The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-17
EDITION,
BAB. SEES LIGHT.
The Clouds That HOvered Over
the Man of Many offices Seem to


The Clouds That Hovered Over
the Man of Many offices Seem to
Lift.
By American Press Association to the STAR.
ST, LOUIS, Feb. T.-Yesterday at
O'Clock the defense actively entered
upon the production of line of evidence
foreshadowed in the opening of Ex-
Attorney General Williams in the morn
ing.
Brigadier General Humphrey, Chief Of
the Engineer Corps, stationed at WASH
ingtion, was the first witness called for
the defense.
He testified to long acquaintance
with the defendant; also as to General
Babcock's duties as Superintendent of
Public Buildings and Grounds in Wash
ington, in which position he has con-
trOlled an annual disbursement Of about
$400, 900 during the past four years. In
opinion OF witness these duties are ad-
nirabiy discharged by the defendant,
both as Engineer and disbursiDg officer.
The defendant has high character as a
gentleman. The cross-axamination by
District Attorney Dyer ELECTED the in
formation that the disbursements by
General Babcock are very largely for
day work and not under contracts.
The second witness called was David
W.Monahan, First Auditor OF the United
States Treasury. He has been for twen-
ty-iour years in the public service. He
knows defendant -Babcock annually dis
burses, under Congressional appropria-
ton, about S449, 900, but is not obliged to
give bonds. The reputation OF the de-
fendant in Washington as an officer,
citizen and man OF integrity is OF the
very highest.
Cross-examination by Dyer Witness
audits the accounts Of defendant, which
are always exact and correct in every
particular.
Jas. g. Barrett, Ex-Postmaster and
Ex-Mayor OF Washington, was the third
witness. Has been lifelong Demo.
crat. Defendant has displayed great
energy, enterprise and good taste in the
discharge OF his duties connected with
public grounds. His reputation is in
every way unexceptionable and his in
tegrity ia unquestloned. No cross-ex-
animation.
Gen. N. P. Banks, M. c., from the Fifth
District of Massachusetts, was the
fourth witness. Witness became ac.
quainted with defendant in 1861, after
the first battle OF Bull Run. Gen. Bah
cock was on the Staff OF witness for q
time, and his many fine qualities as a
gentleman and soldier made strong
impression on witness. Consider him
a man OF unquestioned integrity
knows the duties Of the defendant as
Private Secretary Of the President.
When witness wanted information at
the Executive Mansion, he very gener-
ally applied to Gen. Babcock, and it is
also the custom of most men who wish
to receive OF impart information relat-
ing to any department of the Govern
ment. Had always found Gen. Babcock
prompt, intelligent and upright. The
Presidents Private Secretary is regard
ed as an intermediary between the
people and the various departments OF
the Executive.
Alexander b. Fulton, the fifth wit.
ness, is Supervisor of Internal Revenue
for the District including Pennsylvania,
New Jersey. Maryland, Delaware and
the District of Columbia, was examined
by Hon. MIR. St0rrs. He is one Of the
oldest Supervisors In the country. Wit
ness detailed at length the facts con.
nected with the order transferring Su
pervi5ors. On receiving notice Of his
transfer from Philadelphia to st. Louis
he went to Washington, where, on the
3D. of February, 1875, he saw Commits
sioner Douglass, Secretary Bristow
and President Grant; to the two last
named he gave his reasons for objecting
to the order as unwise, and after a long
interview with the President he was
finally led to agree with Mr.. Fulton, and
the order was suspended as the result
of this interview. The cross.examin
alton brought 6ut no additional fact:
Chas. Nj. Villas, Cashier OF the Filth
Avenue Hotel, was the sixth witness
called. He testified to the fact tina
Gen. Babcock was at the Hotel from
october 2S to October 81. 1878.
John II. Cook, clerk in the st. Loui:
Post office, identified the post-marks OIL
eight letters written by the former
Special Agent Hogue to the Bingham.
| in Indiana. These letters were offered
lin evidence, to which the prosecution
objected. Judge Dillon ruled that they
we're admissible, and Judge Chester II
Krum proceeded to read them in Court
Their contents produced the most de-
cided sensation since the trial began
showing beyond the possibility OF !
question what the defense has claimet
| from the first they would be able to do
namely: show where the information
came from upon which the distillers
here depended for immunity from
trouble.
These letters show that Hogue wa
working In the interests of the Whisk,
Ring; and, while he was a trusted agen
OF tue Government, be was assisting thu
couspirators Id their fraudulent prac
tees. a letter from Jayce 70 BaPoock