Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-27
LOCAL NEWS.
THE PARDON BROKERAGE CASE.
Trial of Gen. l.. c. Baker.
CRrKTNAL CorRr. InnaE E1aHER

After our report closed yesterday
Henry N. Htne was called and sworn for the
defence-I am a first lieutenant of cavalry in
the volunteer service Of the United States and
still hold a commission as such. Last July
was detailed by the Assistant Secretary of War
and PLACED at the disposal of Colonel l.. c. Ba-
ker, and directed to act under his orders, and
nave done so ever since. On the 4th of Novem-
Ter, 1865, called, In company with Mr.. Jones,
at the Avenue House 10 see Mrs. Cobb. Her
husband answered the card and said she was
NOT In. L was introduced 10 Mrs. Cobb as Cap
tam Howell, the only name by which Jones
knew me, and as an ex-Confederate captain
VINO was seeking for pardon. We concluded
NOT 10 wait for Mrs. Cobb's return, but proceed
eo 10 Wlllard's Hotel. was there So bse O uent-
~ Introduced to Mrs. Cobb, and after the intro
uucuon Jones LETT us. Mrs Cobb suggested
that we should take a seat in one of the win
oows, so that those in the room could not hear
our conversation; and as soon rs we were seat
ea mrs; Cooo put her fingers 70 her lips and
sald "Mum is the word, and # undertake 10
get this pardon for you the utmost secrecy
must be observed" She said she had great IA
cllltles Tor getting pardons and had got as high
as seventy I've in one day, but she said she
would not tell what influences she used and
therefore / need not ask her. After some
further con yersaton, which lasted probably
an nour, agreed TO meet her that
evening, but my recollection is, that as | could
not see Gen. Baker, | wrote a note 10 Mrs
Cobb, and told her other business detained me,
but that would see her next day. saw Gen
Baker, and related the conversation to him.
and told him my belief was that the Executive
was being imposed upon by outside influence,
and that this woman was getting pardons, and
i thought il was wrong that such things shouId
exist. Baker had yet taker no action. nor
had be paid any money and he said that he did
not believe Mrs. Cobb could do such things as
she had stated. i said the only way was TO
test it. and he asked me if i could get up a Pc
tition, and told him would endeayor to do
so, and drew up a statement. L do not pre-
tend that the statement was true. / signed il
as Clarence j. Howell, and affixed a magis-
trste eeruiicate, which was signed by Bakers
clerk as magistrate. L called upon Mrs Cobb
at the Avenue Hotel with the statement and
gave IT to her, and made a memorandum of q
contract. At the hotel Mrs Cobb said anything
could be done with money, and she did net
care what had been guilty of, il she held a
sufficient amount Of money she would guaran-
tee me a pardon. Iasked her what she would
charge TO get me pardon, and she said 500.
Il said II was not worth $500, but that would
give her $500. i gave her SlO1, when she
took the paper, and the balance was to be
paid when the pardon was obtained. She
said If she had all the money she could work
cheaper, but that it had to be divided and used
with men connected with the Department. On
Sunday called at the Avenue House and the
contract was signed. Ssme con yersation took
place, and MI Cobb remarked TO hts wife that
II was necessary to call on Mr.. Wilson the first
thing in the morning. i did not know what
Mr. wilson ne meant. The pardon was TO be
given TO me on Monday evening. reported 10
Gen. Baker, and on Monday evening he and
went TO the Avenue House. and Mrs. Cobb said
as was rebel spy, and had been convicted,
she required more time, aud would give me
the pardon the next day. / called the next
day, and Mrs. Cobb said she had the pardon,
but that the seal of the State Department was
not affixed. i called the day after that. and
she showed me the pardon, and named three
gentlemen who she said had gone her security
that the amnesty oath would be forthcomIng
said would 60 next day and take the am
nesty oath. and i then paid her the four fifty
dollar notes and went down stairs, and in pass
ing gave Gen. Baker the signal agreed upon,
and left the house and went to Gen Bakers
office, but he got there before did The bills
were new, and Gen. Baker took them from his
pocket and gave to Mr.. Spear to mark, and
they were then handed 10 me TO give TO Mrs
Cobb for the pardon.
Question.-What arrangement and under
standing had you with General Baker with re-
gard TO the money
Objected 10, as Mrs Cobb was not present
Mr.. Stanton said II was part of the res 0estR.
Mr.. Hughes.-Part of the res gestG TO entrap
this woman, but not as 10 the false imprison-
ment by Baker. The Court has extended the
widest latitude, but il has not said that the
dark cabals OF this clique of midnight assassins
and their conversations shall be competent ev-
idence
Mr.. Stanton said the object of General Ba-
ker's scheme was to track the infamy of the
parties in this infamous transaction, and they
have right 10 show that he did not intend TO
part with the ownership of the money, nor that
It should pass TO Mrs. Cobb. No one could say
that General Baker perpetrated a fraud or a
forgery; there was no intent to do wrong, but
to expose public wrong.
Mr.. Hughes.-By committing greater one
Mr.. Stanton.-Well, have it so, but we will
show the facts.
Mr.. Hughes-Can you show it by :he con-
yersation between Baker and his confede-
rates
MT Stanton-Yes, we can
Mr.. Hughes.-Then Baker may manufacture
all the testimony he wants and bring his con-
splrators and tools (poinung to the witness)
here to testify.
Witness ito the Court IL am no tool, sir. 1
claim the protection of the Court.
Judge Fisher said the witness must be re-
spected.
Mr. Hughes continued. and said he (the wit
ness) was a conspirator, and ia order TO break
up a legitimate business these self con stituted
guardians of the honor OF the Government in
duced this lady TO do the very thing they pro-
fessed TO break up. Even thief cannot be con-
victed If money is placed in his way by con-
spirators to entrap him, and the conspirators
are justly execrated; and now Baker and his
co-conspirators, and q man who drew false
and fraudulent paper, and acknowledges that
II was such, and who forged magistrates
certificate, need not put on a look OF dignity
and talk to me. The days of bullying are
passed, and the courts Of justice are wide open,
and oppressors and midnight robbers must
come under the law, and their deeds must be
known and spoken Of
These remarks were followed by applause,
which was suppressed by the Court. and the
Marshal was directed to clear the room IL it
was repeated.
Judge Fisher decided that anything relating
TO the 5000 was admissible.
Witness resumed.-I was instructed to give
the money to Mrs. Cobb, and Gen. Baker said
he would follow me up and get the money
back soon as L paId IL ont When paid
the money Mrs. Cobb said she would not make
anything, as she would have to pay out all the
money, but she asked me to sena any friends
who wanted pardons to her.
Cross.examned by Mr.. Bradley.-I reported
TO Baker in July, having been directed 10 do so
by a verbal order from Mr.. Eckert Assistant
Secretary of War. i am not receiving any paw
q Lieutenant, nor am / receiving paw from
General Baker. i was last paid by the Gov
ernment in May, 1864. The proceedings had
against me at St Louis were illegal and void
i was not charged with being rebel spy; but
one Of the charges was false Imprisonment L
never officially ascertained the result, but /
understood they found me guilty, and SEN
fenced me to two years hard labor in the mill
tary prison at Alton, Illinois. 1 formed the
acquaintance Of 5. s Jones at Willard's Hotel.
i supposed he was in Bakers employ. He did
not know was in Bakers employ He knew
me as nothing except as a rebel seek king pardon.
i don't think he knew was in Bakers employ
until after this transaction.
A paper was here exhibited, and witness
recognized il as the original paper or petition
put in Mrs. Cobb's hands. 1t is as follows:
To his Excetieney Andrep Johnson, Presidenf Of
the United States Your petitioner would re-
spectfully represent that he comes 10 the city OF
Washington for the purpose Of obtaining the