The Portland daily press., 1884-03-10
STAR ROUTES.
Mr.. Gibson's Connection with the
Cases.
HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
SPRINGER COMMITTEE.

WASHINGTON, March 8-Mr. A, M Gibson
was examined by Mr.. Springer's committee to-
day relative to his connection with the star
route investigation. Mr.. Gibson said he began
to make special study OF the postofice depart
ment in 1872, and that between that time and
1881 he became familiar with the business of
the department. especially in relation to the
awarding of mail CONTRACTS. The witness de-
scribed in detail his meeting with ex-senator
Spencer in Washington, on which occasion the
latter asked assistance In the proposed star
route investigation. he spoke at length of his
visit to Mr. Woodward, and of the table of 93
expedited routes. "That table was shown to
the President and be expressed surprise" Mr.,
Gibson said "That was a little remarkable, be-
cause had distinct recollection OF showing
him the same table in 1880, before the election
and while he was member of the House,
The witness said he was employed about
April 20, 1881. He then gave brief account
of his lnstrnctiDg inspectors to make investiga-
tions OF certain routes. '.In the mean time"
he continued, 'Ihe attorney general sent flF
me and said Dorsey had made a staterssnt of
his connection with conti acts which mad been
shown to the President and to the secretary
OF the treasury. That statement was aDle and
Ingenious, and bad made an impression favor
able to Dorsey The attorney-general gave me
some papers and instructed me to answer it.
Afterward the atterney-geperal instructed me
to get up general report on the star route
cases. This report" said Mr.. Gibson, 'arrayed
the officers of the department of justice on
the side of the accused"
"What was the objection to the report?" was
asked.
"Mr. Bliss wanted the address of the report
which had been made to the postmaster-gens
pral pha han0ad and tina nraQf aims gQnt IA the
solicitor-general. They we're SO sent, and the
solicitor-general and chief clerk declined to re-
ceive them. This resulted in MacVeagh send
ing letter to Phillips" To Mr.. Gibson he
wrote that the report was most able and could
be understood by any one, and, also, SIT is
dull day when thieves or spologists do not turn
out one falseho0d about me-" The letter to
Mr.. Phillips referred to MIR. Gibson's appoint
ment as COUNSEL and said that the writer sup
posed the usual formalities had been observed,
but found they had not Continuing, the wit
ness testified: IL desired to have the San An
tonic and Corpus Christi case presented to the
grand jury. 1t was the most simple. j. B. Price
was contractor No Indictment was found in
that case until the latter part of 1882. That
case is sill pending. mede report on the
subject of the indictment against Dorsey, and
that was one OF the subjects on which we con-
suited at Elberon. Bliss said the case was one
about which he had grave doubts, and that it
was not 80 strong as he had, been led to believe.
and involved many routes and persons"
could not the government have proceeded
against Dorsny under what had transpired?"
asked Mr.. Stewart.
sit was the business of the government to
take the simplest and plainest case, and, if
possible, secure a conviction" Continuing,
Mr.. Gibson, said: "After Brewster was made
attorney-general, he said the duties of his
office were so engrossiDg that he could not
give time to cases of this kind. He had been
in the case before simply to make argument as
TO the legality of filing an information. That's
all he did, and for this he received $5000."
Mr.. Gibson said: The grand jury found an
Indictment against j. B. Price in the Corpus
Christi case, much to my surprise. No other
indictments were found, and there was direct
evidence. Among other persons interested in
the case was William Pitt Kellogg, then in the
Senate. Some time sitter, while in the post
office department, found Bliss looking over
one Of the papers in this case. had left pur-
posely some matters blind. Bliss. in reading
the papers over, asked to whom it referred 1
wrote on slip of paper: William Pitt Kel-
logg.' This was some time in October, 1881.
Price had sworn that he had given drafts for
SIS, 900 and note for $4,000 to William Pitt
Kellogg. 1t was understood that one half of
this was to be placed to the account of Brady,
and one-half to the account of Kellogg. While
the Brady and Dorsey trial was going on, and
when the case was being about laughed out of
court, Merrick called at my house and said he
had tried to get Bliss to find Walsh. found
him afterward ,and he consented, much against
his will, to be witness. His testimony saved
the case.'
''You said' remarked MIR. Milliken, she
saved the case. He didn't get verdict, be-
lieve.''
"He prevented it from being laughed out of
court" the witness replied.
The hearing of Mr.. Gibson was continued