in most cases the statute of
limitations has not yet barred proceedings
But, of course, there was something to be
said on the other side on this matter.
On Sept. 10 / wrote to MacVeagh and told
him had made up my mind to proceed by
information. If IL was so that the statute Of
limitations ended early in October, as had
been stated, it seemed that VIC ought to have
entered into tho cases rs speedily as possible.
There was nothing to prevent us proceeding
by information unless it would be law in
the district. ] was assured by Cook that he
thought there would be no difficulty under
the local law. | afterward looked into the
local law and became considerably alarmed.
We proceeded with the Santa Fe and Prescott
case, and werc beaten on the ground
that the local law prevented procedure by
information. of course we were subject to
considerable criticism, but never felt that
anybody was to blame. After the informa-
tion had been taken from tho file, the ques-
tion came up whether we should continue in
the Santa Fe and Prescott case. | came to
the conclusion that it was not wise. The
case was dependent on Walsh's testimony.
Unless ho proved beyond all question the
payment of money to Brady we were gone.
We wore dependent on a single individual.
| saw things that made mo think Walsh
would not prove what we desired. | do not
consider that IL was wise to have proceeded
in that case, and if necessary i will take the
responsibility of not proceeding. We then
won't over tho Dorsey case aud found Gibson 8
many of them inferences There were many
details that kept me engaged till February.
In the meantime / paid some little attention
to private business, but it was very little at
tention. On Oct. 10 / had written to Mac
Veagh and told him that the job he had
gotten me into grew upon mo. l said would
have hesitated to have gone into it IL it had
resulted in keeping me In Washington.
From the time came here in September till
the end of tho first trial | devoted sixteen
hours q day Cincluding Sunday, am sorry to
say from Tuesday morning till Friday
evening, every week. Saturday and Mon
day attended to private business in New
York. l was constantly ut my desk while
here, and when away from here / took papers
to examine. In December, 1881, l wrote to
Brewster that the Dorsey case was about
ready for the grand jury; that other cases
were being opened up showing equal rascal
ity that Gibson had beeu away that Cook
seemed sulky, and that neither were doing
anything The case was not completed till
late in January.
Mr.. Bliss referred to the case against Lilly.
He said it was brought up in charge Of Cook
| and was turned out of court. "Brott was the
chief witness against Lilly. In consequence
of a misunderstanding he was unfriendly.
then felt that it was not wise to put that case
along as pioneer one."
In his testimony relative to the Lilly cas-,
| Mr.. Bliss said that Gibson was so little of {
lawyer that when he sought his compensation
it required good deal of investigation to fine
that he was entitled to the name of o lawyer
Mr. Bliss also said that he drew up the in
dictments against Brott and Lilly which
| Gibson and Cook had said they had drawn
up. II was determined" he said, "tha
Cook should never draw up an indict
ment if l could help it," Continuing
Mr.. Bliss testified: Cook has said that he
drew up the indictment against Brott. He
has also said that he never saw the papers
containing the statements affecting L. Johr
| Ellis. Now tho statement affecting Eli
was in the midst of the statements affecting
Brott. If he prepared the indictment agains
Brott, he must have seen the statement
against Ellis" Mr.. Bliss also testified il
reference to the straw bond cases in tn
police court, and which Mr.. Cook said wer
unduly prolonged. "If those cases wer
unduly prolonged" said Mr.. Bliss, II will
ask the committee to send for Judge Smell
before whom they were tried"
The witness said. you asked me what
did in these cases. l lived and breathed
and cat them for about two years"
Referring to his going before the grant
jury. Mr.. Bliss said he consulted with Judg
| Wylie, and on his recommendation was ap
| pointed regular assistant attorney by Dis
trict Attorney Corkhi II before going befor
the jury. ~ objected to Cook going befor
the jury" he continued, first, because h
could not legally 20, and, second, because o
his talk Of the influence he could exert owe
jury. He had an idea that he had rgh
to interview grand jurors at at any time
| Continuing, Mr.. Bliss testified: THE Dorse,
case was before tho grand jury good man.
weeks. In the meantime 1 turned to tn
examination of other contractOrs-frst tn
Salisbury cases. l became painfully i'm
pressed ut what | found. l believe to-da,
that the files of the postoilice department., g.
far as they related to the Salisbury cases
we've interfored with; they had been 'milked
| l would find but small bundles of Salsbur,
papers and large bundles of Dorsey papers
brstling with points. / then endeavored Il
make progress on the papers of the Salisbury
Parker, and Kerns combinations"
The witness said he summoned witnesse.
most Vulnerable routes of the combinations
AFTER the witnesses began to arrive lnger
soil camo to me-" Mr.. Bliss continued. "ant
said tho Parker and Salisbury combination
| did not owe the government anything, but |
| it was proven that they had received none,
| which they were not entitled to they wer,
| willing to return it, provided criminal pro
ceedings were stopped. He wanted th
proposition to apply to all of the routes.
hnd not examined all of them and would no
agree. We broke on that and l went ahead
got these late one night Showing u bundl
of papers containing the announcements tha
tho grand jury had failed to find true bills
and hurried to consult with Mr.. MerriclS
| We agreed to SEQ If we could not save some
thing out of tho wreck by taking up tn
negotiations with Mr.. lngersoll. The resul
| was that we finally came TO an agreement a
| to the Salisbury routes We consulted will
the attorney general and he said he woult
| leave the matter with u.s."
Mr.. Bliss then read the following agree
ment which was drawn up with the approva
of Col. lngersoll;
| II Is claimed by the government that Monro
| J. salisbury, Luke Voorhees, NJ V, Nichols, o
| aOmG other person or persons representing or con
| nectCd with the sRisDurys. has or have received
| moneys from the government to which they wert
not enillud on the Ionr following routes, namely
Wells ~ Hamilton, Fargo to Pembina, SOledad Il
Ncwhall, aud silver bow to New Chicago. II II
| the eiore, agreed that the claim of the govern
menl In the said four routes or any OF lh9m shal
| be referred 10 Richard A. Elmer, second assistan
postmaster general, George Bliss or any one tina
ma hp ala I,tl I'M,