Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-07
MAcVEAGH's STORY
As Told to the Springer Committee
Yesterday.
HIS ADVICE TO PRESIDENT GARFIELD
To Think Twice Before He Began the Prose-
cution of the Star Route Robbers
Some of Senator Dor
.sey's Doings.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-The House Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Department
OF Justice continued the examination Of
ex.Attorney General MacVeagh to-day. He
was asked to explain the talk he had with
the President on the political effect the
prosecution of the Star Route men would
have, which Mr.. James referred to yester-
day. Witness stated that he did have q
con versstion with Pre- sident Garfield in re-
gard to the political bearing the investigs-
tons and prosecutions would have. He
warned the President that it would strike
some Of his political friends in high
places; would affect some men who We're
prominent in his election, and who, II was
reported, held letters which the President
would not desire to be made public. Wit.
ness explained the great gravity there was
politically in the step proposed, as there
was at that tins q division OF the Republi.
can party, and he thought il might hazard
its future. He advised hesitancy in begin.
ming such prosecutions. Among those who
had been prominent in political work and
held high position before the country, and
whom witness referred 10, were Senator
Dorsey, General Brady and Senator kellogg,
Subsequently witness told the attorney
of Senator Dorsey that papers had
been found in the Department which we're
unfortunate 10 the Senator, aud must be
explained, although at the time there was
nothing found upon which an in tictment
could be framed. He told Dorsey also.
that there must be an Investigation, and
that il must be by grand Jury; that that
could not ip lure him il he we're innocent.
The matter, he stated, was one OF great
distress to President Garfield, and he con.
sented to being made sware by the officers
OF the Department of oil the steps taken in
tie investigations, the issuance OF war
rsnts, proposed arrests, sc. He spoke OF
meeting Colonel Ingersoll and Senator
nnUey in Postmaster General James room
one day, and having some words with Sen.
stOr dorsey, in which the latter stated that
/ vas not President Gsrfield's desire that
lie mat er be settled by a judicial iuvesti-
ct on. The efforts of Senator Dorsey to
naNe him tuI ned out OF the Cabinet were
dwtlt upOn hy the witness, and the use OF
he stii davit OF Rerdeli referred TO.
TIE grounds upon which he demanded
he removal Of witness were that he was
4cnprally bad man The witness then
entered into lengthy account OF the CIR.
cumstances which led to his departure
from the Cabinet which Was attributable to
the Presidents apparent sympathy with
the Star Route men. Witness cited the in
innate relations OF Hugh Hastings, Geo. G.
Gorham and other sympathizers with Star
Reuters prior to the assassination, and the
fact that they supported Mr.. Arthur before
the assassination and were cordial
Iy received afterwards. He thought
llese gentlemen must have great
influence with President Arthur;
that 1t would not be unnatural
that he should take them into his conf
cence, as they had always supported him
and his side Of politics, witness did not
desire to remain in the Cabinet. He uu'
d. rstood, however, that President Arthur
desired that the prosecutions be continued
under him as they were begun. He sug.
q sted to the President that IL Would be
b. tier to have another Attorney General,
as the citizens OF the District OF Columbia,
where the trials must take place, would
believe that if he remained, and the case
proceeded IS before, that it was merely ad-
n inistering upon dead mans estate.