The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-30

ctttlotlNl question. III is no IhlIb Oh our
purpose now 10 discuss this question.
We content ourselves with simply de-
timing IL. It's definition ought to damn
1t.
The ~. Louis Ring.
BABCoCK AND Mrs. GRANT-wHAT CoHBETT
CONFESS ES--AN INTERESTING
AFFIDAVIT.
ICorrespondenee Of The Chicago Times
ST. LOUIS, Dec. AT Is u matter of
discussion among few Of the leading
families Of st. Louis with whom theDents
and the Presidents family are on in
timatc terms, that Babcock's strong
hold on the President is through Mrs.
Grant They say that the sudden
change Of front ut Washington on the
whisky prosecutions was not the Presi-
dents individually inspired action, but
that he was moved to 1t by Mrs. Grant,
who suddenly awote 10 u realization Of
the situation when the Babcock telc-
grams came in on the trial Of Avery.
She commenced even then intcrccding
for Babcock, and when, afew days later,
the news OF "Sylph's" Indictment
reached Washington, Mrs. Grant put
forth her utmost efforts to save Babcock
from conviction. These old friends Of
the family say that Babcock owes his
position and his influence over the
President to his benefactress.
Just before the close OF tho session Of
the last United States grand jury the
Government counsel brought down here
from Chicago u Bohemian newspaper
man named VIM. 9. Corbctt, who was
formerly employed on the Democrm
here. Corbctt had written the counsel
that he knew something about the
whisky ring, and they sent for him. He
came and appeared before the grand
jury. His testimony was to the effect
that Mckee and Mcguire had confessed
to him. This appeared 50 improbable
that, when taken in connection with
Corbett's request for subsistence until
he should be needed to testify, II led to
the conclusion that his evidence might
be dispensed with. He was told that he
would not be needed. He fell in the
hands OF some parties ON yesterday who
have not yet shown their hands, but
have been doing some heavy work in
connection with tho whisky prosecu-
tions. Corbctt was approached by A.
y; Wakefield, formerly u famous kind
Of ~ man here, and more recently ono
Of the proprietors Of the Grand Opera
House. After finding out what Corbett
knew, Wakefield took him to the Office
Of Frank j. Bowman, n prominent law
yer, where he made an affidavit which
he was told was TO be sent to Washing
ton. The object Il not plain, unless it
was intended TO- bring the Government
COUNCIL into disreputc, and give occa-
sion for more official decapitations.
The affidavit was as follows;
I, WIN. Corhett, Of st. Louis, in the
State OF Missouri, Journalist and attor-.
ney, make oath and say;
First That | was one of tho editorial
writer's al tho Democrat, IL newspaper
published In st, Louis, for about liftocn
months, during which time | had fire.
qucnt conversations with VIM. Mckee,
the principal proprietor of said paper
Second THAT on u certain Sunday ar
ternoon, near tho close Of the year 1871
or tho beginning Of 1879, the said VIM.
Mexico called at tho editorial rooms OF
said newspaper and seated himself be
side me at my desk, and commenced to
argue with me on the subject of religion.
The said VIM. Mckee ii u Presbyterian,
/ believe. and 1 am y Catholic; that
said VIM. Mckee, referring 10 certain
doctrines OF the Catholic church, re-
marked to me that / would believe any
whisky would make him say anything.
He had evidently been drinking.
Third That on my making that OBJ
servatlon tho said WIN. Mckee said that
no could tell me something about whis-
ky, and | replied that | would rather
hear about whisky than about religion,
and he and / could never agree on the
latter subject.
Fourth That the said VIM. Mckee
then said that he was making good
thing out OF whisky, wherefore | re-
marked that | was not aware that he
was in the whisky business. He then
declared that he was not so, directly.
but indirectly that distillers hero wore
understood whisky, than they were
paying duty on, and had to make a
weekly divide among certain persons,
among whom he was one.
Fifth That the said VIM Mckee
won't on to say that he was making u
good thing out Of the matter, and that
he and u few others had weekly di-
vision Of money obtained as aforesaid
from tho local distlllers. The said VIM.
Mckee further said that he did not
know how long the thing would last
and he also informed me that We doubt
less could get on without ''making it all
right with several persons.
Sixth-The said VIM. Mckee, at the
said interview, informed me that said
distiIlers could not get on without ar
ranging with him as the principal pro-
prietor of the said Democrat, the lead
ing Republican organ.
Seventh-That / further say that
was for long time intimate with Con-
stantine Mcguire, the successor Of Mr..
Ford, in the office OF the Collector Of
Internal Revenue at st. Louis, and that
the said Constantine Mcguire, shortly
before and after his appointment, prom
ised me a position in the Collectors
office,
Eighth That the said Constantine
Mcguire informed me short time after
his entering on his duties that he found
many irregularities in his office, but
that he was powerless to prevent them.
He further stated to me that the irreg- |
ularities referred to were among the |
local distillers, and that they had to pay
money to a number Of persons for /
ahioldfnO them In tho vnaff1r. that exaid /