The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-07
GOVERNOR MURRAY.
he Is Completely ExOnerated of All Charges
Against Him.

He Is Completely EXOnerated of All Charges
Against Him.
WASHINGTON, April 5.-Justice Harlan, of the
United States Supreme Court was examined be-
fore the Springer committee, this morning. He
said that he had known Governor Murray since
early in 1861 up to the present time He said
that he was Mr.. Murray's counsel when certain
charges were made against him in 1876, with re-
lation to the collection of fees. He came to
Washington in 1877, as legal adviser of Mr.. Muir
ray to Attorney general Taft with relation to
the charges against Mr.. Murray as to the alleged
improper collection of fees as marshal in Ken
lucky He asked the Attorney general if there
were any charges filed in the department against
Mr.. Murray and if So he (witness) was here ready
to answer them. During the interview the qdes
ton of Mr. Murrays resignation was spoken of.
Mr.. Murray did not care particularly to retain
the Office as marshal and if his resignation was
desired upon any political grounds he would
without doubt resign; but not if there were
charges against him. or any suspicion rejecting
upon his honor and integrity. The Attorney
general said he did not doubt Mr. Murray's per-
feet honesty, and had no charges whatever to
make against him.
Witness saw a memorandum for the investiga-
ton of an agent which contained five or six items
under dispute, These MIR. Harlan looked over,
torney-genera did not in any way impugn Mr..
Murray's honor or integrity. Mr.. Murray after
ward resigned, as there were certain persons
who observed that he should do so, and he did
not care to remain. Witness said that he knew
it to have been Mr.. Murray's intention be
fore resigning to go over his accounts and
settle in favor of the government any
item in the accounts which might be
paid over to the government several hundred
dollars to cover any such cases. He said that if
Attorney general Taft had not been explicit in
his statement that he did not suspect Mr. Muir
ray of any Irregularities, he would not have re
signed Mr. Springer asked Mr.. Harlan if he
heard anything of Hon j. D. Whites reputation
for truth and veracity in the community in which
he lived. The witness was about to answer
when Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Van Alstyne objected
that it might not be proper to question the char
aeter of member of the house in this manner
Mr.. Springer then withdrew his question.
Justice Harlan in response to a question as to
the reputation of General Murray in Kentucky,
said that man in the State enjoyed more fully
confidence of the people, irrespective of party,
than General Murray and in talk with a
correspondent on this point tonight, Justice
Harlan said that he believed there was not rep
utable confederate soldier in Kentucky who
would not join with the Union soldiers of Ken
lucky in testifying to the manly honor and in
tegrity of General Murray.
Speaker Carlisle also testified in the heartiest
manner to Murray's personal and official integ
rity, declaring that no man in Kentucky stood
higher in respect of sterling worth and charac-
| ter The cordial Endorsement of Murray given
by these two eminent officials differing with
each other in politics, practically ended the
scandalous efforts to smirch the character of an
honorable gentleman. Three members Of the
committee moved that the charges be dismissed
from further consideration The motion by re-
quest of Messrs Springer and Van Astyne,
however, was modified SO as to close the case, its
final determination to be made when the full
committee shall be present.
Mr. MUrPaVs dRDunciafiOn of A M CibSOn
as the notorious and disreputable newspaper
correspondent" whom he charged with the au-
thorship of the libelous special kilograms sent to
the Eastern papers six weeks ago, has made it
necessary for Mr.. Gibson to deny that he had
any hand in publishing the false charges against
the Governor He said to-dayl
1.-THE dispatches based upon Owens statement
were manifolded and sold by the clerk of the
Springer committee. AS to the statement that
[ endeavored to conceal the Cannon letter from
the public, lest it should become evident that
this prosecution was by the Mormons, the state
ment is utterly false, whether made by Gov
ernor Murray or the clerk The fact of that
letter not being returned with the rest of the
papers was due entirely to the laziness and stu
pidity of Erwin, the clerk. The papers were on
the table, and when he gathered them up and
tied them in bundle, it was found that the
Cannon letter had been left out. Either Mr..
Springer or myself picked it up from the table
and handed it to him. He was too lazy
to unite the bundle again, so simply stuck
the letter in the drawer. He probably forgot
it, and when the papers were returned it was
missing. He then took the letter from the
drawer, and to shield himself pretended that 1
had something to do with its retention. 1 shall
appear before the committee as regards this. AS
to the rumors of my having anything to do with
the charges against Governor Murray that is
false"
The rogues may settle that question between
themselves. The result of this outrageous at
tempt to destroy an honorable gentleman has
been to bring General Murrays character out of
the pure gold that his friends have always known
it to be. He has received many congratulatory
dispatches from every part of the country on his
triumph malice and Mormon prosecution,
but the following, supplementing as it does the
testimony of Justice Harlan and Speaker Car
Isle, has gratifed him most:
LOUISVILLE, Ky, April 5.--To the Hon Eli H.
Murray Arlington Hotel, Washington: 1 congratu-
late you Anyour friends here, without distinction
Of party, are with you heart and soul