The Evening critic., 1884-06-19
LETTER TO SPRINGER.

streu the committee ON ENpenOt-
tures of the Department OF Justice
10 Investigate.
Below is tho letter Of Mr.. William Dick.
son TO Chairman Springer. 10 contains
some interesting statements aud is good
reading:
wAsHINGToN, d. O., May 13, 1884.
lion. lptRidm N. Springer, Caai,mqn Commit
ee on Erpadituresi IN Dept Of Justice.
DEAR SIR: II 1t is within the scope Of your
investigation OF expenditures In the Depart
ment OF Justice to Inquire into the methods
and practices OF the officials and subordnates
OF that Department during the progress aud
el rs he 10 alec H .ne yr t
the charges made OF attempted bribery on
the part OF colonel Henry A. Bowen, spe-
ciai. i.agent In that Department and an associate
and companion OF Brewster Cameron.
send you copies OF the ai1idavit aud state
ment made at that time, and filed with the
Attorney General In September, 1882.
Facts That Can be Proven and Cor.
rObOrated. fT .ia
AS an evidence OF the desire OF the Depart
ment 10 cover up and shield their agent,
Bowen, the Following facts can be fully proven
and corrobornted.
First--That Assistant District Attorney ohas.
8. Moore, having been directed by Mr.. Herrick,
Assistant Attorney. General, 10 Investigate the
charges and report thereon, did make such
investigation aud found the charges I had
made fully sustained, and was about to render
report In accordance with the facts, whom no
was summarily removed from further investi-
CATION Of the case by the Attorney Generals
orders and directed 10 turn over all testimony,
records, etc., In his possession TO especial"
attorney, II. II. Wells, who had becn appointed
to ss take charge % OF the inyes,,isation. s,is -.
facts and proof received from Attorney Moore,
and with tue aid OF Bowen and Cameron man
ufacturcd a story to controyert the charges
had made, and upon the pertured testimony
Of these two men and W. IL. Hoover (who had
been appointed an Associated Justice OF the
supreme Court OF Arizona, and since dis
missed In diegrace by the President for dis
honorable practlces,l, report was made by
Wells, charging that had approached Bowen
with dishonest proposition as to my vote
Third-That upon the charge contained in
this report was placed under arrest on two
chnrges-one OF attempting to sell my vot, for
aconsideration; the other for reading paper
In the jury room In violation OF the Judges
instructions, the charges had originally
preferred against Bowen being utterly ig-
nored by especial" Attorney Wells.
foufth-That after my arrest my counsel
tMessrs. o. M. Smith and F. p. Cuppy)
made repeated efforts TO obtain hear
ing, without success, Wells continually repre-
tenting that he was not ready 10 proceed.
Finally the case was called for trial la tho Po-
lice Court on tho frat Monday In December,
1882, on the same day set for the commence
ment OF the second Star. Route trial. A full
ana thorough hearing OF the charges was
demanded and the trial proceeded, lasting
davis OF Bowen, Cameron and Hoover were
shown 10 be malicious, aud supported by wilt
ful perjury. Bowen's criminal purposes were
fully exposed, and he was proven 10y oral
and documentary PROOF TO be biackmaiier,
confidence man, forger and perjurer, who had
been convicted In tho New York courts for In
m mes Ms was , Bisced under bonds
ance, and Immediately afterward 'jumped his
bail" the court officers being unable g flnd
him. ! was held for the grand Jury on the
technical GnAfRA n M La h.a
jury-room, the other charge being n0llepsoSSed
ON motion OF Wells.
Tifth-That, from the testimony OF all the
witnesses In support OF tho charge on which /
was held, 1t was shown that the paper referred
to (Which was n detailed statement OF Bowens
attempted bribery was the subject OF u con-
troyersy which arose In the jury room, and
was read after unanimous vote OF the Jury
was taken directing that 10 should DO read,
and II was fully shown that was not actuaiod
10y corrupt or Improper motives. II were
gully OF any wrong, each and every member
OF the jury was equally guilty OF the same
onense for the controversy was generally In.
duiged In by oil, and the subject Uf 'attempted
bribery Of the turors" was tho origin OF the
discussion.
sixth-That the grand jury thoroughly inves-
ugated the charge made, examined all OF the
witnesses who were before the Police Court and
ignored the charge, the words "Ignoramus,
Charles Dodge, Foreman, heing written on
the back OF the bill, which Is now on file
among the records In the Clerks ONCE az tho
City Hall.
seyenlh--That when 1t became puoilciy
known that the charge against me was ig-
| nOred, and the public press announced The
| Gctioh OF The Jury, George Is. Uorkbill, Dis.rlc
| Attorney, received mandatory order fron
| Atorney-General Brewster that the chargt
| against me must be resurrectod IN some othei
| shape and again placed before the grani Jury,
and " was not indicted no (Brewster) would
| hold him (CotkbilD personally responsible
| and would demand his resignation. Thil
statement has been repeatedly made by Coione
| Corkhil, and am informed that no has writ
nm n "a hanf
| mtnt.
kighih-In day or two following the grand
| Jury was directed to reconsider their action
| ana the same witnesses were again summoned
| to appear and re.exRnlined In the presence o
| Attorneys Corkhill ana welfs. who cross
examined and questioned them, and u trut
| bill was found on the technical charge o
"reading paper IN the lury-room." Aftel
this action the grand Jury indicted Henry A
Bowen for "attempted bribery" He failed I,
| appear for Grraignment, aud q bench warran
was issued for his arrest by Judge wyllc.
| Ninth-That when Henry A. Bowen wa
brought to Washington In December, 1882, tC
! testify against mo and support his perjuret
statements under oath, no was In the custo ~
OF detectives OF tho Department OF Justice aui
remained under the suryeilancs of these on
GERS until ball was entered for h,s appearance,
us witness to DO further cross-eSam ned II
the Police Court, when he disappeared, Tor
feiLiDg his bail. BY reference 10 tx. Doc. No
m hs tsms Rases ah
Bowen" by Operatives a. G. +, j. l., f., d. J. W
L. So" and under tho heading or 'offce OK
penditures" are fully sct forth. between tn
BY reference to Ex. Doc. 100, Forty.eighth Con
gress, page 30, the expenses Incurred by Edg
| +. Gentner, a detective employed by directr nj
Of w W. Ker, special counsel, Ia ''searchin
for Bowen and In securing his attendance u
witness against me, are fully set forth.
Tcntl-lt can be established by competen
| proof-Mr. George w. Driver-that Bowen cor
fessed that he was acting under the direction
| OF Brewster Cameron and other officials OF tn
| Department OF Justice when no approache
me and attempted TO Dribe me, and that h
had been compelled to swear as he did
cover their Infamous acts. fl b Fl.
Eleyenth-That the Marshals offlce hav
failed 10 arrest Bowen on tho Indictment or IN
grand jury, and have made no effort % this
| end, In face OF the fact that Bowen hat FRI
qliently been seen In Philadelphia and Ne
York, where he has been under the assume
name OF "Col0nel Howard" Notice was give
by my counsel OF Dowen's whereabouts au
10 the best OF my knowledge tho Marsnl
failed TO arrest him, Notwithstanding III
bench warrant Issued ny Judge Wylie.
Twelith-Aithough the Indictment agan
me was found over one yearago, my couns'
have been unable 10 hRve the case tried. A
OF the witnesses reside here aud are easily n
cessible. ...r
charge the Department OF Justice aud 1
heRd-ihe Attorney General-with c1
temptble attempt 10 humiliato me for darlr
to assert my judgment In rendering verdi
according to the dictates OF my consclencei
an attempt 10 blackon my name aud characi'
by ana through the agency OF perjurer5 Hu
criminals, aud for q malicious prosecute
4 which stands unparalleled In In It's bitterne
N and venom, and whom exposed Will cover VII
Disgrace and dishOnor tho institution so iaa
| proptt1iely named the Department Of Justc
Apurt from the gross injustice done me tho
= sands OF dollars have boon wasted In tn
a | n aN N