Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-12
COOKS TESTIMONY.
oBLIaArIoN TO BLISS.
Tho Ex-specisi counsel of tho aovsrnment
Continues some lntercstine Revela-
IlnnA Hiias' ImnnriAncn.

Tho Ex-specisi counsel OF tho aovernment
Continues some lntercstine Reveia.
tions-B Biiss' Importance.
In the Star Route investigation, VIM.
A, Cook, of counsel for the government
in the present prosecutions, testified that,
shortly after his appointment, he had au
interview with President Garfield. The
latter said that the cases involved many
who had been his special friends, aud
while he expected tho counsel To act under
the attorney general, he wanted it under.
stood that he was the head of the people,
and he desired the witness to communicate
with him at any hour on the cases under
consideration. The president said :
want most thorough and impartial in
vestigation Of the facts, and wherever IL
conducts you | want you to go, irrespect.
i've Of persons"
On the conversation at the interview on
Wednesday night before the president was
assassiuated, Mr.. Cook said VI said to
the president that he should be careful of
his movements. a bitterness had arisen
between the 'Stalwarts' and Half Breeds,
aud there were connected with the cases
men Of extreme views. | said at the time
there might be y resort TO violence, such
was the impression then on my mind. My
suggestion for u moment touched the
president. but he responded there was no
danger. The bitterness of feeling was 50
strong that | would not have been sur
prised had 1t carried itself against the
postmaster general and the attorney gene
raj. don't think l used, at that inter-
view, the language actually placed on my
| lips by Mr.. James, but stated, in sub
stlrce, what have given you. The idea
had was that the feeling of bitterness
was so strong that it might operate on the
minds OF some of those involved to such
all extent as TO lead to violence-that it
might assume the form Of desperation.
In answer to the question If any efforts
had been made 10 learn if Guteau had any
accC Cm plce, the witness said 81 went to
the office of the district attorney aud sug
gested strongly that line of investigation.
went further and sent q letter TO the
attorney general and said | would proffer
my assistance in the prosecution of Guiteau
! without compensation. The line of iu
vestigation that would have led TO the
proof that Guiteau had associates was
dropped. never received an answer from
my letter TO the attorney general, except
q statement that the president had selected
others to prosecute the cases The infer.
suce drew originally was that the shoot
ing OF the president was not the result Of
the individual action of Guiteau, and |
nave never become fully satisfied that that
inference was incorrect. could not con.
ceiyc it possible that he had been around
Washington for considerable time with
out forming acquaintances. He could not
have been here as q hermit, and he must
have had associates. think 50 still. In
addition, the act was so bold and daring,
aud az the same time 50 cowardly, that it
seemed he would not have attempted it
without accomplices. And this was in
harmony with what had suggested to the
president in connection with the bitterness
of feeling and the differences between the
Stalwarts and Half-Breeds."
In the further course of Mr.. Cooks ex
animation he claimed that both the weak
ness of the case and the method of trial
resulted in the acquital Of Dorsey anC
Brady. Being asked if he recommended
TO the attorney general, when he resigned
who should be indicted, the witness replied
81 made no accommodation TO Mr.. Brews
ter, because | was satisfied that il woulC
have been useless for me to have done so
Because when | went TO him and Offered
suggestions, he said | must remem Der tha
he was largely indebted Tor his position t,
Bliss. Mr. Bliss was an intimate friend o
the president. The attorney general saiC
! he must allow him to conduct the case
The suggestions of Mr.. Bliss were accord
ingly carried out and my suggestions wer
of no consequence