Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-15
THE SAFE BURGLARY.
Another Chapter In she History.-The
missing party Michael Hay es before
the Com fftPA.

the Com mfttee.
Michael Hayes, alias W m II. Butler, the party
who escaped, and who participated, as 1t is al
legged, Ia the safe burglary. was brought to the
city this morning by Messrs. Dorsey aud Downes
of Baltimore, (who testified before the commit
tee concerning him. and at once placed him in
the custody of the Sergeant at A rms of the Sem
ate. Upon his arrest being rep Jrted q note was
written by Judge Thurman to Mr.. Harrington,
telling b, m that the committee had Hayes and
inviting him to come before them. Mr.. Har-
rington at once complied and will be examined
ea1SSe RPTsIs ho cse
ada; from thence be wrote a letter to
Mr.. Dorsey telling him that he would visit him
in Baltimore at given time. Contrary TO his
expectation Hayes yesterday came to Bslti-
more, and upon the solicitation Of Dorsey and
Downs, he came with them to this city this
morning and placed himself at the disposal of
the committee. The committee heard his
statement. Columbus Alexander was also in
attendance by request.
IL Is understood that Hayes denies the aida
Wit presented the committee by tho New York
attorney, MIR. SOmmeryllle, who came here in
behalf of the prisoner Benton, but admits that
he did sign paper in blank at S0mmeryille's
request.
At one O'Clock Mr.. Harrington sent Detective
Sargent for a warrant, to which the former will
make affidavit charging Hayes with burglary.
Ii is his intention As the prosecuting officer of
the District To arrest him ON that Charge and
lodge him In all for trial.
At 3 o'clock MIR. Harrington, who had been
questioned with reference TO q party (Hsyes
claims il as himself) who called on him few
days before the burglary with reference to a
CONTRIBUTING case in West Virginia. Mr..
on such business, but he told him it
was out Of his jurisdiction, and he would have
TO 60 TO the Treasury department. He failed
to recognize Hays as the man. Hayes says he
was not with the burglar who committed the
deed. He says he put up the Job, but left be =
fore it was done, end that Nettleship, Mr.
WI itley's assistant, got him to do IL.
The following IS Il affidavit above referred
TO presented TO the committee by the New York
lawy Thomas P. Somerville:
STATE OF NEw YORK, City and Countyef Nev
Fork, ss:-Nichael Hayes, OF said CT Y, being
duly sworn. Geposes and says, that on or Alb )ut
he sixth day Of April last past, he went from
this city to Washington upon the strength OF
some letters he received to obtain an appoint
ment as detective on the Baltimore and Oaio
railroad, which depOneBt had been looking after
for some time previous that failing in getting
the appointment, depOnent turned hts attention
to lock up something that would pay the expen-
SEES OF his journey to Washington; that be visited
various saloons and places OF public resort and
found that the topic of general conversation
Sas the investigation OF the alleged frauds
charged against the Board of Public Works;
tepOnent had read several articles in the ne VS.
papers in regard TO the investigation; aud In
discussing the matter with a gentleman in
FALCON on q street. Geponant expressed an opin.
on as to where the original books and papers
we're likely to be found, which were alleged to
dinner In the afternoon, IN saloon on
9Th street, deponent WAS spoken TO by
German sitting At thu table with
i'm, AID asked to take a drink with him;
that he dOIe so, aud general conversation
followed, and several drinks taken between
-hs m. During the conversation depOnent IN ade
known that he was In qnest Of something TO do;
that he would lik to make few dollars before
eaving Washington. The German replied he
thought he could put him in the way OF making
omething, and we parted, agreeing 70 meet the
spll tyrir off irst .rI,la
by Russell & Leonard. kept the appointment
ard met at the Marble saloon my friend OF the
lay previous with a gentleman whom he intro
duced 10 me as Mr.. Domaine, stating that ID.
Vas gentleman likely TO find me something to
10; that after taking a drink, MIR. Dem.ne ask
poneht aside AND said To me, ''You have
IeaId OF the investigating committee, have
GU not?' / replied that fhsd. The original
looks and contracts, said he, with some warmth
annot be found, or have lot been prod ced,
nd know of come OF the committee who are
anxious to get them, and would pay well for the
getting or them. After some further converse
ion, he proposed to intro luce me 70
Mr.. Columbus Alexander, whom he had
reas TO believe would pay handsomely for the
possession Of the books. | at FIRST declined to
ee Mr.. Alexander, and stated tn Demaoe that
there would be considerable risk to run in at
emPting to get them. Dir. Denane SAID, "No;
Mr. Alexander will take care OF that" The
,ane evening went by appointment with Mr.
)enane TO Mr.. Alexander's house, and after
IN introduction bv Demane, Mr.. Alexander
'Ook me up from his Off ce to his parlor alone,
and commenced the conversation between us
~ saying, "I understand you know where the
'rigina, books and contract papers OF the board
bfpublic works can be found 2" 1 said, eyes,
1ut there will be considerable expense attend
ng the getting Of them, as do not wish to be
lnown in the matter myself" Mr.. Alexander
sked me how much the expense would be. 1
said was not prepared to say then, as it wa.
ecessary for me to see friend in Baltimore
ut that would be able to give him an ans wer
N Monday following, on my return from Bal
n ha nf
April. MIR. Alexander replied that he would
lod himself responsible for 81 900; tn at IL more
vas required he would have to consult his coun-
,el and some Of the gentlemen OF the committee.
| proceeded to Baltimore and returned on
donday following, and met Mr.. Alexander at
he Capitol, as agreed on between US. He then
Urged me to hasten up tho matter and get the
books, as he believed the committee woald
close the investigation tina. week, and that it
was important to him that the existence OF these
looks be discovered. told him l n.eded some
Money, but he declined paying until he got pos
-essiOn Of the books. then found it necessary
borrow some money, and, meeting an ac-
Employment suffi to take me to New York
With the view OF finding man tina, would ope-
ate upon the safe in the district attorneys
flee, where it was believed the books and
ospers were deposited. After several days'
ielay succeeded in picking up William Ben
on, and assuring him that 1t was an easy job
got him to agree to take hold of It, aui get the
looks and papers and deliver them to Mr. Alex
'bder; that deponent returned to Washington
N the night of the 2ist OF April, and on the
following day Benton came on. During the
evening of the 22d l took Benton and intro
iuced him TO MIR. Alexander. Mr.. A. was
anxious to get the books that night, and
pressed Benton TO get them, TO which Benton
-eplied he could not on that night, but
would the m bt following; that deponent
again preached the subject OF com pens ton in
The presence OF Benton, and was again assured
oy Alexander that he was ready aud would do
as he had already said, on the delivery of the
books and papers. Deponent solemnly AYERS
hat he has made the foregoing statement in be-
half and in justice to the young man Benton, now
in prison; that deponeDt understood from Mr..
Alexander that the prod uction OF the books and
papers were for the purpose OF public JUSTICE
hat their committee fully believed that there
lad been false set of books produced, and that
he originals were concealed. Deponent further
lays that he would willingly come forward and
testify to the foregoing facts before the invest
eating committee now ordered, as he under
stands from the newspapers, or before a court Of
justice, were he assured by the authorities
against arrest; that under the understanding
that depOnent was not to be known in he mat
ter, Mr.. Alexander agreed to pay the money to
Benton on the delivery of the books and papers.
And further deponent saith not.
MICHAEL HAYES.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 9Th day
" May, 1874.
CHAs GORrrrp Nofarv pnhIio N V co