New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
DISTRICT SAFE BURGLARY.
A yILLAINOUS CONSPIRACY PARTLY EX-
POSED.


THEORIES - SERIOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN HIS
TESTIMONY AND THAT OF POLICE OFFICERS
HOW MR. ALEXANDERs NAME BECAME INVOLVED
his STATEMENT HAYES'S TESTIMONY COR
RoBORATED IN IMPORTANT PARTICULARS BY
OTHER Worcestershire EVIDENCE AGAINST THE
SECRET SERVICE DETECTIVES.
The House of Representatives on May D
passed resolution directing the JOINT Committee on
the Affairs Of District Of Columbia to inquire into
all the circumstances connected with the late robbery
OF the safe in the Office of the United States Attorney
for the District. On May IL the Committee BEGAN the
investigation, examining witnesses at Intervals until
June 49, when the examination was closed and the re-
port made to the House. The testimony taken makes
over 300 printed pages Some portions have already
been published in THE TRIBUNE, and others are now
condo sod below
MIR. HARRINGToNs TESTIMONY.
The first witness Richard Harrington, chief assistant
of the United States District Attorney Geo. p Fisher
read the anonymous letter he had received last April
from sonc one who wished to expose the proposed bur
clary and told the same story about the whole affair
that had already appeared in the newspapers Mr..
Harrington. during his statement. which was seldom
interrupted by questions. said MY own theory ABOUT
the this that these people have heard so much
talk about books they either thought the books were In
my safe else misook the safe for that OF Mr. COOK
the attorney for the District, and thought that they
would get papers they would either sell out
or Use them blackmail The whole theory upon when
we proceeding to catch the men at the bottom
Of 1t. don't know whether took any papers ont OF
the safe. put papers In there. wanted to see
what they going to do with them. There were one
or glasses of papers Ny idea was that II they went
into the safe they would look over my papers aud pCk
those out that they wanted, and that would
at once give me elew. There are one
or two cases pending OF Importance.
put I'm a book Of evidence, and put IN private DOCK
81 William NJ Evans; also a book which Mr.. John o.
Evans had up there l put his name on II. Ny IDEA
John o. Evans. should have expected at once that
they there to get this book. II they had taken
the motive take that, and also the same thing In re-
gard to Will That my idea but instead Of that
the thieves took every Thing that was there aud LETT me-
| of course. without That clew.'
When asked by the chairman a few moments after
giving the above statement what his theory ~ the rob
berry was Mr.. Harrington said: WE'LL Sir nave three
theories. First, thought that some Of tls memorial
isis wanted papers. | have no fuith ia that don't
think they fools enough In the first place. don't
SEQ how they could have used them II they had got
f6em; and in the second place Mr.. Alexander too
shrewd man aud has got too mich sense Ny seeohu
some papers he gotten in some way and he per
United the thing to run along IN the hope that II would
not reflect very much credit upon the strict govern
ment. Third. said before. think mat these men
may have heard much talk about papers that they
thought they could find some papers That
would he OF value to somebody and sell them, or
else papers that would serve as DJckmll on somebody
and tnit theory j. substantied by what have since
heard Of facts communicated to the Ways and Means
Committee, that burglary was contemplated upon
some Government SAFE weehs DaoFe. Iheh aS'.h, Dc
SAID before there are other persons who might D. inter
estcd In getting papers. thhk mat those men went
there to get papers, as say 10 son Out 70 SoeDouy Oh
TO backmlil somebody, aud When they came ont they
found they were followed. They saw that aud they
either up there to throw 1t of on Mr. Alexander or
to hide themselves. SAID To the officers that night:
There is no evidence in the world 10 lnculpae TINS
man. and nothing would nave Deen sIid dpCut II out Lo
the reason said before, that II was at once seZed
upon aud systematic effort made TO lodge the Onns OF
thlt crime upon me- That is what felt 50 keeny. |
iid not care much about II In this community, where
for four years but that 10 should be tecgraphed abroad
10 the New York papers that would be 80 great fool
/ ..I..t a .it sra-T f4 a 4 In u
All my prospects the future for thing that would
not have done one earthly bit of good
HE DENIES TRYING TolIMPMcArE COLUMBUS ALEX-
AMBER.
During the examinatonIof Michael Hayesion the 18th
ipst Mr. Bass asked Mr. Harrington about the BOOKS
nIaccd in the safe about the burglary. and
the latter said: 4" Let me explain that point nave
looked at my testimony aud i do not think made II
very clear As stated then, when got the letter did
not pay attention 10 II. That evening dned at
Weckers and Mr. Evans came 10 me and said that lie
had heard that Ross Jensen who had been celebrated
my %%fS oicf S, ,Si %i "S ESa@s 60
there all night Next day we talked over TINS
matter generally, and ] thought there might be
put a few packages in the safe that would give me
ccw to who the parties were. went to ir Evans
and SAID: Let me have some OF your books. want 10
put them IN and II they will he taken He
lie, have couple Of books. did not suppose that
would anxious TO get oil tnat they would Just take
what they wanted ana leave, aud thus could get
which supposed the parties would be Interested ia
getting the papers out of the prosecuting attorneys
possession, put IN a bundle Of papers belonging to
two OF the cases and this package OF books but the
men took everything IN the sale aud OF course could
NOT tell who they werc.p
In answer to questions by Mr.. Bass. on Nav H. Mr.
Harrington said &" The only time connected Nj. Alex
apders name with this to sayto Richards The fact
that this Is found here Is no evidence az All put on
the contrary 10 my mind was evidence that he cou
not have been; and it thought OF TO arrest
Mr. Alexander The case has gone along ike DINERS IL
was submitted by with other cases, TO the Grand
Tupv
Investigation thought 1t my duty never 10 speak to
them Inn regard " this case. They summoned ~Icn
nesses as they wanted aud Mr.. Alexander requested
When Mr. Wilson asked "Was there any intention
rest Mr. Alexander that nlgnt" Mr.. Harrington said,
Not the slightest" " IL he had come to the door
80 Mr. wilson No " replied Mr. Harrington. an
the first place, did not know the man was going 10
Alexanders. n he had come 20 the door do not think
the officers would arrested him; certainly they had
M such instructions. In the next place, II wanted
Alexander knew we could get him at any time"
MAJOR RICHARDs's TESTIMONY on THIS POINT.
Mlior A. Z. Richards, superintendent Of the Metro
politan Police was next examined. He made state
ment concerning the burglary, soon after which Mr.
Uubbell asked him If there any arrangement, IN
case they found out with whom the acted, for
resting ALI the persons. Major Richards said, Yes, SIR
that arran cement understanding took place at Mr.
state fully" Mr. Bass said what took place at that
private interview" Major Richards continued: " Dur
ing that conversation Mr.. Harrington expressed the
idea As said before that he could not conceive
that any person wanted to rob his safe for the purpose
III
believed that they thought there papers IN his safe
which of Importance, or something or that
kind He then said that could not conceive OF any
person who would be likely 70 undertake JOB OF that
Kind that IT, to have his safe rhed. except Columbus
Alexander and this Is the reason which he assigned for
thai sus pcon that Inc had either evidence. or he had
been told that Columbus Alexander had offered either
one or two different persons $1,000 each TO testify before
the Committee IN regard, think he said, TO exGoy.
sh.nherd that Is, TO make certain testimony which
wnnld be trumped up understood II; To testify TO
such Things they might he directed lie stated then
~ Columbus Alexander would undertake Ia procure
testimony In that way. that he believed ne would UNI