Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-28


the Star Route Cases-Nkr. Cook De-
sires TO Show Gen. BOyntOn's Auimus.
Gen. d. G. Swain and Gen. II. V. Boynton were
before the Springer committee to-day 10 cOrrobo-
rate testimony given by Post Ofce Inspector Wood
ward In reference TO the star route cases
PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S INDIGNATION AT Tue EMPLOY
MENT OF COOK AND GIBSON.
Gen. Swain testified that he was fifty years old
ana hau peen In the army twenty-three years. He
was "very intimately" acquainted with the late
PRESIDENT GARFIELD, and was with him daily during
his lncumbency OF the executive Office Witness
had frequent conversations with Gen. Garfield I'm
regard TO the employment In the star route cases
OF W. A Cook and A. NJ. Gibson. Witness asso-
clated the two names because the President did So
On one occasion the President asked witness IL he
knew VINO had been employed in the cases, and
, unen expressed great Indignation at the employ
ment or Cook and Gibson. He said he did not
Ihlnk men OF their reputation ought to have been
employed.
WHERE THE PRESIDENT GOT HIS INFORMATION ABOUT
COOKS REPUTATION.
The chairman asked II the President did not saw
that he got his Information OF Cooks reputation
from Judge OF the District Supreme Court?
Gen Swain did not remember positively, but he
got that impression. Itwas Cooks reputation that
was that the President got his Information about
LOOK ulrectly from judge OF the District Supreme
Court; Witness had many conversations with
whose characters were tainted. Witness said to
the PRESIDENT that the star route Investigation
Sagas d 70 De kept entirely In clean hands-in the
nah0S OF men above suspicion. Witness remem-
oeteu thaI the PRESIDENT once remarked that
SIT TOOK ROGUE TO CATCH A ROGUE"
Dut witness inquired in reply, "Who will catch
that rogue?" and added that the inquiry must be
Kept In the hands Of the men in whom the public
had confidence. The President said he would send
lor postmaster General James and talk with him
conference between
PRESIDENT, James, Cook and Woodward. That was
only a few days before the assassination. The
PRESIDENT said he was In delicate position that he
could not take the investigation out OF hands In
which 1t was placed, but he would urge the employ
at the White House and said attacks had been
mace on his character. He had some certificates
10 To- MS character, but did not see the President.
OF any intercourse between Cook and the PreSi-
dent except the conference when the Postmaster
Generai ine W was present The President frequently
IlDson. In reply to question as to
GEN. GARFIELD's WISHES AND INTENTIONS
In reference to the prosecution, Gen. Swain said
the President was anxious to have a thorough,
searching and honest investigation and was Will
Ing to sacrifice any personal feeling he might have
as to the employment OF men Objectionable to him
In order to accomplish that end. He wanted the
0lsnonest parties, whoever they were, brought to
personal feeling or spite, prosecuted That was his
sentiment up to the time of his DEATH and he had
IL
ful pressure.
GEN. BoYNToN SAYS TEE PRESIDENT WAS VERY
MUCH ANNOYED By THE EMPLOYMENT OF COOK.
Gen. H V. Boynton testified that he had a con-
versation with President Garfield about the en-
ployment OF w. A. Cook. 1t was Just after Cook
was employed Witness asked the President If it
was true that Cook had been employed. The Pres
1dent replied that he had no acquaintance with
Cook; knew nothing OF him, and asked witness
Of COOK He cave fbe ~ P1ssd gave ms Us oplMon
stood to be Cooks general character. The Prest-
dent requested witness to 60 to the Attorney Cen
In regard to Cooks character. Later on the same
day witness again saw the President. who renewed
the subject OF Cook and his EMPLOYMENT The
President was very much annoyed at the employ
ment OF Cook, and expressed his opinion OF It very
Gecldedly, saying he knew nothing OF Cook. He
upon him (the President). 1t was the opinion that
witness expressed OF Cook, of his standing here
wsn fsr HE ied r the pres1dent to express resentment
ulrectly TO the Attorney General and said he had
been requested by the President to repeat what he
Macveagh said Cook was employed on the theory OF
"settlng thief to catch thief" The Attorney
General said
HE KNEW ALL ABOUT COOK;
that he had employed him before and knew 1ust
what he was Witness subsequently advised the
President that he had reported to the ATTORNEY
General what he (Boynton) had said to the Presi-
dent about Cook. Witness thought he repeated to
the PRESIDENT what MacVeagh had said to witness
about the theory OF Cooks employment. AS wit
ness understood it, Cook was employed In a de-
tective capacity, and would not be entrusted with
any OF the secrets OF the at all The Attorney
General stated very positively that that was the
nature OF Cooks employment Between the first
and second interviews OF Gen. Boynton with the
President, Cook arose in court and asked to have
the text OF his employment spread on the records.
and the President expressed great surprise and
Indignation at that act
MR. COOK WANTS TO APPEAR TO SHOW GEN. BoYN-
TOMS ANIMCS
Just after Gems Swain and Boynton had left the
room Mr. w. A. Cook entered the committee room
and asked for some Information as to the evidence
taken, and when informed OF it he demanded to be
heard In reply, and said he would show Gen. BOyn-
tons "animuS,' and would cOrroborate the testl-
mony ne COOK had formerly given. He was noti-
fed TO appear next Monday.