The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09

The testimony of II. G. WHITLEY, late
Chief of the Secret Service Division os the
Treasury Department, taken before a sub
committee OF the judiciary Committee OF
the House. clearly establishes the conncc-
ton of the White House with the atrocious
conspiracy entered into by certain Wusn-
lngton officials and two or more profession
oil burglars, to blast the character aud i'm
peril the liberty Of one of the most respect
able citizens OF Washington. This will
surprise no one who has carefully weighed
the facts relative to that villainous plot
which have heretofore been given in TIE
Bun.
WHITLEY testified that he was in Florida
when the conspiracy was concoctcd; that
he was summoned to Washington by BAH
COCK, at that time the confidential private
secretary of the President, who told the
detective that some of his friends wanted
little job done, aud then directed him TO
see DICK lIARRINGToN, who was ut that
time Assistant District Attorney, for fur
ther instructions. In pursuance OF the
directions given by the Presidents con-
fdeutial secretary, WHITLEY visited HAIR
RINGToN, who gave him instructions to
carry out the plans for n pretended bur-
glary, the intention OF which was to afford
a pretencc for falsely accusing Mr.. CoLUM-
BUS ALEXANDER with being concerned in
the crime, so rs TO ruin his character and
send him to the penitentiary. His testi-
mony on other points fully corroborates
that presented by the prosecution on the
trial OF HARRINGTON ana his confederates.
MILES. one Of the burglars engaged in this
conspiracy against an honest citizen, has
just been sentenced TO fourteen years i'm
prisonment in the Vermont state prison
for robbing the Barre Bank; his pals,
BABCoCK and HARMNGToS, are still at
large, the former holding a commission in
the army and several important civil
Offices.
1t is well known that after HARRISG-
TONS indictment for his participation in
the conspiracy, II wSs the White House in
nuence which saved him from the peni-
Tertiary, through q disagreement OF the
jury, in the face of overwhelming evidence
against him. 1t was the brothcr-in-law of
the President, Marshal SHARP, who packed
the jury with personal friends OF IIARRING-
ton and tools Of the Ring; and while the
trial was in progress, the President HIM
self, in defiance of the requirements
of common decency, invited HARRING-
TON from the prisoners dock to IA
particularly select card reception at
the White House. This outrage upon
propriety was evidently intended for
effect upon the jury. 1t is also well known
that WHITLEY's friends boosted that ii was
an impOssib!lity to secure his conviction or
punishment for his participation in the
conspiracy, no matter what the evidence
might be against him. This showed that
they knew he had the support OF Il power
which they thought invincible
These facts, taken III connection with
the removal of Mr. RIDDLE from the post
of counsel for the prosecution for too great
zeal IN his efforts to convict the conspira-
tors, leave no room for doubt that Presi-
dent GRANT approved of the plot. The
conspiracy fortunately miscarried through
q blunder in designating TO the profcs-
sional burglars the hour ut which they
were to begin operations.