Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-10
STAR ROUTE INVESTIGATION.


A. M. Gibson Further Examined.
HE THINKS THE STRONGEST CASES wERR NOT PROSE-
CUTED AND THR GOVERNMENT WANTED TO GET RID
OF HIM-GlBSON.
The examination Of A. NJ Gibson was continued
before the Springer committee this morning He
said that the prosecution induced to resort to
ming an ''lnformation" In the star route cases
through the fact that the statute OF Limitation
would operate against the of s. P. Brown con-
nected with T. j. Brady, j. l. French and W. H.
Turner, who were included In the information In
connection with the Santa Fe and Prescott route
Much OF the testimony was Of a routine nature the
witness combining himself to stating the names Of
those 1nd1cted. and the facts connected with the
trial, which are already very well known He said
ne could not explain why Sanderson was omitted
from the second Indictment, except that he was In
GUIDED Improperly In the first Indictment He could
not say why there was no proceeding to secure an
indictment against those who had been included In
the "inIormation." He thought that there was un-
doubtedly
In the cases included in the Information. Witness
read letter written by him to the Attorney Gen
eral, urging that indictments be secured against
tnose included In the information, stating that the
statute OF limitation would lot operate in Browns
case, as he had evidence that he (BrownI had. as
late aS Aprl. 1879 received large brbes and stating
tnat he NilbSon thought those the strongest cases.
that against Brady and Brown appearing conclu-
slve. The further testimony was of a character TO
imply that MI Bliss had not for some reason, Sc
cured indictments In the stronger cases.
lie SAID. With relation TO his claim for services,
that his original claim for over seven thousand
DOLLARS and he was given TO understand tnat he
could not get his claim allowed unless he would as
sure the department that he would resign. The
government wanted TO get him out OF the cases.
put were afraid TO take any action to get rid OF
him.
In answer to question by MI. Milliken witness
said that he believed that
Mr. BREWSTER AND MR. BLISS WANTED HIN OUT OF
TIE WAY
because he was not OF the same politics with them
"Were not gentlemen OF both political parties
engaged In the case?" asked Mr.. Miluken
81 was the only democrat
ut seems. though, that after they wanted to get
rid Of you they got a man OF the same politics. Mr.
.'They wanted man OF Merrick's prominence" !"
said the witness
Mr. MacNeagh, he said, expressed the belief that
the government wanted To get rid Of all those who
nad been connected with the cases under him,
(MacVeagh.l
In answer to further questions witness said that
The government had not complained of his action
III the cases, but the contrary, expressed great
satisfaction. He thought, however, that they
"Why did you think this when they told you the
contrary?' asked Mr. Miliken.
because" replied the witness, 'men do not al
Mr.: Milliken-"T Then you think they lied to
your"
Witness-"I should not like to put 1t so strong.
MI Milliken.-"Iou had better. We deal with
direct terms. Lie is good old word"
GLBsoNS THEORY.
Mr.. Miken asked the witness II the cases tried
did not Include more prominent defendants than
the other cases.
This, the witness said, was not the case Brady
and Dorsey were In the one, and Brady and Kellogg
were In the others He said II the committee
wanted his theory OF the matter he would give IL
TO them. The cases had been tried first in the
N1KSpapers and the public expectation had been
re- beyond any chance OF being satisfied. Dor
sew d been publicly brought into the cases. and
theyvwere influenced by public sentiment The
length OF the cases and the Immense salaries might
have had some weight: he could not say. Human
nature was human nature, and when men were
getting from IA hundred to hundred and eighty
dollars per day they were not apt to want TO
shorten the period OF their employment. MIR. Bliss,
ne ne sam got an average of over slao per day, with
got an average OF 1920 per day. Ker made an eX-
traordlnary charge of $4,000 for making out in
dictments In straw bond Cases This was independ-
ent OF his other fees. Witness went further into
this matter, analyZing the statements In the re-
ports OF the department.
A Young Lady.s Frightful Experience.
BOUND AND GAGGED IN BED-DARING EXPLOIT OF A
NEGRO THIEF
Yesterday the police in New York city arrested
for assault and robbery. Jesse Williams, negro
and his accompuce, Gertrude Ash, also colored. a
servant girl. The victim OF the assault is Miss
Maggie Harvey, aged IS, whose brother-in-law is
George Sloane. a prominent merchant. They occu-
pied a fiat In the large apartment house on 32d
street, corner OF Broadway. Gertrude Ash was
servant in the family, and was regarded as an in
dlStlious and honest girl. On Saturday evening
Mr.. and Mrs. Sloane Went out. leaving Miss Harvey
at home In charge or her niece, 2k years old Miss
Harvey had just gone to bed when Williams sprang
into the room and. grasp!ng her by the throat,
threatened to kill her ii she made any outcry. He
threw her TO the floor, stuffed handkerchief In her
mouth, tied d towel around her head, fastened her
hands behind her. and tied her feet. He then ran
sacked the apartments at his leisure. packing up
pty Is ar,a
by way OF a window which led to the f1re-escape
Miss Harvey was In very critical condition yester
the bed In the servant girls room, and il was
learned that the two We're on very intimate terms.
About $500 worth OF 1ewelry and silverware We're
found In Il pillow-caSe in the servants room.
MISS HARvEY'S STORY.
In the room were found the half Of napkin and
pair OF small rubberS burst at the heel The nap-
kin was the other half OF that used to gag Miss
Harvey. The rubbers belonged to Miss Harvey and
when drawn on Williams feet the effort was eX-
actly SUFFICIENT to tear them as they We're torn
1t was not until some minutes after Williams had
been brought down stairs that Miss Harvey had be-
sufficiently calm to tell what had happened to
her. The story was listened to by Captain Williams
and the detectives, who occasionally put auuestion
tOher She said that after having put her niece to
shortly afterward feli into doze. fne little i rri
Was restless, however, and woke Miss Harvey Who
turned In bed to quiet the little one. Miss Harvey
thinks she had been In bed ten minutes the time
just as she was bending over Mamie she caught
sight OF mans form emerging from the closet In
the corner to the left OF the bed She did not have
time to scream or utter word when the fellow had
her by the throat and forced her down upon the
bed with one hand, while with the other he drove
the gag made OF handkerchief into her mouth
fastened 1t there with the napkin, and as further
precautOn, secured 1t by binding the towel around
her head. Then he tied her wrists together with a
force that made her vince even In her fright But
he attempted no further violence. Miss Harvey
thinks that he threatened her with pistol but the
police believe She Is mistaken.
''Get up," he said. In a threatening tone.
Miss Harvey arose. The reStleSSness OF her little
niece had passed away and she had fallen asleep
again. Williams entrance did not disturb her.
DOUBLE MURDER THREATENED
"If you say word will Kill you,n Williams whis-
pered, in the same threatening tone. Then he led
her out OF the room. through the wicket into the
main hall and across the passage to the door of MT
SlOaneS rooms.
81 want you to open that door," he said.
Miss Harvey tried TO tell him that she couid NOT
because she had not the key but the gag prevented
her from speaking He seemed to become enraged
at her delay, and glared furiously at her.
III you don't open that door I'll kill you and your
child" was the next threat he uttered.
Miss Harvey was by this time in an agony OF ter
tor. She felt her strength deserving her, and OF
what followed She has only vague Consciousness
as II 1t all happened in dream. She remembers
reeling back to her room, but whether Williams
led her or not she is not positive.
She remembers that when she reached the room
Williams again made some threat to her She
thinks he swore to Kill her and the child But the
strain had been too great and she sank rainttng on
standing over her and kicking her in the side and
of hearing some one moving albOIlt the DINING