Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-22
Before the Springer Committee, Adds
Startling Contribution to Star
Route Literature.
The Part Mr.. Tilden TsOk In Unearth.
ing the Frauds, and the Use He
Expected
TIE Make Of His Neutrality-suspicious. In
teresting Inside Facts, if They
are True.
THE STAR.RoUTE CASE.
George Bliss Continues His Testimon
Before the Springer COunlitIee.

Before the Springer Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-George Bliss
continued his testimony before the Spring
er committee to-day. In explanation OF
his omission in the second Indictment OF
the name of Sanderson, witness said they
ran risk of invalidsting the Indictment
by including Sanderson, and out of con-
sideration for the value of the indictments
against the other defendants omitted him.
Ker, who was present, interposed:
'His name was left out at my suggestion.
l take the responsibility"
81 want to say right here" continued
Bliss, "in answer to all dirty insinuations
from parties once connected with the case,
that no human being suggested the emol-
ument to me arising out OF these cases. l
said to Brewster that was not a criminal
draughtsman, and wanted to be excused
from drawing up the indictments, and
that besides had sufficient work of an
other character to occupy my time. Brew
ster selected man said to be an expert"
"This supposed expert had some knowl-
edge OF his business" said Stewart.
"He had more knowledge than the gen.
tleman who said he was supposed. ex-
pert was competent to judge of," said
Bliss. "The long trial resulted, undoubt-
edly, iniuriously to the case. 1t resulted
in finding some little fellows guilty
and some big ones innocent. 1t was
logical impossible y to find one guilty
without the other. The verdict was
soleeism and an absurdity."
Returning to the first trial, Bliss said:
81 learned that George f. Spencer, au ex-
Senator from Alabama, could give testi-
mony of an important nature of the pay
ment of money by Dorsey to Brady. L
have no question but Spencer made such
a statement. He made it to James, to
Van Wormer, personal friend OF James,
and to man named Boynton, of New
York, a friend of Garfield. / did not feel GER
tain that Spencer was not doing a little
blowing; but if l did not put Spencer on
the stand l would have been met,
and ought to have been met with
the statement that 1 had a witness to give
evidence and failed to call him. He came
here. He complained that did not con-
suit him; that | avoided him. Imade up
my mind not to have conference with
Spencer before he went on the stand, and
1 did not. Chandler Il call him Chandler
because we were schoolmates together)
came to me and said Spencer was
complaining because l would not talk TO
him. l said if did talk to him / would
have to tell that l 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 devotion for his
friends that he will say no if you ask him,
if he knows anything. 1 don't believe
you will get anything out OF him on the
stand
Bliss related in detail his efforts to- get
Spencer to testify, and his search for him.
He said: "While hunting Spencer in Can
ada, we came upon most important dis
covery. 4. NJ. Gibson was found up
there in communication with him
Spencer went to Europe, and remain
ed there till he learned the case was
so nearly out of court that he would
not be called"
Witness referred to the arrest of Spen-
Ger last November, in Nevada, for con-
tempt, and OF the dismissal OF the case by
Judge Wylie. 81 can say" Bliss contin-
ued, ''that Spencer's interest in the Star
route cases passed from the government
side to the other side as early as Decem-
ber" Witness expressed a lack of
| confidence in Cook and Gibson, and
continued: "Gibson is entitled to the
| credit of having early arrived at
| a 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 used quietly in the investigation. AT
| a certain stage of the matter Tilden sent
1
| known as the adopted son of Tilden. He
is gentleman and a lawyer, if these
| things can be combined"
''If this is hearsay," interposed Repre-
sentative Ryan, 1--WE do not want it.
"I'm net going to affect Tilden, replied
Bliss, and continued: "McLain came to
| Washington, and went back and said
things were properly managed. lie was
| the law partner of II. L. Knox. / know
he was a chum OF James A. Garfield. Til.
den obtained this information, and il he
| had been nominated by the Democratic
party he would have made a campaign on
| the Star-route frauds, as he did in
| New York on the canal frauds. If he
| had there wouldn't have been any
need for an electoral commission; but
| Tilden did not run, and he did not give
/ his information to Hancock. Late in Febru-
ary, after the Presidential election, Knos
| proceeded to communicate the Star-route
| frauds to Garfield. l think that it was
| about that time that Dorsey's influence
with him ended, as the Cabinet was not
made up as Dorsey wanted it. My per.
sonal relations with Dorsey were social
| and pleasant. | attended the famous Dor
| sey dinner. He wanted man in the Cab
| met, and | wanted the same man in the
same position"
"What WIS the gentleman's name p
| asked Springer.
am tell you. 1t was Charles JIIFoIger
| We wanted him for Secretary OF the
| Treasury, but he was not put in Garfield's
Cabinet He was offered the Attorney
| Generalship but declined" Bliss said
during the trial of the Star-route cases il
was discovered that the defendants were
in possession OF information supposed tc
belong exclusively to government counsel
Question-Was any suggestion made tC
the grand jury when Kellogg was indicted
| that it was a serious matter to indict {
| United States Senator?
"One of the colored jurymen said i
| woy Id be a serious matter"
Milliken inquired OF what Cook com
planned when he was discharged from th'
government service.
THAT confidence was not maintained il
him." said Bliss. "The truth was w
could not traverse the fact. 1t was
great relief to me, such a relief that l wen
off and broke bottles of champagne"
| Further examination of the witness wa
postponed until Tuesday week.
Adjourned until Monday.