Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-10-02
The Safe Burglary CaSe-Acquitt,I


Tue safe burglary case, which has been on
trial since the 10TH ut, was concluded Satur-
dav evening, by verdict of rot guilty both as
to Gen. Babcock and Somervle. The court
was occupied as stated 10 our Washington dis
patch on Saturday, with the close Of the argu,
mcnt and the charge Of the court. At the
close of the charge the jury retired 10 charge OF
baiIiff. The Judge Continued CD the bench
Tor some tinc, and the crowd kept lis place Tor
nearly hall an hour, when the Idea that the july
was 'huug became general and dispersion
cnsued. The court took Il recess, aud the judge
went home TO Glnuer. The COUNSEL and the &C
cuscd also lett the court room, which by i've
o clock was nearly entirely deserted. About
500 the jury gave notice that they had agreed.
| The Crim.ual Court room is without gas SO
the Circuit Court room WAS lighted UP, but II Was
| ati err six o'clock before the court was ready Tor
the Jury. AZ 6:O5 all Gen. 3 lbcock' counsel,
with Gen. Babcock and Mr. Sommcrvl!e were
present.. Mr.. II. H. Wells, jr., represented
the Government The jury came in al 6:lO,
and 10 answer to the question OF the clerk,
How Eud you; are o. h. Babcock and ). z.
Somervile guilty or not gulity|' The foreman
answered. mot guilty" Gen. Batcock. who
had been apparently unquiet and anxious dur
Jog the whole day, spsaug up at the annouucc-
ment, aud there was loud clappng of hauis
throughout the court room. eXGov. Shepherd,
who sat next to Cen Babcock, leading of.
The marshal cried Order in court" Gen.
Babcock vas congratulated by those around
him. and, with his friends, entered carriage
and was driven off. Mr.. SOmeivllIc walked
away from the c ,uit house. aud SAID 10 gen
tcGuan who passed down the steps with hln
that the next time they tried joke OF that
kipi they w0u, ! have TO ihd another lawyer.
Th. tr!al Was ever.
The principal wltLt sses 10 the case, hltely,
late chief OF the government secret service, auu
NettIeShip his assistant, were themselves par
It's to The burglary conspiracy, and purchased
immunity from PROSECUTION after lnile!m2nt %
the testimony Which they gave agalust Baocock
and others 10 the affair. The theory ol their
evidence was that Baocock had lu>tigated them
to taking steps 20 hpd out wno 1t was tha: was
yettiug w ADD celebrating III the newspapers
the charges against him Of false measurements
as govcrnm 1T ofiela in the -trecl im:. ov,.
mcnts iu Washington, and thai ,ney, with la:
rington, the Dlst.:ct Attorney, as the chlel
manager, carried out tbc plan ot the sale i'urS
larry oslcusl0ly Tor the purpose OF g.tting pos
session of the books OF uDc OF the alleged prom
peut contracto:s, Evao-, and that with The vic"
of making it appear that Mr.. Columbus Alex
a1der, one Of the chlct prUsGru o!s Oh the IL
vestigation Of The District risE, had Inspired
the atf.l 10 the pursuit 0! testimony. accold
ing 70 these witnesses the obi c. OF the pretend
ed burg larry, in the language OF harrington, wa:
to lnlow dirt 90 The mem jri4Ei>S vino sought
the Investigation at the hands OF Congi ess
Harrington, who was orc: tried by Il disagree
iug jury, and Was again indicted with these par
ties, Is now non est The theory as to Somcr
vile vas to he chcc: that he was 10 the con
spiracy, at leas; 10 the cxtcut OF having beer
acting Tor Benton, the burglar 10 the case, anc
for wnou, when 10 prsoo, false atiilaVlts were
devised, though he claims act to nave knOwl
OF the pio; aud purpose ui 1t all. But hltcIy
and NcttcShip could not testify against The
parties pew tried without tcstityng at INC Same
time to their own ihlamy. 1t was this lac
which doubtless bad great weight slth ne Jury
in makiug up their vcrdic. Whc: her it wyu {
we been pos>ibl: Tor II" prs 'eu.lon TO hay
procured cvi cuca duplicating 6abcock III the
consI,ir cy that W III have bcau ire: from IL
faint attached to that OF Whitley and Nttile
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