Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-05
WASHINGTON.
What District Attorney Dyer
Has to Say Of the Dead
Beat Bell.

AASeOAHSt VI t9ts lAVuiFf, ao-HUN ,oitNtH
ing Bells testimony. Witness first
met Bell i'm st. Louis in the fall OF
1875. He came TO the District At
torney's office one day and showed an
envelope with a note on the back
signed Avery. Witness understood
ii TO be written to Fitzroy 10 deliver
any papers i'm his possession to Bell
He lInharstaad pcli ra,7-c oisiuS cyl-
dence for the Government.
Bell was to see Joyce and if posi-
bic get the correspondence that pass
ed between Joyce, Avery and Bah
cock. Wrote note to the Warden
of the Jail and asked him TO deliver
the papers to Bell, the bearer. Bell
subsequently, came TO st. Louis du-
ring the time Of Babcock's trial.
Witness met him at the house of
Eaton, special counsel for the Govern
ment. He intimated that he had got
the Avery papers from the
files of the District Attorneys Office,
and exhibited them to Avery and
wife at the Lindell Hotel. Witness
asked him the character Of the pa
pers, in order to ascertain the truth
of the statement. Bell said he had a
pencil memorandum from Benford
Wilson and dispatch from the Treas
nry asking witness to come to the
Secretarys room. He remembered he
had had such papers in his possession
and was satisfied from Bells CONVEX
sation that he knew something about
their disappearance.
Bell asked if he had any dispatches
signed b. Finch, or Bnllfinch, and
said he had telegraphed for certain
cipher papers in New York also a
letter from A. G. Bradley, telling him
he would be cared for. The sub
stance of his statement was, that a
proposition had been made to him by
Luckey and Babcock to extract the
testimony in the Babcock case from
the District Attorneys office. Wit
ness had been very careful OF dis
patches and letters relating to the
Babcock case. because he feared some
such exploit as was resortcd to i'm the
Avery case. He placed them in n
box and deposited them in a safe de-
post vault. Before that Bell was
one day seen In the District Attorneys
office overhauling some papers and
was Informed that nobody was allow
ed to do that In the absence Of Col.
Dyer. Bell excused himself, saving
he was hunting a match to light his
cigar.
WASHINGTON, April 3-This morn
ing the War Department Committee
examined John C.Collins, post trader
at Fort Laramie, appointed through
the influence Of President Grant
Witness was for many years resi-
dent Of Galena, Ills. His father and
the President were formerly in bust
ness together. He understood in 1872
that there was to be some change at
Laramie post. !. He was living in
Omaha and came to Washington to
get q post. Got a simple letter of in
PRODUCTION from Orville Grant, in
Chicago, to Gen. Dent, usher at the
White House, by whom he was kind
ly treated. Saw the President and
got letter of recommendation to the
Secretary Of War, who said he wish
ed the President had ordered the ap-
pointment and relieved him of some
embarrassment because there were so
many applicants for the post. He
waited to see what the Secretary of
War proposed 10 do about it,
and in the meantime the Pres
ident went to Kentucky to sec his
father who was dying. Witness
found he was charged at tho War
Department with being Democrat.
He went to the President upon his
return and told him about it and the
President wrote letter saying that
such charges amounted to nothing,
that he had known witness ever since
infancy and had no warmer support
ers than his father and family. Wit
ness did not use Iany other influence
and has never paid a dollar directly
or indirectly, either TO get or hold
the position. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-Gcn. Gus
ter being recalled to-day and asked
by the War Expenditures Committee
why he had not told of abuses of the
frontier before this, answered because
of the order of March 1873, that no
officer should suggest or recommend
any action by members Of Congress
in regard 10 military affairs and re-
curing that all petitions on these
subjects be forwarded through the
Gen. of the army and Secretary of
War; also requiring an officer visit
ing Washington during the session of
Congress to register at the Adjutant
Generals Office. In addition he must
address letter to the Adjutant Gen
eral of the army reciting the purpose
Of and The time that will be embrac-
ed in his visit and the authority I'M
der which he is absent from his COM
mand or station. The purpose or OBJ
ect thus stated will be the perfect
guide of the officer during his stay.
Gen. Custer proceeded to say that
his order closed the mouths of all |
lrmy officers with regard to the abuse
I, 90 nxysstol N