The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-07
WASHINGTON.
The Story Of Detective Bell Before the
Clymer Committee.
THE TESTIMONY IN DENIAL.
Statements Of the Attorney General, Mr..
Lueksy and Mr.. Bradley.
AN ALLEGED POLITICAL CONSPIRACY.
Indignation Over the Herald Exposures of
the Indian Ring.
Secretary Bristow and the
Whiskey Ring.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
Statements Of the Attorney General, Mr..
Lueksy and Mr.. Bradley.
AN ALLEGED POLITICAL CONSPIRACY.
indignation Over the Herald Exposures Of
the Indian Ring.
Secretary Bristow and the
Whiskey Ring.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

y NSW WIN ~ GStN1 ~ONtN@Ss Nv ~ = .
WASHINGTON, April 9, 1874
Mr. LuCKEY IN RESPONSE TO DETECTIVE BILL
THE STORY OF POLITICAL CONSPIRACY AND
THE 2FroRTs TO DEFEAT IT-wHAT LOVE
YoR HIS OLD COMMANDER PROMPTED SPIT
TO Do-AN RECLAMATION OF THE FAMOUS
CIPHER.
The following is the statement made by Mr. Luckey.
brmerly the Presidents Private Secretary, to-day be-
lore the Cymer committee concerning his relations to
and dealings with the detective, Bell-
was in st Louis during the latter part OF last
November as q witness in The Avery trail l went
there solely for that purpose and IN no way at General
Mr. Bell camc to me Vt the Iinde Hotel Recognized
him - ono who mad been seeking some
It the Executive Mansion and represented
himself to me As former spy Of the Union army dur
Ing the war, aud had shown me testimonials Of his
faithful service In that capacity and had related some
Of his harbreadth escapes when taken prisoner by the
Confsderates. had been unable TO assist him, and
had not him heard Of him again until he
10 In st. Louis. He said he wanted TO talk 10
privately and had come to me because he felt he
could trust me on account Of my connection with the
President and he felt that the President should BIO
made acquainted with what was gong He said the
hat his allegiance and fidelity belonged 10
aim rather than to those who were seeking
20 do him injury. He told me he vas special agent
;, tho Post Office Department, and, on account OF his
familiarity with duty had been loaned temporarily
% tho Treasury Department TO assist IN procuring evil
aencc In the whiskey Investigations that IN that way
no had become associated in the Office OF Mr. Dyer the
United Statcs Attorney and treated in that Office
assistant and trusted by Mr. Dyer and his
states; that he had become, IN that way, aware OF
many things gong on which convinced HIM that Mr.
Dyer, Mr. Henderson and others were in conspiracy
10 have General Babcock indicted and Tor the sole
pose Of injuring tho administration for pol.ticsl
effect He SAID II 1t were known that he
n.psa IN sa GnsS states os
he would be dismissed ami would lose his place. re-
Piled that whatever he felt Il mis- duty to tell me no
might, and that, II II was OF such nature that lho
President should hear it. should consider IL my duty
TO inform him. also said to him that IL In doing
was true thought could, at least, promise him that
he should not lose his place. or II he did, no should
have another one. He gave me = long story OF what
be had and heard; that there were a number Of
papers relating 10 General Babcock which Mr.. Hendcr
son had been very urgent TO have introduced in the
Mcdonald trial, aud MIR. Dyer had opposed
their Introduction, though he had been directed
10 introduce them by officials OF the Treasury Depart
msnt Vt Washington that there had been some feeling
about It, and when Mcdonald convicted the Sccre
larry OF the Treasury and solicitor Wilson had tele
sraphed Dyer congrstulang him upon his success and
saying that they that his judgment had
been correct in regard the introduction tho WASH
ington papers, meaning BabcOck papers That Mr.
Dyer very much elnted this praise and said he
knew he right and II he had his way they should
not be introduced during the Avery trial either, for
they would have far greater political effect II delayed
great deal more OF The same import which l do
not recall AMI said that they made secret when
alone together 81 their intentions toward the admnis
raton and expressed their confidence that they would
be able kill on General Grant, that the effect would
30 to mako Mr.. Brstow President, and great deal
He said TINT q number Of detectives were in ST
Louis belonging to the OF the Treasury
Department, and that they watched every movement
pf General Babcocks friends, and were STRIVING
avery way get hold OF something against him that
they had man In the telegraph Office who furnished
Them with copies OF any dispatches sent between ST
LOUIS ana Washington, and he thought, from bits OF
conversation he had heard Dyers Office, that letters
sent by General Babcock's friends had bcen opened
and read, aud he believed some one In the Post ONCE
silher at ST. Washington, In thor pay or
assisting them IN that way.
assured Mr.. Bell Of my perfect faith In General
Babcock's innocence and that did not believe no
would be indicted ALL and that looked upon tho
Effort 10 secure his indictments asa persecution and
nothiug else. told Bell that ne could to me 1t
any timo while remained there, and If he learned
anything more he should tell me.
A short time after Mr.. Avery told mo that Bell had
boon talking him. had told him that nc had been
employed by Treasury officials to hunt up evidence
aganst Hoag one OF the absconding indicted revenue
agents. and had found large number OF dispatches
from Hoag under the assumed name Of BixUy, and
hey showed conclusiveiy who had been sending the
Information the distillers oil the contemplated
yads upon them. and that the proof was SO clear
hat any could see that they had needed other
mormer; Bell had said that these tciegrams had not
allowed TO be brought to ST. Louis, but were de-
posted at Indianapolis aud as he had secured them
rom different points, hc would be allowed TO get copies
N expenses
.ould start At indianapolis and get them and
hat he could swear 10 them. Avery said he had given
aim money 70 and he had just eft saying he would
take tho first trnin IL struck me very unfair Tor
Avcryss prosecutors 20 charge him the particular
man against whom all SUSPICION should
when they OF Hoae's dep stchesI and
Knew who who had gwen the information; con-
:ludcd that " Bell brought Avery these dispatches
Ihould feel great deal more confidence In him;
Eithin two three days he returned with the copies
Of the kilograms
The second time Bell called to see mo Mr.. Bradley,
81 Washington with me; Bell objected 10 talking
before him, but told him was perfectly willing Mr.
Bradley should hear whatever he had he wished 10
say, and preferred that he should DO present.
that he was a friend OF mine and gentleman
| could trust fully; Bell had long report
10 make OF what he had done, heard and
seen and made very apparent that he mourning
expense and Mas in great need OF money for his family
and should like to have hs services engaged IN
way. Durng the conversation OF some length he
eccited about what lac had told before and his
solutions suspicious fragments OF conversations he
had overheard IN Mr.. Dycr's Office. he SAID that Mr..
Henderson did not seem % iesl ira. Dc won'a 10 re-
ernmcnt and urgent that Nil that could DO INTRO
duccd against Babcock should pe put IN on tho Avery
trial. that they had letters written on Mansion
headed paper purp0rtng 10 be from General Babcock,
but which, he beicyed we're copies or iorgcres. and
no thought they were using them before the Grand
Jury 10 procure an indictment; that he had read or
read some VI these letters, and he had said 10
Mr. Dyer that General Babcock might be able 70 give
very simple cxpanat Of them, when Dyer had re-
piled that Babcock would not have an oppouuniiy
bis mouth would he closed
~ he was about leaving my room ne sad nc couiu,
he thought. obtain possession OF these letters long
enough bring them Us, and we could tell whether
iney were using orgcrics or not, and he might get
iho other papers and We could see what
they were. | ~ once informed him that
had no money To give him and authority to en-
ploy him; that would not sanction MS doing any
shing which was illegal improper to do In the mat
YER; told MIN then, II remember correctly, that Mr.
Bradley had come out 10 81 Louis counsel Cen
sral Babcock. aud he was lawyer and knew what
might be Justnsbe IN General Babcocks interest," but
did not; y might be lair, under the circumstances,
and u might not 10 obtain the truth as just what
was being done, but aid not know and could not
sanction anything did not feel certain or Mr. Brad
ley indorsed what sad and Bell lett Mr.. Bradley
has told me that alter had left LOUIS Bell said 10
him that he thought had made great mistake In not
allowing HIM 10 yet the Babcoek papers
saw Bell several times before Ielt 81. Louis and
be had about substantially the tell as 10 the
political conspiracy which lie alleged was contem.
plated BY Messrs. Henderson and Dyer IN connection
eth officials In Washington About the last thing hc
told me before len 81 Louis was that when DYER
came back the court his 0flec alter the
introduction In the Avery trial OF the Bahcock tec-
erams ne said, THAT 10 something for them TO chew