Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-30
STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
,.s Committees Report ON its In
vestgation Of the Star Route
Prosecutions.
p.rpry the Basis of all the Frauds
An Important Witness Sent to
the Penitentiary.

HIN
,snt of Justice. which during the last
'easion Of congress Investigated the
var route prosecutions, has completed
ID report for submission to the house
q Resembling. The house report is
.lqped by Messrs. Springer, Van AL
Ityne, Upon and Fry, the Demo
rattle members of the COM
mittee. 1t details at length the
history of the star route
hands from Hayes administration to
1ihe time of the commencement Of euit,
md declares that the frauds could not
have been committed without the
knowledge. cooperation and assist
Ence of Thos. j. Brady, and that the
Contractors and many others high in
&fiicisl position were criminal, being
Ioqnizant of the frauds and many par
Slcipants therein. 1t declares among
Ither things that the sums
which the government
has defrauded during Hayes admins
I,ation exceed 81 600, 900. at one time
|be government paying $40 600 year
In carrying mails that yielded less
han 81, 400 revenue. The story OF
he Parker case Is told at some length,
nd the report says concerning this
ombination that 1t appears from the
Evidence that it was the most power
hl combination OF post route contracts
yer known. 1t further says
hat all efforts to convict these
srtles failed A material witness
gainst Salisbury was one Thomas A.
icDavitt McDavitt had been in
icled in Philadelphia for fraudulent
Kidding on certain routes in Texas, a
halter quite distinct from those In
Shich his evidence was chief
h sought Woodward was
Erected by Acknowledgement
,IacVeagh aud acknowledgment
amts TO procure affidavit from Nc
Davitt as to his knowledge of frauds
In the Salisbury case. McDaVitt made
statement OF facts and was given
BY Woodward an implied promise of
Immunity in consideration of his max
Ing full disclosure, the force of this
implied promise being recognized by
Postmaster-General James and Attor-
tey-General Macy eagh. Nc
pavitt said he would freely
Ommnnicate any further information
Fhenever called upon. Notwlthstand-
big this full disclosure and implied
Promise of immunity which he had re-
lived from Woodward, the Philadel-
4 hia Indictment was pressed TO trial
lrd McDavitt was convicted and sent
o the penitentiary for one year.
Woodward protested 20 the president
md encouragement that in the trial
Ind conviction of McDavitt
Dlemn pledges of the govern
hent had been broken and urged
Executive clemency which was not
fmnted. Woodward testified also
bat McDavitt was the witness he
lould have relied ON to break into
be Salisbury combination and show
lelr methods OF doing business, and
bat he was the only witness accessible
make proof against the combina-
pm, but that the government took
bat witness and sent him to the peni-
#ntlaTy. The report continues:
The manner Of procuring expedition
as reduced 10 science. The affidavit
INSTRUCTORS aud others were needed
foundation on which expedition
I'D increased service were allowed.
he brazen effrontry and the peculiar
n Of these aiiidavit-maker have no
Arallel in criminal prosecutions.
gned and sworn to in blank
4ey were kept on hand and
yen contractors Just as
hey laid up supplies of grain
rtheir horses. These affidavits were
be sole measure of the cost of expe-
ltons and the sole evidence required
"A 80 ftN,fr H. Ia.
tease Of services and the increase of
peed which cost the government hun
Itds of thousands of dollars. A stock
4 these blank atildavits was kept
hand aud the blanks filled
Then occasion required, and the
fpers filed with the department were
pe basis of securing large and
aluable additions to his contract.
aus perjury was made the basis of
The frauds perpeh ated.n
A considerable portion of the report
devoted TO the subject of employ
ent and compensation of attorneys.
ne amount paid for this purpose, as
as ascertained, was $l44 $40, OF
hich George Bliss received $57, 732
review of Merchants testimony in
plantation of the failure of the gov
Ehment to secure conviction in the
eond star route trials is given but the
+pOrt says: The committee had
n. Time to pursue the investigation
prOrs.u
I IA reference to the contractors not
a' SEted the report says:
FROM the tabular statement of the
sond assistant postmaster-general
amount which IL was claimed
,li9 De recovered from the Salisbury
w w y rarkers was estimated at $50, 443
nlie the record of evidence in the
Gst-office department at the begin
Il ng or the Investigation BY
department. was meaeel
n sil ~ Salisbury aud Park
sne evidence subsequently pro
Z ~ ~ through special agents sent on
sne purpose shows that the opera
~ oI these parties as contractor
s caring frauds and should hav'
mn ~ indicted and convicted and pros
~ -sea Ia civil suits for recovery OF th'
sT sums illegally obtained. Pow
~ -, were the influences operated L
g Te their immunity"
ine next subjecti considered is th,