New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-06
THE ST. LOUIS INDICTMENTS.
WASHINGTON EXCITED.

WASHINGTON EACllED'
NOTHING KNOWN THERE OF THE ACCUSATION OF
ORvIL GRANT AND GEN. BiBCoCK-cSE PAhIf
ORGAN THAT EVIDENTLY DID Mt THINK 1T M
PROBABLE.
FIR TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.--There has been good deal
of excitement in the city to-day in consequence oil
the news printed this morning, that the ST. LOUIS
Grand Jury had indicted Gen. Babcock the Presi-
dents Secretary, and Orvil Grant, the Presidents
brother. on the oath of FitzrVy, late Deputy Col-
lector. for completely in the whisky conspiracy to
defraud the Government. The news was printed IN
The Republican, the Administration organ with big
head lines and an editorial introduction. IL 10 SAID
that there have been hard words used against those
responsible for the publication. Mr. Harlan's pa
per, The Chronicle. was in better discipline, and
omitted all mention of tho matter. The introduc-
ton to the news IN The Republican says that this
testimony of Fitzroy was in accordance with the
tactics of the Whisky Ring. IL says:
When they ltbc members OF the RiDgl caught they
threaten 70 expose others, and even VIII swear lascy
order to avoid public scandal The ST. Louis Ring have
been making such threats 10 the President and Secretary
assured that whoever wac guilty oear the stigma
and disgrace of their acts; hat no person Would De
screened OF protected.
Little else has been tailed Of in the departments,
at the hotels and in the streets to-day, and 1t has
created moro comment than tho elections. The
friends OF the gentlemen named look upon the news
in two ways The class think that it is entirely
false, no indictments having been found; and the
other that even II the indictments have been found
they will not stand. They say that Fitzroy Is
confessed rascal and that il is within his any ras
Gals pow er go before grand jury and procure by
perjury the Indictment of any man. In conversa-
tion Gen. BabcOck says no has received no intIma-
lion of The fact except through the papers tins mon-
,..o Ia
to be presented 10 the Grand Jury Ie says he has
met Fitzroy once, but knows very little of him. lie
says he does not believe he has been indicted and
that he has had anything 10 do with -. Louis
whisky matters.
II such important indictments as those OF the
Presidents brother and the Presidents Secretary
have been found il seems ftrangc that no inforUa-
ton of the fact should have reached Washington
except through the newspapers. The Attorney
General who is in constant Geographic conmulica-
ton with the ST. Louis officials, the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Solicitor Of the Treasury both oi
whom il would seem, should have been informed,
all say they know nothing of the matter, aud have
heard nothing from St. Louis regarding il. Both
Secretary Bgistow and Commissioners Pratt say they
do not believe tho report, but think 1t Is
sensation set afoat by tho Ring 10 break
their fall. Solicitor Wilson, who probably
il better informed of the secrets of the Whisky Ring
than any body else says the story is absurd and that
he does not believe word of it. He says he has
never heard the names of Babcock and Grant mon
toned in connection with crooked whisky. Gen.
Babcock himself appears TO be perfectly tranquil in
his mind and seems to care very little for the re-
port There are two opinions regarding bin. His
friends express the utmost confidence in him, and
denouuce the story and his enemies believe nll the
i'll that is said of him.