St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-04
STAR ROUTE lNFAMY.
Brewster Produces a Letter from
Bliss Suggesting Political
Considerations.
Yet He Thinks That Bliss, With Mer-
rick, Was True to the
Government.
VIM. Pitt Kellogg Calls Ex-Marshal Henry
to Show the Dishonesty of
Brewster.

WASHINGTON, July 3.-Attorney General
Brewster was examined by the Springer commit
tee to-day relative to the trial of the star route
cases. There was nothing particularly interest
ing until the following question was asked by
Mr. Springer:
''Did Bliss write to ask or consult with anyone
In regard to the prosecution of Kellogg, from
political grounds?''
A. son December 20, 1882, he wrote me as
follows:
LAS to the matter which I spoke of to you this
morning, as to using Price as witness, why not
consult with Secretary Chandler on the political
view OF it! OF course you would not consult
anyone in legal aspect, but the matter may be
productive of great difficulties. Merrick may
get ugly, if he does not have his own may, and
make trouble in the case on trial. At the same
time we cannot any of US allow Price, who is in
dlcted and guilty, to escape, unless he
gives us some one more guilty, and
does it certainly. Without Walsh Price
Is OF little or no use to u.s. and Walsh is not now
available to US. With Walsh, even, we do not
get clear case through Prices assistance against
any one except perhaps Brady, and, situated as
we are now, we don't need to give up any one to
get proof against Brady in another case than that
on trial. Price cannot aid us in the one on trial
Merrlck has become greatly interested to attack
Kellogg. think politics affect him. He may
claim to have promised Price protection.
think, in fact, he has done so, only conditionay.
He certainly had no legal right to do it without
consulting and getting authority
from you. He had no moral right to do it with
out consulting me. | think In fact he has not
done it, but is willing to have it supposed that
he has, as being more likely to get your approval
of something he has done than your consent to
do the same thing. The matter may come to a
shape where you will have to put your foot down,
but think the wise way is to temporize, at least
until this trial is over. At the worst it may be-
come necessary to accept anything Merrick has
done in promising Price immunity, but that does
not involve consenting to prosecutions against
others with Prices assistance, unless your judg-
ment tells you such prosecutions ought to be in
stituted l am very anxious about the whole
NATTER
The witness testified that Brewster Cameron
was fully exonerated from the charge of attempt
ing to bribe the jury.
Question: In the prosecution of the star route
cases, do you think Merrick or Bliss did Or omit
ted to do anything which their duty required?
81 should be sorry to believe any such thing.
l think they did their duty
The witness believed one opinion published by
Bliss indiscreet, but he did not believe either
Bliss or Merrck had been guilty of any infdelity
to the cases.
Referring to the presidents wishes and inf1u-
ence in the cases, the witness said the president
from the beginning to the end had done all he
could to assist the witness in the work. and his
aid had been of great value to the prosecution.
''Do you include the Kellogg case?'
"Why, of course | do; l said the star route
cases-that included them ALL
The witness attention was called to the re-
ported complaint of Merrick, that certain local
officials had been retained in office after they
should have been discharged. Witness said Bliss
and Merrick made special complaint that GER
tain local officers were giving aid and comfort to
the defense. Witness went at once to the presi-
dent and reported the matter, and the president
removed the men without delay. One was
Marshal Henry and another Anger, city post
master.