Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-02-16
GEN. RAnCOCK,S TRIAL.

OhiNS uh'Ai TIC ihd'teT Is ucclucu ny proper
tribunal.
GEN. IA s3COCK'S TRIAL.
In the case Of Gen. Babcock, on trial at st.
Louis on the charge Of completely with the
whisky frauds, a jlry was selected on the sth,
and Dist.-Atty DER delivered his opening
address, in which he said he proposed to
prove that there vas a conspiracy to Gefraud
the revenue; that Gen. Babcock was in cor
respondence Will the consprators during
the existence of the conspiracy, and that he
received money directly from Joyce for his
share in the proceeds Of the frauds. The ev-
idence offered, the attorney said would in
measure be circumstantial but there would
not be link missing in the chain. Joseph
NJ. Finroy, clerk in the Revenue Collect
or's Office, was called to the witness
stand, and, on being asked to state
what he knew about the operations
OF Megrue, in 1871, objection was
made, on the ground that the evidence
would only be of hearsay character, as wit
ness did not enter the Collectors Office until
May, 1873. The Court decided that the wit
ness might answer the question, with the I'M
derstanding that the ruling Of the Court on
US competency would be given thereafter
The witness then began to speak about Me-
grue, when defense again objected, and he
was withdrawn, and Mr.. Thompson, dis
tiller, was called to the stand, and gave
history OF his connection with the ring: ex.
planned how he made crooked whisky, etc,
etc, all of which had bsen stated numerous
times before. During the examination OF this
witness the defense objected to all questions
not directly relevant to the indictment
against the defendant, out Judge Dillon ruled
that testimony to establish the existence Of
the conspiracy might be given, and witness
gave tolerably full account Of the ring and
Its operations. Fitzroy was then recalled
and was asked If Megrue ever paid him any
money, when objection was again raised, and
the court ruled that evidence relating to the
conspiracy in 1871 and 1872, might be re-
eeived, and subsequently ruled out If found
to be irrelevant TO the case on trial.
SECOND DAY.
Acting under the advice of the court, given
just before the adjournment the day before
the Government counsel passed over the con
spiracy in 1871 and 1872, and produced tes-
timony to show the existence and operations
of the whisky ring from 1873 to 1875 No di-
rect evidence was brought out against Gen.
Babcock, the testimony being general in
character tending To show who were the
consprators, and the extent Of the conspir-
acy
deputy Collector Fitzroy testified that he
met Gen. Bahcoch AT the Lindell Hotel, in
September last was introduced to him by
VIM. q. Avery; witness was then under in
dictment for completely in the frauds. 1t
was simply an Introduction; there was no
conversation.
Rudolph W. Clrich, distiller, and John f.
Siedcntopf, his foreman, were sworn, aud
testified as TO the manner Of manufacturing
and disposiug of crooked whisky, the amount
OF money paid 10 revenue officers, and the
agents, where Irregularities were discovered
by them.
ltwas stated by the defense that they had
intended to have The personal attendance of
President Grant rs "A witness, but this was
not now thought 10 be necessary, and a prop
osition was made and agreed To that the
counsel on both sides should arrange for the
taking OF the deposition of the President
Such an arrangement was made, the deposi-
ton to be taken on the 18th before Chief
Justice Waite, the proceedings to be CON
Quoted like an examination in open court
both sides to be represented " counsel,
THIRD DAY.
VIM, J, Bsssett, a gauger in the ring, and
Abijah NJ Everest, collector for the same par
ties, testified As 10 the whisky frauds TO which
they were parties The latter testified tina. IN
1878, eithc. late in February or early in
March, Joyce had sent him to the sub Treas.
ury with $1,000 IN small bills, 10 get two $500
bills; when he returned joyce put the $500
bills IN two euyelopes-oue directed to W. O.
Avery aud the other 10 Gen. Q T. Babcock
Washington, d, G, each envelope having
personal on the left-hand coruer--and told
witness TO put them in the letter. box, which
he did, Joyce watching him from the window
OF his office; the envelopes hai stamps
on them. On the cross examination Everest
said al the time he returned with the two
500 bills, the envelopes were lying on
Joyce's desk, when he handed the bills TO
joyce, witness watched him CLOSELY; he
iJoyCol first took the two envelopes up and
then took the paper out of Iae OF them and
pat q bill Tn; did not see him put the other
bin IN The other cay elope, and was not posi-
tive he did put il IN, nor did he Know
which envelope il was he saw the
bin pat in, On redirect examination
The witness explained that joyce was
standing UP At his desk when he nut the
money IN the envelope and after placing Que
bank pote in eng q the envelopes be turned
partially around, 80 thal the witness saw