New-York tribune., 1874-06-11

The DISTRICT SAFE ROBbEh1.
INVESTIGATION OF THE MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY or
DIsTRICT-ArroRNEY HARRINGros's sAFE-sroRY
OF Mr. HARRINGTON AND THE PoIIcE-rKsTI
MoSY THROWING SUSPICION UPON MR. HARRINd
TON As A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE
coMMITrKR MOI KNOWN.
rBr TELEGRAPH TIE rRrBUNEl
WASHINGTON. June 10.-On the night of the Esd Of
April last IN the midst Of the inves CATION into Dis
trict affairs most mysterious burglary occurred in
the Office of the United States District Attorney for
the District The safe which was robbed belonged
70 the United States. and was In the Office of the
Assistant District Attorney, Richard Harrington. r
who is also the Secretary Of the District, and
one of the counsel for Gov. Shepherd in the
investigation From what became public. it
at once apparent that the burglary
nected with the investigation; that is that it
not committed for purpose of punder, but that the
thieves employed by persons interested In the
inquiry The JOINT Committee was therefore in
structod 10 inquire into the matter and they took
the testimony in private. The witness examined
was Harrington himself whose version of the affair
was substantially as follows:
On the morning of the day before the burglary
Harrington says that he received an anonymous
letter bearing the stamp of the ST. Nicholas Hotel
New-York. announcing that his safe was to be
robbed that night or the next. This letter he
showed to a number of persons, and In the evening
20 Chief of Police Richards and Detective
Clarvoe. with whom he made arrangement
20 watch for the burglars. Harrington and
Richards first took their station in an adjoining
room. but as several persons came into this room
and found that some there, they finally
went out crossed the street and took their stations
where they could see what transpired. Other
detectives were stationed about the building.
Two plainly seen TO enter the
"a ba VII
Rad close the shutters and were heard st
work on the safe After several hours an explosion
occurred and subsequently the two men came out Of
tie building, one of them carrying a bundle AL of
those who were watching followed the man. who
seemed not the least alarmed at seeing them, and
allowed the other 70 escape. The burglars went
Il the direction of the house of Columbus Alexander
was directed TO the steeet by of the party who
were following MIN. and after ringing both the
main and the basement dOor-bels IN vain, was
arrested by the police. H. had in the bag papers
aud books that had been taken from the safe. Har-
rngton denied that he ever suspected that Mr.
Alexander. the chief of the memOrialiSts. ever had
anything to do with the affair and that he sug
gested his arrest.
Chief of Police Richards told very similar story.
He said one of the thieves stood over opposite the
Dstrict-AttOrneys Office at the time those who were
watching went over there and that the thieves
went about their work with the greatest confidence,
and without coDcealment, as though they
knew that they would not be rnolested. Rich
ards also testified that Harrington told
HIN beforehand that he suspected MI
Alexander aud directed that If the thieves went TO
Aexanders house the officers should wait until they
were admitted. and then If he came out with the
bundle 70 follow him 70 his destination If he left
the bundle there they TO IN and arrest all
Mr. Alexander and whoever was IN charge. Ii Will
be seen that this part of Richardss testimony con-
ficts with that of Harrington.
The most important witnesses were Geo. Carter
aud Dorsey Downs. two residents OF Baltimore
The thief who escaped is known TO be Michael
Bsves formerly in employ of the Secret Service
of the United States Carter, who was also at one
time engaged In the same business knew hayes
and met him IN Washington about two
weeks before the burglary took place hayes sald
that Nettleship a member of Col Whitley's force
was employing him 10 do a job and that II was 10
break open safe aud throw the blame on an inho-
cent HAYES returned to Baltimore with Carter
and remained with him over night AT the breakfast
table HAYES told Carter that the safe belonged to
District-Atiornev Harrington. and that Harrington
was uniting up the Job 10 blow the safe open and
mt the bla1re ON Mr. Alexander Hayes also told
Dorsey and Downes as they certify. that he was
ennloyed TO open a Government safe. Dorsey and
Dowpes came to Washington, accompanied by Gar
TAR and informed Gov. Swami what they had heard.
Carter did not mention HarrlDgtons name because
he did not believe what Hayes had told him Gov
Swami supposed that the papers that were 10
he taken related TO the oaDborn case, and
Cha witnesses supposed too from the
information they had that Whitleys men were
concurred in it. Gov. Swami therefore, introduced
them to Messrs. Dawes and Foster OF the Ways and
Means Committee. who gave them a note TO the
8 Presideut They presented the note IN the after
noon and the President refused 10 do any business
until the next morning. So the matter dropped
Carter Dorsey and Downs are all endorsed by
msn From this testimony II appears that one Of
the thieves asserted two weeks before the burglary
took place that Harrington was putting mp the job
10 throw dscredit upon the memorialists that Har-
r1ngton expected the burglar TO 20 to Mr. Aexan-
der. and had arranged a programme OF operations
with Chief of Police Richards and Detective Clarvoe
and that the thieves acted as if they knew that
they would not be molested either while at Work OF
on their way to Mr.. Aexanders house.
Mr. Harrington disclaims all suspicion OF Mr.
Alexander and il must be confessed that the test
ony taken altogether looks very suspicious for the
Assistant Distrct-AttOrney What conclusion the
Commissioner will arrive at remains 10 be seen.
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