Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-11
THE SAFE BURGLARY.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

The correspondent of the New York Tribune
sent the following dispatch to that paper last
night concerning the recent safe burglary in
this city:
On the night OF the 23d OF April last, in. the
midst OF the investigation into District affairs,
MOST MYSTERIOUS BURGLARY
occurred in the office Of the L uitsd States At
tDrney for this District. The safe which WAS
robbed belonged 20 the United States, and was
in the office OF The AS iStan. District Attorney,
Richard Harm gton, Jr., who is also Secretary
o. the District and WIS one OF the counsel for
Gov. SheVherd In the Investigation. From
what 81 once became public it was once sppa-
rent that the burglary was connected with the
investigation; that is. Il was not committed tor
purposes of plumber, hut tIat III ewes were EN-
ployed by other persons interested in the in
quiry. The Joint Committee was therefore in
stIucted to inquire into the matter, and they
took the testimony in private.
HARRIEGToN's TESTIMONY.
The first witness examined was Harrington
himself, whose version of the sff4if WAS su b.
santially as follows: On the morning of the
day Of the burglary Harrington says that he
received an anonymous letter bearing the
stamp Of the st. Nicholas Hotel, New York an
nouDcing that his safe was to be robbed Oh that
night or the next; this letter he showed t. a
number of persons, and in the evening to Chief
of Police Richards and Detective Clsrvoe. with
whom be made an arrangement TO watch for
the burglars. Harrington and Richards drst
took their station in an adjoining room, but as
several persons came there and found that
some one was there they finally went out.
crossed the street, and took their stations where
they could see what TRANSFERRED Other detsc.
uves were stationed about the building. Two
men were plainly seen 20 enter the building
close the door, open the windows and close the
shutters, ard were heard at work on the safe.
After several hours explosion occurred, ,
and subsequently the two men came out OF
The building. one of them carrying q bundle.
All OF those who were watching followed the
man, who seemed not the least alarmed at see
ing them, and allowed the other man to csc ape.
The burglar went in the direction of the hOuse
OF Columbus Alexander; was directed to the
street by some OF the party who were soi1owing
him. After ringing both the main and base
ment door bells In vain. he was arrested by the
police. He had in the bag papers AMI books
that had been taken from the safe. Hsrriny' on
Denied that he ever sus ,iected that Mr.. Alex an
der, the chief of the memorislists, ever II al
anything TO do with the affair, and aid tina.
be never suggested his arrest.
CHIsF OF POLICE RICHARDS
told very similar story. He said one OF tha
thieves stood opposite the district attorney,
6fhce 81 the time those " DO were watching mt
over there. and that the thieves must have
known that they were watched. But they went
about their work with the greatest confidence
ard without cenceslment, ~ tho Ugh they knew
that they would net be molest@d Richards
also TESTIFIED that Harrington told him before
hand that he suspected Mr.. Alexander, aud
directed that ii the thieves went to Alexaud -r's
house the officers should wait until they were
admitted, and then If he came out with the
bundles to follow him TO his destination; II
he left the bundle there they were TO arrest
him, and go in and arrest also Sir. Alexander
or Wlosver sas in charge.
TWO OTHER WITNESSES
were George Carter, Baltimore detective. and
Dorsey aud Dosns, two residents of Baltimore.
The thief who escaped Is known to be Michael
Hayes for merry in the employ of the secret ser
vice oft'e United States Carter, who was also
at one time engaged in the same blsiness
knew Hayes ard met him ia Washington at Jut
two weeks before the burglary took place.
Hayes said that Nettieship, member Of Col.
WhIfly's f0IcG, was employing him DO a b
and that il was TO break open safe and throw
the b'ame on an innocent man. Hayes re-
turLed 10 Baltimore with Carter AMI remained
with him over night. At the breakfast table
Di triCt Attorney harrington, and that Har-
ringten w.s putting up the job 70 blow the safe
open aud put the blame on MIR. Alexander.
Hayes ais tod Dorsey and Downs as they
testify that re was employed to open
government safe. Dorsey and Downs came to
Washington, accompanied by Carter, and in
formed Gov. Swami what they had heard.
Carter did not mention HarringtOn's name, be-
cause he did Dot believe what Hayes had told
him. Governor Swami supposed that the pa
peIs that were to be taken related to the San.
bOln case, and the witnesses supposed so to-
from the information they bad that Wbiteley's
men were concerned in ID. He therefore intro
duced them to Mes.rs. Dawes and Foster, OF
the Ways and Means Committee, who gave
them a Dote 10 the President. They presented
the note in the afternoon, and the President re-
fused TO do any business until the next mora-
ing. So the matter dropped.