The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-15

Wilson really begun July He says that every
man of the forty-hvc composing the Secret Service
force lied from the beginning perslsenty and consist
entity all the way through
Babcock tried throw MIN or the trail OF the bur-
glars and to make him think that whitley was telling
the truth and nothing but tho truth. Wilson in
viied TO go 10 Long Branch and he went Was treated
WELL and heard the friends OF the safe burglars tell
their side Of the story But Wilson discovered in
lew days that there deep rascalty behind the pro-
tests Of innocence. The Solicitor had much TO con-
tend with 'whitey throwing sand In his eyes
and Babcock trying to hug him from behind"
committee composed Of three Senators and four men,
bers of tho House OF Representatives had spent three
months in investigating the conspiracy, and failed
Mr.. Wilson went to Canada and secured evidence that
was the entering wedge, and resulted in convicting
and sentencing several OF the leading actors in the
burglary.
THE SAFE BURGLARY CAsE-ANoTHRR INTER-
VIEW WITH wHITLzY-How BABCocK At
TEMPTED TO MANAGE SOLICITOR WILSON AND
FhLED-rHE USE OF TIE SECRET SERVICE
FOR PERSONAL xSDs-TnIcKs AND MANNERS
OF THE PRIVATE sEcRETARY-cAREER OF
NIKE HAYES.
Colonel Whitley left for New York day. He says
that he is determined to make complete expose OF
all the facts connected with the safe burglary so lar as
his knowledge goes In an interview with the HERALD
correspondent before leaving no gave the follow
ing particulars concerning General Babcocks relation
and connection with ex-solicor Banncld and Bluiord
Wilson, the present Solci OF the Treasury in the
early part OF 1874. Banded was supposed
to be friendly to Babcock and the other
alleged leaders OF the sale burglary conspiracy. but
at last when for certain President Grant in
Rahc In
Colonel whitley, stopped in and began laying his
plans for deceiying Bluford Wilson, who ho knew was
10 be Banded's successor whitlcy's narrative is as
folows:-
Banhed was not In good fellowship at the White
House When the conspiracy first commenced 1t had
people known to be unriendly 10 the administration.
Finally when tho saleburglary job came up, and It
was known that change was to be made IN
the Treasury, saw tho necessity OF keep
ing Banied there. Thinking perhaps that
OF the Secret Service men would be removed and
the particulars Of the conspiracy would loak out
went TO General Babcock and told him tha. II would
not do 10 have man IN the Solicitors Department
The General replied that the man, Buiord Wilson,
whom they intended to put IN was all right; that
brother OF his had previously served with HIM Dab
cock) on General Grants stan, and he knew that he
could be handled made such tight on Banncld to
maintain him In position that when the tmc came that
he 60 General Babcock sent for to his
resignation would DO much better for Us than II
would to have word 20 to the papers that Banleld
had been removed by tho President The understand
ing was that Wilson could be handled by Babcock be-
cause Wilson's brother Grants staif with Bab
cock. But the truth ID Buiord Wilson handled
worth cent although Babcock tried very hard to in
No doubt Bluford Wilson could give some interest
ing facts how Babcock tried to work him. II
curious to soc how Baniicd was managed. They
handled him as one would handle eggs, and In the
resignation business Babcock had two objects in view
one to pacy me and tho other TO paciiy Banhcd and
keep tho situation under control Banlcld really did
not know what WAS gong on, although, from tho tcc-
gram tho l4th OF March, 1874, saying that Babcock
thing up Babcock tried every cxpedient Wilson,
and SAID that he would hold on TO him
by Babcock, and Babcock told him that it was all
right He said that Of the best officers under
the government and Wilson naturally supposed that
il Was so. The result was that Wilson'S eyes, for O
time, were closed us to my guilt and be tclegraphed
TO that effect the Attorney General 1t long,
however before Wilson began to smell rat, and he
thought that he would investigate little further
himself and it resulted In the discovery Of such cvi
dcnce as caused HIM TO put the entire force Of the Sc
cret Service at work the safe burglary case When.
ever would have any talk with Babcock on the sub
jcct he would say
had at least twenty different interviews with him
about the sale burglary matter alone He knew more
S Mss eonecrned IN IL He had dsep Interest IL and
had none. Neither myself nor my owned
piece OF land In this District Tho whole point far
as our connection goes lies simply here. both myself
and my men were officers Of the government, acting
under the instructions OF General Babcock, and wo
had to obey his orders Anything that no required Of
us had 70 be done. He exorted great Influence
Secret Service by Of his position Tho
character OF his orders nothing to me; long as
they came within department our business to
obey. As Superintendent OF Grounds and Public Build
iLgs and OF much property In the District OF
the investigation then going on. The Secret Service
officers way knew either Harrington or Alexan
der nor any one Of the memorialists They wero
simply agents OF tho government, acting under Bab
cock Tor his own purposes might add don't think
that Attorney General Williams or the President had
anything to do with the conspiracy. II Williams was
used he was Used unwittingy.
Colonel Whitley, in answer to an inquiry at this
point, said
know nothing personally Of Shepherds connection
with the matter but IN my opinion, he knew all about
where he was think, Shepherd also. Babcock
did not seem TO care what the newspapers SAID.
About year before the sale burglary occurred there
was a movement on foot to bring Dana to Washington
and Harrington wanted me to put up the job think
It was the very hrst time ever met hun 10 know him.
He wanted me To invent plan to get Dana to
to Washington Babcock consulted me about II the
time went 70 see him ia reference to &
his request; he SAID that II could get 'rho old
scoundre here he would put him in tho Peniten
tiary; they took me down to Shepherds office and
BabcocK told shepherd that was The right kind OF
man TO get Dana here; shepherd turned around when
Dabcock said this and replied that II was matter that
he did not want anything to do with; Babcock said
"WcL II Whitley can get Dana over here, will
put the damned scoundrcl in the Pcnitentiary"
whsreapon made up my mind to r have moth
another case OF proposed kidnapping. A man
named Raymond II. Perry gave some testi-
mony against Babcock In the san Domingo case,
aud Babcock complained about II bitterly, and said
that Perry had falsely against him, and he had
no doubt that he damned scoundrcl Babcock
went on to say that an officer from Texas had rcqu
Perry and that he would DO glad II he could
get hold OF him. Babcock wanted TO the Secret
Service his personal ends ID this instance
we'll as IN the others II Is that did take hold
OF the case, and with the rcqusition papers went
over Rhode Island, and soon located my man, and
applied the Governor OF that State for him. Tho
Governor refused 10 obey tho rcqusition, on tho
ground that the papers were not correctly made
| then reported To Babcock, setting forth that
| did not suppose that he had. any desire
for me 10 commit illegal Act and added that did
not think that the thing could be done In his reply
Babcock acknowledged that the scheme legal,
and he believed that the Moore, who brought the
reQusition up IRON Texas, was u humbug The facs
that Babcock used the detective force OF the United
States Tor his personal benefit shows that he rs
lust the kind OF TO be IN the burglary conspiracy.
lie wanted the Secret Service force 10 kidnap
mon whom he did not like, without expanding dollar
OF his own money rhcse are not the only
that Babcock wanted me TO enter on. am satisfied