National Republican., 1884-05-10
GRAND JURY ROOM SECRETS.
Springer's Committee Probing After Early
Star Route History.
Mr.. Mitchell the Foreman OF the Grand
Jury, on the Stand
What Mr.. Bliss Did and Did Not Do 10 Help Along
the Inquiry.
=
Ex-senator Kellogg Reviews the At
torney Generals Interview.

Mr. John, Il. Mitchell, foreman OF the second
grand jury which considered the star route
cases, and which found the indictments
against Dorsey and Brady, was examined
by Mr. Springer's committee yesterday. Be-
fore beginning his testimony Mr.. Mitchell
asked how far the committee proposed inter
rogating him relative to what occurred in the
grand Jury room. He said he had endeavored
to inform himself as to what he might say,
but there seemed to bo a difference Of opinion
among legal gentlemen. He did not wish to
put himself in a position to be criticised
Mr.. Hemphill suggested that it was
rather dangerous thing to tell the secrets of
the jury room, but he thought that under the
circumstances tho witness could be questioned
by the committee.
The chairman, Mr.. Springer, held that the
reasons for secrecy in Mr.. Mitchelps case no
longer existed, especially as TO the conduct
and statements Of Mr. Bliss before the jury:
MIR. Bliss statements relative to what he did
before the grand jury must remain uncontra-
dicted unless a juryman was called.
"Did Mr.. Bliss call your attention to the
case of the United States against Kellogg, or OF
the United States against Price and Brady y
asked Mr.. Springer, it having been agreed
that Mr.. Mitchell should testify.
"Those were incidental question" the wit
ness replied.
WAS there any evidence submitted against
kellogg by Bliss as government counselW
"Mr Chairman, think you are going too
far; decline to answer that question"
"How long was tine grand jury in session.
at seemed to me about forty years; about
three months"
Mr.. Mitchell read from Mr.. Bliss's testi-
mony those portions III which tho attorney
said, referring to the Salisbury case, that the
papers IN the postofice department. relative
to Salisbury's routes had been milkod; that
he Bliss did not have all the testimony of
witnesses in the Salisbury case that he ex-
pected.
~ do this" said Mr. Mitchell, ito show
that the act of the grand jury in not finding
an indictment against Salisbury was justified
by Blisss own statement. Mr.. Bliss, In his
testimony, makes implications against the
grand jury in the Salisbury cases. lie never
left paper in the possession of the grand
jury for one minute. Every morning he
would bring to the room an immense basket
of papers, and take them away with him in
the afternoon. 1t would have been impossi-
BILE for any grand juryman to read those
papers. The impression on my mind was
very positive that in several cases the oral
testimony did not bear out the documentary
evidence that Dir. Bliss submitted.
"Was there any documentary or oral evil
case of the United States against William Z.
Kellogg 2" asked Mr.. Springer.
Incidental matters were brought there"
the witness replied.
"Were any witnesses examined orally?"
"Yes, sir; Walsh.
"Any other witness?'
"None that recollect."
"How long was Walsh in the presence of
the jury ?"
limit; may be mistaken"
did he present any documents in connec-
tion with his oral evidonco|
"He had some papers with him. Some of
these were read to the jury, but not all were
read"
"Why2"
81 do not know"
"Was no intorrogated by Bliss as to all of
81 do not remember. Walsh kept posses
sion of his own papers,"
"Dd Bliss make any statements to the
jury in regard to Walsh's testimony, or in
what way it should be considered"
"As you gentlemen probably know, Mr..
Bliss is great talkor. He was always talk
ing as regards something. What his particu-
lar line of thought was at that time, cannot
remember"
the grand jury that 1t was serious matter
to indiet a United States senator"
Personally, | have no recollection Of evel
having heard Bliss make such q remark.
inquired of two other members Of the CRANE
jury this morning and they did not remem
ber such statement"
"Was there any testimony brought before
the grand jury other than that brought by
Blissp
II have no recollection that any present
ment was made against Kellogg before th
grand jury. Kellogg was not accused, excep
SO far as 1t came out incidentally betor
the jury. Walsh was testifying in the Dor
ey-Brady case The ejury's attention was no
called to the Kellogg Brady or the Kellogg
Price cases. Bliss seemed to be satisfied will
our action. He was not sick there; he go
sick afterward. After the vote had beei
taken by the grand jury Bliss, who was in al
adjoining room, came in. read over tho in
dictments that had been found, and h
thanked us very courteously. He said ther
was one other case in which he would like t
have had an indictment but. he suppose
that his evidence was not sufficient. He die
not give the name otthe case"
"Was there any improper influence brough
to bear upon the grand jury in those cases
asked Representative Stewart.
81 do not believe a single effort was mad
TO influence the jury. Not more than fiv
members of the jury would have know
Dorsey, Brady, Price or Kellogg If they ha
met them on the street. The jury was com
posed of as good men as couly be pickle
anywhere"
WAS there any effort on the part of req
resentatives Of the government to suppress
any evidence that would affect these pal
tiesP
II think not"
The committee decided yester day to max
no investigation Of ex-senator KelloRg's cas-
except so far as Hay be necessary 10 prov
the good faith Of the government officials
securing the indictment. Mr.. Walsh, VIII
was subpGnaed last week to appear rs wi
ness, was discharged. The committee deter
mined to subpoena the foreman of the thir
grand Jury in the star route cases to testii
to-day relative to any attempt that migl
have been made to shield Mr., Kellogg fro
indictment.
Representative Springer received tel
gram from New Mexico yesterday, stain
that Mr.. Dorsey had gone to Texas and Wou
he absent two or three weeks. Col, lngerso
. has informed Mr.. Springer that ho advise
ex-senator Dorsey not to appear as witnes
before the committee investigating the stt
route cases.
KrTI nHH ON pRVNV9TER