St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-22
THE INNER CIRCLE.
Bliss Gives Interesting Testimony
in the Star Route Cases.
He Shows the Thorough Rottenness Of the
Administration.
Tilden Could Have Easily been Elected
President at Last Election.

WASHINGTON, March 21.-Geo. Bliss con-
tinued his testimony before the Springer
committee to-day. In explanation OF the
omission in the second Indictment of the
name of Sanderson. The witness said they
ran the risk of invalidating the indictment by
including Sanderson, and out of consider
alton for the value of the indictments against
the other defendants, omitted him.
Ker, who was present, inteprosed-"His
name was left out at my suggestion. l take
the responsibility
II want to say right here" continued
Bliss, Sin answer to all dirty insinuations
from parties once connected with the case,
that no human being suggested at emolu-
ment to me, arising out of these cases, L
said to Brewster, l was not criminal
draughtsman and wanted to be excused from
drawing up the indictments, and besides,
had sufficient work of another character to
occupy my time. Brewster selected Ker.
This supposed expert had some knowledge of
his business.
Said Stuart, he had more knowledge than
the general who said, he was surprised that
expert was competent to judge of.
Bliss continued. The long trial resulted
injuriously to the case. 1t resulted in find
ing some little fellows guilty and the big
ones innocent. 1t was logical impossible
to find the one guilty without the other
Returning to the first trial, Bliss said: 81
learned that George E. Spencer, an ex-senator
from Alabama, could give testimony OF an
important nature of the payment of money
by Dorsey to Brady. / have no question but
Spencer made such statement. He made
it to James and to VanWarner, personal
friend of James, and to man named Boyn-
ton of Nntr |
did not feel certain that Spencer was not
doing little blowing, but if did not see
Spencer on the stand, would have been met
and ought to have been met with the state
ment that had a witness to give evidence
and failed to call him. He came here. he
complained did not consult him. l avoid
ed him. I made up my mind not to have
conference with Spencer before he went upon
the stand. and l did not. Chandler, IL call
him Chandler because we we were school
mates together) came to me and said, Spen-
Ger was complaining because L would not
talk to him. l said, if / did talk to him l
would have to tell him / did not believe him.
Chandler urged me to change my mind.
Then he said to me: "Spencer is that kind
of man who has such a devotion for his
faiends he will say no if you ask him If he
knows anything. / don't believe you will
get anything out of him on the stand" Bliss
related in detail the efforts to get Spencer to
testify and his search for him. He said:
''While hunting for Spencer in Canada we
came npon most important discovery. A.
NJ. Gibson was found up there in commu-
nication with him. Spencer went to Europe
and remained there until he learned the
case was so nearly out OF court
he would not be called. Witness referred to
arrest of Spencer last November in Nevada,
for contempt, and of the dismissal of the case
by Judge Wylie. II cansay," Bliss con-
tinued, 1'that Spencers interest in the star
route cases passed from the government side
to the other side as early as December 1881"
The witness expressed his lack of confidence
in Cook and Gibson, and continued, 'Gib
son is entitled to credit for having early ar
rived at the knowledge Of the star route
frauds He wrote considerable for the New
York Sun. At some time or other, Tilden
became so far interested that he furnished
money to be quietly used in the investiga-
ton. At a certain stage of the matter, Til
den sent G. F. McLain to Washington. He
was known as the adopted son Of Tilden.
Ha is gentleman and a lawyer, If these
things can be combined"
eff this is hearsay," interposed Represen-
tative Ryan, eve do not want it."
t'Pm not going to effect Tilden," Bliss
continued ssMcLain came to Washington,
and went back, and said things were prop
erly managed. 1t was the law partner of ii.
E. Knox. Knox was the chum of James A.
Garfield. Tilden obtained this information,
and if he had been nominated by the Demo
| cratic party, he would have made cam
paign on the star route frauds, as he did in
New York on the canal frauds. If he had,
| there would mt have been any need for an
| electoral commission; but Tilden did not run,
| and he did not give his information to Han
cock. Late in February, after the presiden-
| tial election, Knox proceeded to communi-
| cate the star route frauds to Garfield. L think
! that was why Dorsey's influence with him
ended The cabinet was not made up as
Dorsey wanted. My personal relations with
| Dorsey were social and pleasant. l attended
the famous Dorsey dinner. He wanted
man in the cabinet, and wanted the same
man in the same position.
.'What was the gentleman's name?" asked
| Springer.
ssTll tell you. 1t was Chas. J. Folger. We
wanted him for secretary of the treasury, but
| he was not put in Garfeld's cabinet. He
was offered the attorney generalship and de-
clined." Bliss said, during the trial OF the
| star route case, IL was dlscoVereu Cne uelehu-
ants were in possession of information sup
posed to belong exclusively to the govern
ment counsel.
Question-''Was any suggestion made to
the grand jury when Kellogg was indicted,
that it was a serious matterto indict United
| States senators"
zone of the colored jurymen said it
would be a serious matter"
Milliken inquired, ..'Of what Cook COM
planned, when he was discharged from the
government service!n
s'That confidence was not maintained in
| him. said Bliss. The truth was he could
not traverse the fact. 1t was a great relief to
me, such relief that 1 went off and broke
two bottles champagne. The further exami-
nation of the witness was postponed until
| Tuesday week. Adjourned until Monday.
TILDEN OUTOF THE RACE.