National Republican., 1884-04-11

COZ. J. c. McKibbon to the Salisbury combi-
nation for s., 500 and then disappeared from
the scene, as supposed, forever" NO.
Continuing Mr.. Woodward said our our
efforts during the spring and su@mer Oh loIl
were of rather desultory character IN
Washington n few witnesses were exposing
parts of the sores which had eaten ueeplS
into the public morals and the pubic PURSE
As the reports of inspectors came IN the new
administration of the postoiice department.
applied the pruning knife SO iearIess'y ahu M
vigorously to existing abuses, than III ieW
months the deficiency in tho postal revenues
was practically oxtinguished. Meanwhile the
newspapers were mystoriously inspired 10
warn the star route contractors Of the speedy
destruction in store for them at the hands oi
the government As the sultry summer wore
away | became moro and more conscious tnaO
the condition Of our magazines was lar from
iustifying this tone of cXultation."
The witness said that he began systemat-
cally TO prepare the cases for trial toward the
close of September, 1881, using the files and
other departmental papers. There was added
Gn abstract Of the proofs furnished by the
travelling inspectors. This work was con-
tinued till June, 1882.
In reference to the Brott indictment, Mr..
Woodward said: William lilley told mo
often that William A. Cook for $1,000 guar.
anteed immunity to Frederick Liliey, and
that on the very day when we appeared
DBlOTD lnc g@DO VI lhS iSo,
though the underground channels employed
for the conduct of tho business had already
found its way. into the pocket of Cook" Con-
tinuing, the witness testified: After many
hints William Lilley finally told me that
of his own knowledge Cook and Gibson
were selling out the government that
buTglarious seizure of the papers had been
discussed, and that when the catastrophe
came IL would be so contrived rs to ruin me
ii possible. Through my unwise and ILL.,
starred efforts Mr. Gibson had beon employed
to assist in the Investigation. From the day
the fact was announced had been compelled 10
defend his reputation, which, too late, found
to be unsavory. Still, in the face of increasing
difficulties, treated him Us one associate
should treat another. My reward had come.
Whilo ! was absorbed in preparing the evi-
dence to be presented TO petit jury, he was
equally absorbed in preparing screed to
glorify himself / told Mr.. James, in the
presence of Mr.. Gibson, that all further CO.
operative relations between Mr. Gibson and
myself were at an end"
Referring to the report of Mr.. Gibson on
the Prescott and PhUnix route, in which 1T
is stated that there is no proof Of fraud, the
witness said that If this statement were
correct there was no proof Of fraud in any
case arising under the administration of Gen.
Brady. The presence of Mr. Gibson had
become unbearable. No one could foresoe
what might be the next manifestation OF his
apparently innate and incurable depravity'
Witness had suddenly changed the lock COM
bination and Mr.. Gibson had tscitly confessed
the justice Of this proceeding by never asking
for an explanation.
The witness said number Of abstracts oi
papers were sent to Mr.. Cook. 1.-Two oi
those" he continued, relating to Sanderson
have not yet been returned. The matter
refecting upon Mr.. Kidder and printed in
the New York SIN Feb. %, 1884, went TO Dir
M mae s,,t thn NAyrit n U al
Maj. Reeves, and is the only copy that ever
left our office. Except this specific one,
defy the world to produce copy of that ab'
stract in the writing Of either Reeves, Black
mar, or GOuld-the only clerks employed III
our room in making them. Mr.. Edwards
the correspondent Of the Sjul, got the papers
from Brady. Brady could not have got those
with regard to Kidder from anybody buI
VIM. A. Cook"
Mr.. Woodward then continued: "In May
los2, witnesses went again before the grand
jury in the Dorsey case, and a new indictment
was found. The first trial began June and
was continued until September. As it pro.
gressed Judge Wylie called for proof OF con
spiracy, and a few days later called again
Hon. Richard I. Merrick, special assistan
attorney general. from the regency of his EN-
ployment, was largely introduced to the fact
as they were developed from the witnes
together; that evidence of fraud was complet
III ihe records, but direct Testimony of motiv
ana combination was needed, and that tn
need must be met by oral testimony from ,
person possessing inside knowledge"
vi DIR. Walsh the witness said: "He had ,
way OF turning up here in crises of despond
ency. whom he would cheer us with hopefu
words and fresh installments of evidence"
vi DIR. Price he said: "The acceptance oil
frice would involve the arraignment of OK.
senator William p. Kellogg, of Louisiana
Ar. Brewster, while fully appreciating the
gravity ofthe situation, showed no hesitation
AFTER reviewing the facts in coming to a de-
clsion. He took the ground that his official
oatn required him to administer the laws i'm.
PARTIAL Y; that, SO long as the responsibility
ior their enforcement remained with him, he
should recognize no distinctions of party
persons, or pecuniary condition; that where d
man honored by the people with high and
sacred trust stopped TO take bribes the crime
should be followed by the more certain and
speedy retribution." Continuing, Mr.. Wood
ward said: EARLY in 1852 Thomas A. Nc
Dewitt notified me that he was about TO be
forced to trial on the Philadelphia indict-
ments. Believing that the implied faith of
the government could not and would not be
broken, wrote him to employ no lawyer, to
go to no expense, and to rest in peace How
ever, the case was pressed. The attorney
general refused to interfere. Feeling that nv
own honor was involved in the protection of a
man who, at the invitation of tho government
mad through me placed himself at its mercy,
appealed to District Attorney Valentine
ihis act OF intervention, though severely
censured, led to postponement of the case.
In the fall OF 1882, in the teeth of my remon.
strances, McDevitt was tried, convicted. and
sentenced to the penitentiary for one year
AZ my solicitation Messrs Bliss Merrick, and
ker recommended his pardon. Ex- Postmaster
General James placed on file manly letter
assuming his full ghura 0f
the overtures which induced McDevitt TO
testify in August 1881.
McDevitt served the full term of the sen.
tence. In the treatment accorded to him n
grave mistake, in my judgment was made
nave never for moment however, 0ues-
toned the coHscientiousness of the attorney
general AS viewed by him, the path of duty
LED IN one direction; as viewed by me, in
another. From association with Mr.. Brewster
IN these cases have reached the conviction
that his actions are guided by lofty senti.
ments Of personal and professional honor"
Concluding, Mr. Woodward said: "The
second star route trial ended June -, lss3,
Tho evidence and argument fill four volumes,
aggregating nearly 5000 pages Notwith.
standing the adverse verdict of the iury, the
record Will remain permanent memorial of
the thoroughness with which the case was
prepared, and of the completeness with |
which the charges were proved.
Some of tho salutary results ACCOMPLISHED |
oy the star route prosecutions can hardly be |
appreciated by persons unfamiliar with the |
revolution 10 has helped To effect in tha |