Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-26
local NEWS.
THE PARDON BROKERAGR CASE.
Trial of General l.. &. Baker.

CRIMINAL CoURr, JUpaE FISHER
Yesterday, after our report closed, the cross
examination Of Alfred Spier was continued,
and when the witness was about leaving the
stand Mr.. Bradley asked HIM IL he had not
been indicted for the same offense, and he said
that he had been informed That Indictments had
been found against him, but he never had been
arrested, nor had he given bail After some
sharp questioning by Mr.. Bradley, no oweyer,
ana the production of the records Of the court
II was shown that he had joined with M
stanton in bail for his appearance 80
Jocoo Smttk was sworn, and testified that in
November last he was clerk for General
Baker. remember a portion OF the transac-
tons when Mr. and Mrs Cobb were brought
there. On the evening in question. after coming
from supper about six O'Clock, L saw Mr.. Cobb
Bakers bell ring, and went up stairs to his
private ofhce, and General Baker requested
me TO take a seat Mrs Cobb was there 7
took seat and General Baker went and re-
mained in the office two or three hours and
until Baker returned. Baker simply told me
to take seat and i did so. i found a man
named Collins in the lower room with Mr.
Cobb, but we had no guards or sentinels
at the headquarters. While L was in
the lower room Cobb was part of the
time sitting ON lounge, and part of the
strained of his liberty. / answered General
Bakers bell about O'clock and he simply
asked me to take seat. He did not saw where
he was going when he went out He was alb
sent possibly three hours. When he returned
he came into the room and said he had been to
the Executive Mansion. / can't recoiiect all
of the conversation that transpired between
Gen. Baker and Mrs. Cobb. The substance of
it was that he had been to the President about
the pardon business, and that the President
was much surprised. and said it was time it
was broken up. Mrs Cobb seemed TO be init
mate with Gen. Baker. She was up stairs an
hour after Bakers return before she came
down. went to the door and paid the hack
BILL Mr. Cobb refused to enter the hack with
his wife, alleging that she was too polite to
Baker. She made no complaint of coercion.
She did not complain of ili-treatment, nor did
L hear Mr Cobb say anything There was no
one about the room when Mrs. Cobb and l
We're there. L remember il distinctly, because
she wanted drink of water, and was desI-
rous OF getting ii for her, but could see no one
about. L can't say for what purpose / was
taken mp TO the room, but as il was a private
apartment, and there were a great number of
important papers there, was asked to take
seat until Gen. Baker returned
Cross-examined by Mr.. Bradley do not
think was placed there to guard Mrs Cobb
L do not suppose l should have stopped her If
sne had attempted to go out i did not under
stand that was TO detain her. and If she had
felt inclined to go should not have felt dis
posed TO keep her, as i had no orders or au-
thorty to do so
by Mr.. Stanton-I had no orders To do any,
thing but take a seat
BY Mr.. Bradley never told any one who
was brought to the Office that they could not go
just YET may have done so, hut do not re-
member. We did not keep prisoners there.
There was another room, and it was not nv
duty TO hold them in custody.
BY Mr.. Riddle.-Whe we had occasion TO
have guards at headq uarters General Baker
was supplied with them
by MIR. Bradley have sometimes known
the detectives to be called upon to take charge
OF room, but we did not keep prisoners at
headquarters.
Court adjourned until ten o'clock this morn