National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-19
DISTRICT SAFE BURGLARY.
TESTIMONY TAKEN By THE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE.

EXAMINATION OF COL. H. C. WHITLEY,
A. B. NEwCoMB AND NJ. G. BAUER-MR.
HARRINGTON AND MR.. ALEXANDER RE-
LIEvED OF sUsPICIoN-FURTHER TEs-
TIMoNY BY OFFICERS OF THE SECRET
SERVICE.
Wednesday afternoon and evening the inyesti-
cation into the blowing up and robbery OF Mr..
Harrington's safe was continued by the committee
charged with that affair. The principal and i'm
portant witnesses examined were Col. H. @.
Whitley, chief of secret SERVICE Treasury Depart
ment; Mr.. A. B. Newcomb and NJ. G. Bauer,
members OF his force. 1t is not quito possible for
US to present tho testimony verbatim Ell litsrGtim,
yet the following idea of 1t may be relied upon as
Col Whitley was sworn, and testified that all
the statements set forth in the aidavits and tes-
timony of Michael Hayes, Do far as they related
70 MN, wnete WHOLLY anu o, Sean NJ Heyos for
over a year, and was satisfied that all his state
ments were false SO far as they involve the name
of Mr.. Nettleship. Col. Whitley went on and in
detail set forth the facts that Hayes statement
to the effect that Col. Whitley sent tor him to
come to New York and directed him to report to
Nettleship in Washington was false in every par
ticular; that all his statements were manufac-
tured from whole cloth from beginning to end.
His (Col. Whitley's) testimony was also to the
effect that he had been using every endeavor to
bring Hayes from Canada to testify before the
committee, and by their request Mr.. HAYES
appearance before the comm WAS uuo
to the efforts OF Col. Whitley's force.
Mr.. A B. Newcomb had visited Hayes, in Can
ada on the 9th of May; he had q subpoena from
11S Sawcamb used his best Efforts to induce
Hayes to come forward and testify to all that he
knew in the safe-burglary business; Hayes de-
manded absolute immunity from punishment from
Colonel Whitley in writing, and with that sale
guard would go anywhere. The statement made
to Mr.. Newcomb, In Toronto by Hayes, entirely
and fatty contradicts his testimony made before
the investigating committee. Mr.. NeWcomb, on
taking the stand, squarely corroborated the test-
mony of Colonel Whitley as to his going to Can
ada and he produced before the committee his
letters of instruction from Colonel hitey to md
Hayes and obtain from him all that he knew in
relation to any person connected WITH tne secIet
safe burglar and also to get him to come to
Washington in obedience to the subpoena; and II
terms he would come, and to obtain any other
facts in regard to the burglary that ne could
During Newcombs interviews with hayes the
latter emphaticsly stated that no person con-
nected either directly or indirectly, with the Sc
cret service had anything to do with the matter,
but he objected to swearing 70 the iaSt on tne
fore q lawyer in New York, which embraced all
the facts desired, and giving the names Of the
cps s of pne or two. HAYES Stated to NeWcomb
that he was employed by Mr.. Columbus Alexan-
der to get the books wanted, and that Mr.. Alex
q bribe"-that he laughed, and said, "All right,
Mr.. Alexander, understand my business" Mr.
Alexander then told him that other parties were
much more when the job was done as he says.
The testimony mainly given by Colonel Whitley
also went on to prove the superstition that gang
of men were engaged in the business OF the bur-
glary, and sought at the same time to throw the
onus OF the crime on the secret : vice. Oarter's
reputation was that OF thoroughly bad man:
Hayes was for long time in jail in New York, and
was held there under an indictment for murder.
Whatever bis employment had been In the secret
service 1t was wholly owing to his desperate
nhar afa nd had nrin
breaking up OF the Ku-Klux-Klan at the South;
that he was never trusted, and was always shad-
owed by other officers and those depended upon
for testimony before the courts; that he was never
employed on the regular force, and never trusted
with the absolute execution OF any conclusive
trust. 1t was singular fact that Hayes lis backed
up by more important persons, who are doing their
best to get into the secret service, and for that
reason were only too willing to swear to anything
They were all men of bad reputation-especially
Carter.
The testimony was to the effect that Whitley
and the men under him had had nothing whatever
to do with procuring the burglary, and that 1t was
solely owing to Mr.. Nettleship's plans and pur-
poses that Hayes had been induced to come to
Washington. Colonel W hitley was also emphatic
that he mad not now and never had either per-
sonal or official relations with Mr.. Harrington;
nor indeed with any Of his alleged associates.
Speaking from his experiences as detective
otfcer, he swore that reason and Judgment alike
the idea that nyDistrct officer could have
been pryy to the JOB, because he would be sure to
foolish to suppose that the memorialists aided |
and abetted such q scheme. His theory Of It was
that ii looked more like plan on the part OF
officers of the secret service, and through them to
possibly throw discredit upon the Board of Public
Works and Mr.. Harrington, and at the same time |
certain parties, and possibly destroy the present
;6sie n Of tas sss service aRs SECURE
The detectives are now fairiy on the track Of |
ha maj had hrirt lar hn
escaped. He has recently been seen with Hayes. |
The character Of the evidence thus far shows |
IF tSe af and that Il Wss
wholly the work Of the desperate and infamous |
men who sought it as job to bring, IL possible, |
sVSdsnt tSet tba wboe scSes 80 far =. tbat y
Is most lamentable failure.
THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY.
At 2 O'Clock, yesterday afternoon, the investi- |
eating committee assembled for the purpose Of
taking further testimony in the case. Colonel
MI. A. B. Newcomb, Mr.. Albert Cum,
Mr.. Thomas Smaller and Mr.. J. Ferd. CunE were |
1ected with the headquarters Of the secret service
IN New York, and is charged with the accounts |
md disbursements. Mr.. ]. Ferd Cum holds the |
same responsible position here. Mr.. Smaller is |
also connected with the Washington office, and in |
addition to his duties as corresponding clerk 10 |
charged with the custody Of the captured coun-
1f Introduction to the testimony will make II per-
haps more clear. After the safe was blown up |
here were some who hardly hesitated in openly
real principal, while many others wisely shook |
their heads, and said It looked as though he knew
too much about it. The wiser portion, however,
rejected all such suspicion as simply preposterous
and impossible. What was said Of Mr.. Harrng- |
ton was also said Of Mr.. Alexander, and the |
Of both gentlemen have patiently waited
equally glad for the sake Of both that the real |
object and purpose Of the burglary is at last
found out Colonel Whitley has submitted proof
bat the real burglar 10 one r
SAMUEL PELKER,
Of Chicago. This brings q new man upon the |
scene, bat the record Of whose life is stained
with crime and tattooed with the sentences OF
courts. He is now in Washington, but preceding |
and biographical sketch Of his criminal career. |
His name is In the police records Of New York as
with the dark and mysterious murder
of Mr.. Nathan. and the whole history Of the |
'bloody shirt" is intimately interviewer with his
own confessions. Hayes aud Carter have boen |
tools Ss tSs
been seeking to supplant Colonel Whiteley and
obtain his pIace-hence motive and q reason for
putting up this Job"
on the point offurnished Hayes with money as al
legged. The fact that Hayes was furnished money |
defraying his travelling expenses from Canada to
Washington. Mr.. Cum verified the testimony oil
the preceding witnesses OF the force that none OF
hueH VI HSdEu VI blc VI lue
burglary until It was accomplished. He was also
questioned as to all of Mr.. Nettleship's late
movements, and confirmed what Mr.. N. had
previously testified to. The same ground was
gone over with Mr.. ]. Fred Cum but nothing of
the slightest Importance was ELECTED, from the
simple fact that he was absolutely without any
knowledge OF the affair whatever. Mr.. Shailer's
examination was q brief one, but in the matter Of
correspondence on general business with the off,
GERS of the bureau, IL furnished additional proof
Of Colonel Whitleys and Mr.. Newcomb's state
ments
What in the foregoing has relation to Felker is
given on the authority OF Colonel Whitley him.
self, and is in substance as il has been stated to
the committee. Tho matter does not rest here.
No stone will be LETT unturned to bring at last
the conspirators and offenders to Just punishment.
THE WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSO-
CLATION
To the Editor of the National Republican:
The late action of the Women's Christian Asso-
citation Of this city, in declining to receive money
raised by means of dramatical entertainments, is,
with all Difference TO the motives OF those ladies
who sustain it, to others who take widely differ