National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-04
DISTRICT SAFE BURGLARY.
THE TESTIMONY OF SOLICITOR
BUFoRD WILSON.

BUFORD WILSON,
THE REcoLLEcrIoRs AND suspicious OF
COLUMBUS ALExAEDER-HTsTURY OF
THE SOLICITORS ISvEsTlGATlORs-THE
COURT DECIDES TO EXCLUDE THE EVI-
DENcE OF MRS. HAYES.
The safe burglary conspiracy ease occupied the
Criminal Court yesterday:
COLUMBUS ALEXANDER AGAIN.
Mr.. Alexander, after asking to,make an explain
alton, said that It vas on the Ieth Of April not the
18TH that the books Of Evans were first brough9 TO
the special attention Of the committee. Some Of
the books had been produced on the Gath Of
March.
Orossexaminsd By Mr.. Riddle. The social re-
lations Of witness and Mr.. Harrington were not
disturbed during the nyestigation. Witness had
said to members Of the committee that ne believed
the books produced as Evans were fraudulent.
Some Of the books we're Of interest. II Evans
bank book could have been gotten It would have
told tale that they were something
LIKE THE RIAL EsEATx POOL,
very hard to get into. The interview between
Butler Hayes as to getting the books was about
six or eight minutes. Witness said he would not
buy evidence, but he would pay expressage on the
books. Hayes had nicer appearances then than
and appearance that Of gentleman. Witness
did not ask for his address, nor where he came
nom. The BOOKS were 10 De delivered on Thurs
reason why witness did not get subpoena to the
books was that Butler had already promised 70
get them as soon as his friend came.
WHAT Mr.. ALEXANDRA REcoLLEcrs.
Witness could not reeolleet whether the last
interview with Butler took place on Monday be-
Mr.. DsTidEs. You recollsct the morning amer
Witness. And the appearance Of Mr.. Harring-
ton then, too, TecOllect that witness suspected
some Tascality after the last interview, and sent
Mr.. Christie to aeQuaint Wilson OF the facts;
when witness came the last time Tom Evans,
Albert Wilson, BROOKE Meckall and witness
two sons were there. IL never occurred 70 wit
ness to
NOTIFY JOHN o. EVANS
that there was some plot against him; witness
did not think Evans cared Tor the people here,
witness had heard that Metzger had called 70
see him, but never had any talk with him; wit
ness feared that some Of the Whitley detectives
were trying to get up job upon him, and he re-
ferred all persons to his counsel when he spoke TO
Mr. Christie, Whose Office was above police head
no use for as TO 60 down there, Mr.. Harrington
has control Of the police; We had better go to the
police; this was after the burglary. y
Mr.. Davidge. DID you include hr. Mattingly
in your suspicions9
Witness. Well, l had no great opinion Of
"THE WHOLE KIT AND DOODLE"
Of them. ILaughter.l
Witness Win; am always prepared for burglars
Mr. Christie may have been there that night.
Mr. Merriek may have been there.
Mr. SOLICITOR WILSON'S TESTIMONY.
Buford Wilson. Witness Is Solicitor ofthe Treas
ury; entered the ONCE on the 18th Of June; Wit
ness knew the handwriting Of Nettleship; has
seen him write several times The Apologize
dispatch, securities good Investments" that is
Nettleshlp's handwriting. Witzess got It from
n Eganadn teleuranl Of1ce. (AnOtleF
shown and Identified as one handed TO witness by
Hayes on August 2o.) Witness knows T. P. Som
writing Of Someryille at the Continental and
Nettleship at the Rossln house.
Cross-examined.i Witness had examined no
kilograms, but received copies of all kilograms |
sent 70 Nettleship by the secret service agents |
concerned in this affair. One OF the kilograms |
turned over was dispatch from SomerVIlle to |
Harrington; saw no Telegram signed BY Harrlng- |
TOM witness began his Investigation on the 9Th Of
July last.
MES had q rule that the
TELEeRAMs OF SUBORDINATE oFFIcKRs
in Departments on business could be examined |
by the heads OF Departments, was discussed ct |
some length and admitted.
such rule, but It was upon that hypothesis that |
the examination was made. Copies Of kilograms |
GeT love nv 50 fsr as witness Knows "i'A
Mr.. Wilson then went upon the bench with the /
judge, and some conversation took place between /
them
A DISCUSSION OF LAW POINTS.
The prosecution then proposed to call Mrs. |
Hayes, and her admissibnity was discussed at
MI. Hill commended for the Government that
the evidence was admissible, as wherever the /
husband could testify the wife was not dlSquali-
Messrs. DaYidee and Henkle urged that a nOue
PTosequf was not q conclusive discharge, and that
50 long as Hayes was in danger his wife could not
recess was here taken.
At the close Of the recess Q considerable time |
was spent in waiting for the accused and counsel
TIE DECISION OF JUDGE HulrPHRKYs.
The Court said the question Of the admission Of |
the evidence Of the wife Of an accomPlice in q /
conspiracy against whom a a0le ProseqUf had
been entered was most important one. After /
presenting his reasons, the Court. on the author
ity OF Lord marlborough, declared that the evil i
munity which draws line Of distinction between
husband and wife in the essentials OF association
win uproot and destroy society"
The prosecution then called Charles A. Taylor.
Witness is . clerk In the First Auditors once;
knows
HANDWRITING OF COL WHITLEY
has settled HIS accounts since 1859; has had fire.
quent knowledge of his Endorsements, and Of his
write; suppose he signed the receipts for his OEn
There was then submitted to witness the teIe-
gIaph-book in which Col. Whitley receipted fer
Witness said: ~ believe it bears the character
istie marks Of Col. Whitley's handwriting, and 70
the best Of my knowledge and belief 1t Is Colonel
Wbitley's handwriting"
The Shaw letter wa then produced and shown
to the witness, who said he could not testify that
that was WIS signature, but
BY COMPARISON OF HIS WRITING
he was Inclined TO think that it was whitley's.
But the court ruled that evidence inadmissible.
Alter an argument BY Mr.. Hill, citing the case
Of DR.. Webster, the defence, on cross-examna-
ton produced a number Of slips Of paper, on each
Of which were written ''H. y. Whitley, !" and he
was asked as to each II that was, in his opinion,
While he was ANSWERING the Court interviewed,
and said that method Of examination was mad
ANoTHKR WITNESS AS TO HANDWRITING.
A. ]. Chapman testified that he was an en-
pioyee Of the First ComptrOller's Office. 1t was
part Of the duty Of witness 70 pass on signatures.
be knew the signature of Col. Whitley, but never
saw him write. Telegraph book submitted
Thinks that is WhhIey's signature
CrOss-exnmination: Never pretended to be an |
expert on handwriting. Whitley sometimes puts
A long examination took place as to the method
Of determining handwriting.
wHs SAW BENTON IN JAIL. laA
Benton Russ, deputy warden of the District
April. Some two Or three days after his incsrce.
ration he asked for paper to write to his wife, and
he wrote note to A. B. Williams. Williams
other note was sent, and Williams came again.
Cross-exnmined: II was nothing unusual for
lawyers to visit prisoners. Mr.. Riddle had called
% see Benton. Mr.. Harrington had also visited
Benton in July.
]. ]. JOHNSON. Witness is United States
Witness was called on in May; |
thinks II was the 9th; was called by W. NJ, Evans,
Of the District Attorneys once, for the purpose
Of taking the acknowledgment Of Benton 70 an
affidavit Benton was brought down TO thu war
denis room, and there made the a6hdAYit Soale
days afterwards, the newspapers having mean
while made
A REPORT OF THE MATTER,
Harrington complained Of the report as unjust
and asked witness as to the method IN which the
lffidaFit was taken, and showing to witness at
he same time the affidavit which Benton had
made on the previous day. That was the last |
time witness saw the affidavit. q. /
At this point, SIS, Mr.. Riddle said that he had
expected TO have introduced the ladies, mrs. |
Hayes and Mrs Zirruth,) or he would have had
more witnesses. As 1t was, he had no more for
The court then adjourned until tomorrow
morning at II o'clock.
BOOK SALE THIS EVENING.
The balance Of the hne private library on sale
by Messrs. LAtimer Cleary, auetioneers, will be
soId this wednesday, evening, when the rarest
and most valuable books Of the collection will be
closed out.
SINGING AND FANCY BIRDS.
Latimer Cleary received to-day another con-
,fOnrnent Of baautIful singing and fanev hirda If