Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
A STAR ROUTE SENSATION.
Mr.. BLISS BEFORE THE SPRINGER CoMMITTEE
HE CHARGES MIR. kER WITH
EALSEHOOD.
He Points Ont a Fruitful Field OF In.
vestiga.iOn for the Committee.

vestiga.iOn for the Committee.
Mr.. George Bliss again appeared, by his own re-
quest, before the Springer committee to-day to
correct alleged inaccuracies In testimony hitherto
taken. especially that given by Mr.. Ker, who sat
almost beside Mr. Bliss, listening attentively to
everything that was said. In the beginning Mr..
Bliss said all the attorneys In the star route
were aware Of Mr.. Kers inaccuracies in his work,
and that this failing, perhaps, due to Mr. Kers
1nflrmity OF hearing. Mr. Bliss denied Mr.. Ker's
statement that ne furnished McSweeney, Dorsey's
attorney with the bill OF fare of the Dorsey dinner
in New York. He said Mr.. Ker was more likely to
have furnished 1t, as he was intimate with Nc
Sweeney. With regard to the New York Herald
interview, In which Bliss was reported as saying
Dorsey was not implicated, the witness denied that
he gave such an interview. He said q son OF q
friend OF his talked with him, and undertook to re-
port MIN, but he misrepresented him. The witness
next took up Ker's statement that he ker) brought
out the additional evidence given by new witnesses
In the second trial Mr. Bliss denied that Ker rem
ence wherein he Bliss gave Ker list OF witnesses
and wrote him explicit instructions as to what to
90 with them. The witness went into long state
ment Of
THE NEW WITNESSES IN THE SECOND TRIAL,
and said that Of 81 who were examined in the
second trial, but did not appear in the first, he
(BSS) subpRnaed 40 of them. He said that Ker
brought out only one new witness "Mr. Ker is
entitled TO the credit of producing Cabel. whom
Judge Wyle told me did the the case HARM" said
Mr.. Bliss. The witness denied that he told Ker
that Walsh was man OF bad character and not to
be believed under oath. He said Mr.. Ker got
walsh and Moore, q western witness who was
reported by the post Office inspectors to be dis
reputable man, mixed.
HOW MR. BLISS LOST $50.
Mr.. Bliss said that Moore turned out to be valll-
able witness. While he was here he insisted that
his family were sick, and that he must go home.
In order to keep him here Mr.. Bliss teegraphed to
Oregon to give Moores family $780, which he (Bliss)
had to pay.
The chairman 1oculary suggested that this
Should be made up to the witness from some
source.
MR.. BLISS SEEKING WHAT HE DON'T EXPECT TO GET
JUSTICE.
Mr.. Bliss.-'I am not seeking contributions.
l am seeking what don't expect to get-justice. u
Mr.. Crisp, OF the committee, wanted to know If
Mr.. Bliss referred to the committee
Tie witness said the time might come when he
would explain himself, but he would not 90 it now.
Col. Crisp insisted upon an explanation and said:
81 object to this Witness or any other, rejecting
/ upon this committee"
Col. Bliss.-"I had not the remotest idea of re-
Hecting upon the committee
Mr.. Crisp.-"That is perfectly satisfactory to
me-"
Mr.. Bliss said the oral testimony was stronger in
the second trial than the first, but it was because
OF RerdellS testimony. He
CHANGED MR. KER WITH UNTRUTH
In saying that Bliss did not endeavOr to bring out
all the force Of the testimony, and that he wanted
S. w. Dorsey to escape. The witness read letter
which ne addressed to Mr. Merrick upon reading
ker's testimony before the committee, and in
Which he asked what ground Ker had for his state
ment that Merrck had said Bliss wanted Dorsey
TO escape. Mr.. Bliss next read from his speeches
In the star route trials to show that he was partic-
ulariy severe upon S. w. Dorsey
EMBARRASSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Mr.. Bliss said the counsel were good deal en-
barrassed by the Attorney Generals insisting upon
closing the argument in the first case because OF
the fact that Brewster had not DeeAtn court and
was not so familiar with the case.
TO explain his tBiiss) omission OF Dorseys name.
which had been mentioned against him, In making
his closing speech OF the first trial. he said there
was an arrangement that he Bliss should adopt a
line OF argument which would not leave Mr.. Mer-
rick, who was to follow him, lot OF threshed
straw. He followed the line OF argument allotted
TO him, but, even in doing that, did not altogether
pass Dorsey by. The witness read from his closing
speech several illusions TO Dorsey. In the course
OF bis testimony, Mr. Bliss several times
CHARGED MR.. KER WITH FALsEHooD
Mr.. Bliss said that only few days ago Judge
Wyle remarked that the accusation that he (Bliss)
let up on W. Dorsey was 'perfectly preposterous "
Mr.. Bliss said none of the counsel ever 1mpeached
his good faith, and he never dreamed Of such a
thing until 1t was put out by Mr.. Ker under the
inspiration OF Brewster Cameron.
Mr.. her.-lou don't know anything about it.
MR.. BLISS EXCITEp-HE POINTS OUT TO THE COMMIT
TEE FRUITFUL FIELD FOR INVESTIGATION.
This retort excited Mr.. Bliss considerably. Halt
raising up, and in an excited manner, he said: "If
this committee wants fruitful field of 1nvestiga-
tion you should take hold OF Brewster Cameron and
the jury bribery cases; but that hits nobody but
democrats 1t hits Mr. Ker and it hits others, but
the committee manages to pass that by"
DECIDED SENSATION.
This declaration caused decided sensation. 1t
was evident from previous remark of Mr. Bliss
that he did not feel very kindly towards the COM
mlttee and his suppressed Indignation broke out
all at once.
THE DICKSON MATTER.
''Do you refer to the Dickson matter 2" asked the
chairman.
81 refer incidentally to the Dickson natter was
the reply.
The chairman asked If Mr.. Bliss had any facts he
would lay before the committee.
mo, SIR" replied the witness. 81 never had any
facts called TO my attention; and more than that
with show OF feelng) "the Attorney General
directed me not to have anything to do with that
matter saying that he had charge of it'
Mi. Van Alstyne inquired If Mr. Bliss had any
facts going TO sustain his implied charges.
The witness replied: 81 don't know ANYTHING
about 1t except what have seen in the papers,"
Mr. Van Alystne significantly "Ah, Ah!h
THE'JURY BRIBERY CHARGE
Mr.. Bliss said that the Testimony OF MI. Merrick
the other day left the inference plainly that the
jury in the first case must have been brtbed.
Mr.. Fyan.-"What authority have you for saying
That nobody put democrats were concerned In that
jury bribery natter"
Mr.. BliSS.-"Smply what l have seen I'm the
papers. 1t was said that Mr. Ker had advised
Brewster Cameron to make the visit to Mr.. Dick
son.
Continued in the Second Edtion]