Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-06
THE BOGUS SAFE ROBBERY.

How a Put-uP Job Ea1leC-The wash
fngtOn Rings DisgracefuI PIOttings
Exposed.
washington special May 81 to the Cincinnati
Gazette.
The sensation for the coming week
Will probably be the developments con-
nected with the alleged robbery of the
safe in the Office of Harrington, Acting
Assistant United States Attorney for
this district, Secretary of the District
government, and one of the counsel in
the pending investigation. The circum-
stances connected with this affair have
formed the subject of two reports by
Maj. Richards, Chief of Police, to the
Board of the Metropolitan Police. Maj.
Richards set forth that he was called
upon by Harrington and informed that
he had reason to believe the safe In his
Office was to be broken open on a GER
tain night, and that he desired the
presence of Maj. Richards to work up
the case, Mr.. Harrington insisting that
all the operations In connection with
it should be carried on strictly IN
accordance with his direction.
The report details all the circum-
during the night of the final arrest of
the supposed robber upon the steps of
the residence of Columbus Alexander,
who represents the memorialists each
day before the committee. The publ
cation of this report Of Maj. Richards
has been strongly urged upon the Board
of Metropolitan Police, but thus far they
have insisted upon keeping 1t entirely
secret. The members of the board are
appointed by the President, confirmed
by the Senate, and paid by the Gov
eminent. The only known reason for
further concealment on their part Is to
shield the District Government and to
protect the parties to this nefarious
plot. One of the morning papers, en-
tirely friendly to the District Govern
ment, mentions the names of Harring-
ton, Thomas Shepherd,a brother of the
Governor, and one Williams, an officer
of the Police Court, as parties IN the
plot. From the best information that
can be gathered, Clarvoe, of the city
detective force, and Maj. Richards,
of the national force, were
upon the opposite side of the street
from Harrington's Office when the safe
was blown open. Major Richards de-
sired to make an immediate arrest,
but was prevented from doing so by
Harrington. After the explosion two
men emerged from the building, one
carrying a carpet sack filed with
papers from the same, and came direct
1y across the street where the
party Of officials were standing, Har-
rington, still insisting that no arrest
should yet be made. Here the two
men separated, going In opposite direc-
tons. One was not followed al al
and the officials named followed close
after the man with the carpet sack, he,
going IN the direction of Mr.. Alexan-
der's house, some seven squares dis
tant. 1t is stated that he lost his way,
and was directed by one of the party
following. Upon arriving at MIR. AL
exander's door, and ringing the bell for
sometime without succeeding in
arousing anyone in the house, Maj.
Richards insisted on making an arrest,
and the man was taken to the police
headquarters.
The explanation given to the whole
transaction by the members of the
force, who were indignant at the at
tempt TO make tools of them In carry
ing out this plot, is that the two men
who blew the safe were thieves brought
here for the purpose, and thoroughly
posted In what was desired of them.
Mr.. Alexander had first been approach
ed on several occasions, and informed
that the books and papers Of great
value to the, in the investi-
CATION could be obtained by them.
When the safe was finally blown open,
and the contents taken to MIR. Alexan-
der's door, the plot contemplated the
immediate arrest of Mr.. Alexander
when the thief should succeed in secur-
ing his presence at the door, and was
in the act OF handing him the carpet
sack of papers. His failure to awaken
any one by ringing defeated the plot.
Had 1t succeeded, the theory of those
who projected it seems to have been
that it would have disgraced the
memorialists before Congress and
the country. The fact that several of
those engaged occupy official positions
In the district government and courts,
and that the Board of Metropolitan Po-
lice is paid by and IS responsible to
Congress, and that the whole plot was
designed to defeat an investigation or
dered by Congress, gives the whole af-
fair grave aspect.