Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-06
WHAT DOES HE MEAN q?
Ex. Postmaster Gsnsral James
Startling Testimony
BEFORE THE SPRINGER COMMITTEE.
Had Not Garfield Taken the Stand He Did
Against the Star Reuters He Would
Not Have Fallen by the
Assassin's Bullet"

WASHINGTON, March 5.-Ex-Postmaster
General Thomas l.. James was to-day ap-
day examined by the House Committee
on ExIenditures in the Department OF
Justice. Witness produced a printed state
mGnt of the Star Route investigations and
prosecutions. The alleged Star Route
frauds, he said, were brought to his notice
by Senator George L. Spencer some time
before witness was made Postmaster Gen.
ersl, He was called to Washington BY
a dispac ch from Whitelaw Reid, and with
Mr.. Reid he called upon the President and
wss informed that he was to be offered thsi
Postmaster Generalship. The Star Route
measures were then talked over. The Presi-
dent said there was something wrong in the
Pcstoffice Department and that he expected
witness to "put the plow in to the beam
ard subsoil it." On the OH OF March, 1881,
the President sgsin brought the matter to
The notice Of witness, and said he expected
witness to cut off the frauds; that if upon
investigation it was found that any person
was guilty, they should be turned over to
the Department Of Justice. Witness said
Il at he proposed TO call Mr.. Woodward
il to the INQUIRY and that it met the ap.
p1oysi OF tie President. John Swinton,
snd editor Of the New York Sun, suggested
the name OF A. NJ. Gibson as an inspector
and he was accepted and put to work.
Here the witness entered into a lengthy
narrative about the work OF Gibson aud
Woodward, all of which is well known to
IL Tod m
President that civil suits should be first in
stituted against the accused, but the Pres.
ident thought the criminal suits should
be brought first. The Attorney Gen.
eral warned the President that criminal
suits might strike men high in official posi-
tiUn and turn the political tide to the DEM
ocrsts. The witness directed large por-
tion OF his statement TO ex-senator 5. w.
Dorsey. He said Dorsey called on him one
day at the Arlington Hotel, in this city.
and denounced General Brady and demand
ed bis removal rs Second Assistant Post
msster General. Witness recommended
Brsdy's removal To the President, who
ok the matter under advisement, and
aft, concluding that Braty's resignation
should not be demanded, reConsidered,
ccu.tnted to it, and witness asked for it.
Gep. Brady Immediately handed in his res
ignarion. Then Dorsey began to hedge
liz was in the mood OF beggar and lost his
agcrt ssiveness. "IIe cringei and crawled,"
stated witness, "and his brazen effrontery
disappeared i'll his pleas for ClemencY."
The story OF Rerdell's confession, how it
wss effected and what it amounted to, was
rcheaIsed in the statement of witness
which was directed especially at the alleged
"deplorable character Of Dorsey. Wit
ness related how upon visiting the Presi
dent accompanied by VIM. A. Cook, an
sttorney for the Government, they found
Dorsey and his attorney-CO!Onel Inger
soll--in conveys alton. He said that Cook
then warned the President that some
thing awful" was about t. happen. Mr..
Jen,es said that Bliss, Gibson, Woodward
and others were retained in the case, but
he lid not fix their salaries.
And right here wish to say" contin'
ued the witness, that what | say of the
other postCfiice officials, l want to include
Mr.. Gibson" The statement of the witnesN
closed with the assertion that had the
Pre,ident not taken the stand he did
against the Star Reuters in their pro5ecu
lion, lie would not have fallen by all as
sEssin's bullet"