St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-06-14


to be possible that he could know the
real character Of this woman; my only
desire was to exhibit to him the charac-
ter of the persons engaged in procuring
pordons, and the means employed and
if had done wrong | was very sorry.
He became more composed and wanted
to know who this Mrs. Cobb was. |
stated to him as far as possible, who she
was He then asked me if l would re-
quest Mrs. Cobb to come and see him
the following evening at 6 o'clock. l
replied, certainly" He also requested
me to come and see him the next eve
ming, which l promised to do, and,
leaving the pardon and Mrs. Cobb's con-
tract with Capt. Howell in his possession,
returned to my headquarters.
In compliance with the presidents re-
quest, | went to his mansion the next
evening, and found him i'll a state of
great excitement He denounced "my
interference with matters at the White
House Mrs. Cobb was a respectable,
yirtuous lady, and had no right to in
terfere with her occupation" | had
sincerely believed | could render the
president a great service by exposing the
character and business of this woman.
When, however, found that he was de-
termlned TO put 4 wrong construction
upon my motives, and TO sustain Mrs
Cobb, | felt mortified and indignant.
Never was there 4 greater contrast be-
tween anticipationS and the result. 1t
was coming down from the summit of
human glory, when the unworthy ruler
ct Il great people was conquered and led
captive apparently by the vile prcteyee OF
his fancy. The grand jury OF the Dis
trict of Columbia then being in session,
on the following day, very much TO my
surprise, learned that four indictments
had been found against me-one for
false Imprisonment of Mrs Cobb one
for false Imprisonment of Mr.. Cobb
one for robbery in taking from her the
5000 l had marked and given to Capt
/ Howell one for eXiortion.
On the evening of November 10, 1868.
in conversation with the president, he
affirmed that it was not possible that he
could know the character of the females
visiting his house he desired to give all
an interview; Mrs. Cobb and Mrs.
Washington had been there frequently
he knew their faces we'll; believed that
he had on one or two occasions recon-
mendcd Mrs. Cobb TO the secretary OF
the treasury for 4 situation. but bcvond
that. he knew nothing of her or of Mrs.
Washington, and ii he could be conyiil-
ced that the character ot these women
WAS bad. he certainly would not toerat,
their presence at the Executive Mansion
a moment. lie then asked lie to max,
out;a written report. Us briefly is possible
on which he could base some order
directing his subordinates TO exclud,
bad characters from the White House.
After which had said 10 the preSi
dent respecting Mrs. Cobb and her opera
tions at the White House, and after fur
ni>hing him with an official report, n
his own request, | certainly thought h,
would give orders to have her kept ou
OF the executive mansion. On the con
trarv, heard that she WAS ii more IRE
| Iucnt visitor there than ever and WA
, boaSting among her friends that in spit.
of Glen. Bakers interference she was still
4 welcome guest of the President. coul,
not think this possible. 81, in order t,
bring the controversy between the Presi
dent and myself TO III issue, | directed al
I officer TO ascertain, whether this was true
. and learned that she was a constant vi>i
tor Still, thinking the President coul,
| not be aware of her visits, on the 18th q
g November | stationed detective polio
: officer at the front entrance, with illstruc
tions to prevent Mrs. Cobb's entering
: About | / o'clock, aS usual, she prescnte
herself, and was told that she could nc
: 90 in. She asked the officer by who's
- order he was acting, and he replied, ''B
: order of Gen Baker"
n Mrs. Cobb replied: "Well, will Sc
: the President in ten minutes" She WEI
:, round to the rear part OF the house, er
il tered the kitchen, went up to the pres
o dents private room, and told him tha
II Gen. Baker had stationed 4 detective :
it the door TO prevent her seeing him. III
d president sent for the detective, and sal,
II ''Sir, by whose orders do you presume (
:. guard my door ," Tie detective II
d piled 81 am not guarding the door.
=" was sent here by General Baker to pr
is vent Mrs. Cobb from entering the house
S, The president said, Tell General Bak,
5 | want to see him immediately"
;" Accordingly, he started for my offic
III but in the meantime the president h;
x sent his private messenger, who arriy,
III first, and in very excited manner il
IS formed me that the president wished
| see me Immediately. must drop 4;
n, business and come at oEce. | went n
a entered the presidents private room.
as found him alone, pacing the room We
81 excitedly. Furiously he said to III
of How dare you place detectives at IL
e. door 2" | told him that | supposed
e, desired Mrs. Cobb and other females
lie like character to be kept from the hou:
W. He answered "When want your st
it. vices 1 will send for you. Mrs. Cobb h
If, Just as much right to come here as "
e ? or any other person. This is not t
ny first time, sir, that you have interfer
+ at the White House. Now | want
At stopped" Still pacing the room, he
re- peated several times what he had befc
he said concerning Mrs. Cobb-that 5
lid had as much right to visit the VIII
his House as any other respectable persc
as Walking up to Inc like pugilist,
lie shook his fist in my face, and said aga
,d, ':How dare you to presume to exerc
,ut any control over the management of
es. White House ?" | then said, ~
led President. when such vile characters
al