Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-04

nermits that IS as tyrannlcal as if it dictated
what We should wear or what we should eat
Again thank you for the good will you
have expressed, and wish you safe return
to your homes.
The Safe Robbery in Washington.
Washington Correspondence Bait. American.
The sensation for the coming week will prob
ABLY be the developments connected with the
alleged robbery of the safe in the office OF Mr.
Harrington, Acting Assistant U. 5. Attorney
for this District, Secretary of the District Gov
ernmeut and one of the counsel III the pending
investigation. The circumstances connected
with this affair have formed the subject OF two
reports by MIR. Richards, Chief OF Police, to
the Board of Metropolitan Police, Major
Richards sets forth that he was called upon by
Mr.. Harrington, and informed that be had
reason to believe the safe in his office was to be
broken open on a certain night, and that ne
desired the presence Of Major Richards to work
up the case, Mr. Harriugtoe Insisting that all
operations in connection with 1t should be Car
ried on strictly in accordance with his directions.
The report details all the circumstances which
came to Mr. Richards knowledge during the
night; the parties present; the part played by
each, aud the final arrest OF the supposed rob-
Der upon the step, OF the residence OF CoIum-
bus Alexander, who represents the memorlaliSts
each day before the committee. The puDlca-
ton of this report Of Major Richards has been
strongly urged upon the Board Of metropolitan
| Police, but thus far they have Insisted upon
keeping it enIirely secret. The members OF
! this Board are appointed by the President, con
| frmed by the Senate aud paid by the govern
ment The only known reason Tor tuather con-
ceameut on their part is to shield the District
! Government and TO protect the parties to THIS
nefarious plot One Of the papers, cntlrey
friendly to the District Government mentions
the names of Harrington. Thomas Shepherd,
brother of the Governor, aud one Williams, an
he plot From the best informal ion that can
be gathered, Carvoe, Of the city detective
force, and Major Richards, of the Metropoli-
tan force, were upon the opposite side OF the
street from Harriugton's Office when the safe
was blown open. Major Richards desired TO
make an Immediate arrest but was prevented
from doing so by Harrington. Alter the ex-
| rlosion, Two men emerged from the building,
one carrying carpet sack filled with papers
| from the safe, and came directly across the
street to where party OF officials were stand
| ing, Harrington still insisting that no arrest
should yet be made. Here the two men sepa-
rated, going 10 opposite directions. One was
not followed at all, aud the officials named fol-
| lowed close after the man With the carpet sack,
he going 10 the direction Of Mr.. Alexander 5
house, some seven squares distant. Ii Is SAID
that he lost his way and was directed by one OF
the parties following. Upon arriving at Mr..
Alexauders door aud ringing the bell tor long
time without succeeding in arouslng any one III
the house, Major Richards Insisted upon max
iug an arrest, and the man was taken to police
headquarters. The explanation given OF the
whole transaction, by members OF the force, who
were Indignant at the atlempt to make tools OF
them in carrying out this plot, is that the
two men who blew the safe open we're thieves
brought here for the purpose and thoroughly
posted 10 what was desired Of them. Mr.. Alex
ander had first been approached 90 several oc-
casions aud informed that books aud papers Of
great value to the mcmorialist 10 investigation
could be obtained by them. When the safe
was fnally blown open and its contents taken
to Mr. Alexander door, the plot contemplate
ed the immediate arrest OF Mr. Alexander,
when the thief should succeed 10 securing his
presence at the door, and was in the act of
haudipg him the carpet sack Of papers. His
failure to awaken any one by ringing defeated
the plot Had it succeeded, the theory of those
who projected it seems to have been that 1t
would have dsgracsd the memoralists before
Congress aud the country. The fact that seve-
raj Of those engaged occupy official positions 10
the District government aud courts and that
the Board Of Metropolitan Police is paid by
and is responsible to Congress, aud that the
whole plot was designed to defeat an lDvestlga-
ton ordered by Congress, gives the whole affair
a grave aspect.