Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-30
ceedipgs statutes Of limitations ran against
the ~. rtt<. A., ,~lr,iy,oI ocflop.

ton was void.
Other extracts from the report areas fol-
lows: II appears from the evidence that
two of the most powerful combinations OF
The post-route contractors were known rs
the Salisbury and Parker combinations.
All Efforts at procuring indictments against
these parties failed. The material witness
against Salisbury was one Thomas A. Nc
Dewitt, nominal contractor for principals.
VINO held q large amount OF the expedited
service. II seems that McDeritt had
been indicted in Philadelphia for
fraudulent bidding on certain routes IN
Texas. This matter was quite distinct
from those In which his evidence was
chiefly sought. Woodward was directed
by Attorney. General Macveagh and Post
master-General James to procure an afil-
davit nom McDevitt as to his knowledge OF
the frauds in the Salisbury cases. Me-
Dewitt made full statement OF all the facts
within his knowledge, and was given by
MI. Woodward mn implied promise OF in-
munity IN consideration OF his making full
disclosures.
The binding force OF tins implied PROM
ise OF immunity was recognized by James
and MacVergh. McDevitt added he would
freely communicate any further informl-
ton within his knowledge whenever call
ed upon ly the Government. Notwith-
standing this full disclosure on the part Of
McDevitt and the implied promise Of i'm.
munity which he had received from Wood
ward, Tie Philadelphia indictment was
pressed to trial. and McDevitt was con-
yicted and sent to the penitentiaTy for one
yesT.
Woodward protested to the President
and, Atorney-6eneral that in the trial and
conviction Of McDeytt the solemn pledges
Of The Government have been broken. and
urged Executive clemency IN his behalf.
which was not granted. Woodward testi-
fed also that McDeyltt was the witness he
should have relied upon to break into tho
Salisbury combination and show their
methods OF doing business, and that he
was the only witness accessible TO make
:he proof against the powerful combina-
tior, but that the Government took that
witness and sent him to the penitentiary.
Ii is due 10 MacNeagh and James to state
flat the pledge OF immunity to McDeyitt
WIS yiol,ted after their retirement from
Office.
The manner Of procuring an expedition
was reduced TO n science. Afildavits OF
contractors aud others were used as
foundation upon which the expedition and
Increased service were allowed. The bra
zen cffrontery and perjury OF these aida
yit-mskers is without parallel in the his
tory OF criminal prosecutions. Affidavit,
signed and sworn to, in blank form, were
kept on hsnd by the contractors just rs
they laid up supplies Of grain for their
horses. These ailidayits were the sole
measure OF the cost OF the expedition, and
TO other evidence was required by the de-
Iartment for granting increases OF the SER
wees and the increases OF speed, which
cost the Government hundreds OF thou.
sands Of dollars.
A stock Of these blank aGidayits was kept
on BIZ nd, and blanks filled when OCCASION
was required to Use them, and papers fled
with the Department were the basis OF Sc
curing large and valuable additions to the
contract.
Thus rerjury was made the basis Of all
the frauds perpetrated relative to the em-
ployment and compensation Of attor-
news. The report says \. VI. Glib
SON was employed in April, 1881,
upon the recommendation Of Woodward,
and that upon the recommendation of Glib
son v lillian \. Cook was employed. Both
Gibson and Cook formally terminated their
connection with the cases at an early stage
Of the proceedings. II appears, however,
that suspicious Of their fidelity and OF the
proprie,y Of mtrIlsting evidence to them
had arisen in the minds OF their associates
at an earlier date, so that their actual plrti-
cipation in the work practically ceased IN
December, 1851. Beni,min Harris Brew
stor and George Bliss were obtained early
in September, 1881. by Attorney -General
MacYeagh. W. W. Ker was retained
January 81. 1882. and Richard I. Mer-
rick March 18th Of the same year.
The total amount paid to the above
mentioned attorneys for services in these
cases was Sl44, $40. OF which George Bliss
received the greatest amount, his compen-
sation being S57.752. In addition S6.727
was paid to Allan PinkeIton for the services
OF his detectives $3.50 for other detective
work, and 51,J79 TO James NJ. Semple for
services in summoning witnesses. The re-
port saws I'm this connection: Your commit
tee find 1t impossible TO ascertain the whole
amount OF the expense 10 which the
! Government has been subjected, on
account OF the star-route frauds. The
amount paid the attorneys and de-
tectiyes Is correctly stated above
but II is impossible to determine how much
the expenses OF the courts in the District
a Columbia were increased by reason OF
the many indictments considered and pre-
sented by the grand iuries aud by reason
| OF the long and expensive trials in the Dor
sey-Brady case. There were also largely
increased expenses in. the p0st-oce incl
dent 10 the investigation OF the star-r0ute
mail service through special agents and
otherwise. The expenses OF the trials ana
! the appearance Of the witnesses before the
grand juIies were largely increased from
| the fact that the Government counsel
couldn't intrust the .rvice OF the court
! processes to United ,ta q marshal. and
| their deputies, but V Ne compelled TO en-
! ploy special agents fOi ais purpose. They
| were cent 10 all parts OF the coun-
| lry. at great expense. IN order 10
serve SubpOendS. procure the attendance
! Of witnesses, and arrest the parties IN
| dicted. After taking up and passing sepa.
| rately i'm this manner upon each feature OF
the star.route frauds and the litigation con-
ncctod Herewith the report concludes rs
follows: Your committee Is OF opinion
| that there were many causes which 0pe-
| rated 10 prevent successful prosecution OF
! the star-Toute offenders. Whatever these
causes may have been 1t Is doubtless true
flat those who VIII take the pains to read
the testimony taken by your committee
on this subject, comprising nearly
thousand pages OF printed matter,
will reach 4 different conclusion. There
was a great diversity in the testimony,
and many contradiction. will be found
wholly irreconcllable upon any other theory
than that Of wilfuI.periury. It is sufficient,
however, for the purpose OF this inyestlSa-
ton to state that while the evidence against
the .lar-route contractors and public OFF,
cials was strong and conclusive as to their
guilt, and that the Government was de
frauded Of large sums OF money, ana that
large sums were also expended to secure
indictments and convictions, yet no person
was convicted or punished and no civil
.uits have rs vet been instituted TO recover
the vast sums illegally and fraudulently OBJ
tanned from the public treasury.