The Portland daily press., 1867-05-25

believed could render the President great
service bv exposing the character and business
of this woman. When, however, found that
he was determined TO put wrong construc-
ton upon my motives, and to sustain MIS-.
Cobb [ felt mortified and indignant. Never
was there a greater contrast between antici-
nations and the result 1t was coming down
from the summit of human glory, when the
unworthy ruler of a great people was conquer
ed and led captive apparently by the vile pro-
tegee of his fancy. The Grand Jury of the
District of Columbia then being in session, on
the following day, very much to my surprise,
learned that four indictments had been found
against income for false. imprisonment noi
Mrs. Cobb; one for false Imprisonment VI
Mr.. Cobb; one for robbery in taking froin ner
the $500 L had marked and gwen TO oap''
Howell one for eXtortion. l.t ,oc- -
On the evening of November TO- loo5, IN Il
conversation with the Presideht, ne ann , nou
that it was not possible that he couid know
the character of the females visiting ms mouse;
he desired to give all an interview; Mrs. Cobb
and Mrs Washington had been there fire.
quently-he knew their faces Wen; beheVed
that he had on one or two occasions recon-
,nended Mrs Cobb to the Secretary of the
Treasury for situation, but beyond that, he
knew nothing of her or of Mrs Washington,
and if he could be convinced that, the
character of these women was bad he certain
" would not tolerate their presence at the
Executive Mansion moment. He then
asked me to make out written report as
briefly as possible, on which lie could base
some order directing his subordinates to ex-
clude bad characters from the White House.
After what had said to the President re-
speeding Mrs. Cobb and her operations at the
White House, and after furnishing him Win
an ofnclal report, at his own request, l. certain
~ thought he would give orders to have her
kept out of the executive mansion. On the
contrary, heard that she was a more frequent
visitor there than ever, and was D9aStlng
among her friends that in spite OF zen. baker
interference she was still welcome guest OF
the President 1 could not think TINS possible,
So, in order to bring the controversy Pe 5l
ed an officer to ascertain whether this was true
and learned that she sods a constant visitor
Still. thinking the President could not be
aware of her visits, on the 18th of November l
stationed detective police officer at the front
entrance with instructions to prevent Mrs
Cobb's entering About IL o'clock, as usual
she presented herself and was told that she
could not go in She asked the officer by
whose order he was acting, and he replied, HByi
order OF Gen. Baker" SD .I-1 1 l.lu H. Hfii
Mrs. Cobb replied: "Wel, will see the
President in ten minutes" She went round
to the rear part OF the house, entered the
Kitchen, went up to the Presidents private
room, and told him that Gen Baker had sta
toned a detective at the door to prevent her
seeing him. The President sent fol the detec-
tive, and said: "Sir, by whose orders do you
presume to guard my door?" The detective
replied: II am not guarding the door,. was
sent here by Gen. Baker to prevent Mrs. Cobb
from entering the house." The President said:
Tell Gen. Baker / want to see him imnedi-
ately. l9-ua .l s~s', 10 e.iYi.G44H .ar IN
Accordingly, he started for my office, but in
the meantime the President had sent his pri-
waite messenger, W no arrived first, and i'll a
very excited manner informed me the Presi-
dent wished TO see me Immediately. L must
drop all business and come at once. went
and entered the Presidents private room. l..
found him alone, pacing the room very ex-
citedy. Furiousiy he said to me: How dare
you place detectives at my doorY' l told him
that | supposed he desired Mrs. Cobb and 9TH
er females of like character to be kept from the
house, He answered: when want your
services 1 will send for You. Mrs. Cobb has
Just as much right to come here as you or any
other person. This is not the first time, Sir,
that you have interfered at the White House.
Now want it stopped" l.ltir ,..3tl .....t
Still pacing the room, he repeated several
times what he had before said concerning Mrs
Cobb-that she had as much right to visit the
White House as any other respectable person.
Walking up to me like pugilist, he shook his
fist in my lace, and said again: How dare
you presume to exercise any control over the
management of the White House?" L then
said: MIR. President, when such vile charac-
tiers as Mrs. Cobb can visit the White House at
all times of night and day; when she can pro-
cure pardons as she has done in the case of
Capt. Howell and deliver them in person in
complete, or Wltn0ut Delng recorded, when she
boasts publicly in the streets, hotels and sa-
locus of this city that she is a pardon broker, |
and the President dare not refuse any of her |
applications, but she has the President of the |
United States in her power, L think it is high
time that somebody interfered." ga ..,+ .t a. |
The President replied: How dare you talk
TO me in that way, sir? Now, sir, / tell you
once for all, you must not interfere with my
business; neither must you interfere with any
person who has business at the Executive !
Mansion" started to leave the room when |
he followed me to the door, and, with his fist |
said: Now, recollect what have |
told you. You can 60 and tell your friend |
Stanton all have said. say you can go and |
tell your friend Stanton all have said."-
With this left the Presidential Mansion, and |
uY 1f
In one ofmy conversations with the Presi-
dent, he repeatedly accused me of being tool
of the Radicals. lie said he had been in form
ed that was in the employ of the Radicals
and had heard that had detailed detectives
to watch the Presidential Mansion, with u
view to ascertain and furnish a list of the
prominent Copperheads and rebels who were
visiting the White House. a}isJ5Its ..t l.,., 30 |