Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-19


lowing is the substance Of his report
"Ihe superintendent and entered the prison
door leading into the dormitory. The prisoner
was sent for. lie was cleanly shaved, his hair
was short cut and he wore the prison regulation
suit The superintendent explained fully to Miles
the nature Of my visit Finally he consented to
be introduced TO me, and the following interview
tmnspircd
Reporter" Miles ! have called at the prison
to-day to get permission from Superintendent
Bailey TO talk with you about the Washington
safe burglary case Miles smiledl presume
you have learned from the superintendent the OBJ
Jet Of my visit, and before we go any further in
this matter wish TO say that shall keep in good
faith any statements you make II you do not de-
sire them to 20 to the public ut this time"
Miles" Wen, go ahead with what you want to
ask me Here ! am in prison, and ! think the
time has now come when I should make known
just how stood in that safe breaking job"
Reporter" Were you employed in the So
called safe burglary job, and did You do tg'
Miles" Yes"
Reporter" Are you the man Benton, as Il is
claimed you are {? Miles" No, sir. Me Ben
ton, Why, no, Benton is a man | employed
however. Goahead We will get to that directly.
Reporter" Who employed You 10 do this lob?''
Miles" We'll, was hired by Harrington. As
the sequel will show, Gen. Babcock and Evans,
the contractors, knew all about It.
Reporter" when and how were you first ar-
preached about this business2' Miles" was
sent Tor 10y Colonel Whitley to come to his Office
at No 80 Blocker street, New York I have
known Whitley quite long lime, and know
where he lived at Cambridge near Boston. In
response to Whitley's message that he wanted 10
see me at his Office called ON him lie said
when asked what he wanted Of me, George
there Is an investigation on foot at Washington
which will eventually implicate some OF the prom
incnt officials Of the National and District gov
emmont The officials who fear that this inycs-
tigation will prove disastrous to them want 10
have the force Of the investigation broken and
Miles, you understand what mean want You
to go forthwith to Nettlcship and learn the rartic-
ulars and explanatory details "
/ Reporter" What did Nettlcshp -ayg' Miles
-" lie stated that the investigation promised seri-
Gus consequences to certain officials that there
were several plans suggested to break down the
force Of the investigation, and hc thought Miles
the man 10 engineer IT, The plan most likely to
De pursued was to get certain books and papers
belonging To the District Attorney az Washing
ton' INTO the possession Of columbus Alexander
a prominent man. who was pushing the inYes'
ugaton'
Reporter When was the safo-breakng bust
ness first mentioned 10 you that to get at these
papers and books the District Attorneys SAT,
would have to be broken into?' Miles -" We'll
had several conversations ON tho suhioct of oh
tanning books and papers, aud when was nearly
ready TO leave New York for Washington, Nettle
ship told me- Tor the first time, that the plan a
agreed upon was to break open the District At
tomoy's safe, abstract the books anG take them 10
Alenndors house
Reporter" Then Ncitleship made ihe safe
breaking suggestion Go your Miles " Yes, SIR
Reporter Then what did you dog' Miles
This somewhat surprised me- But after I got
tho fan details from Nettleshp about hrcaliu.
into the safe went in search Of Benton W.
struck % bargain. About six days before the jol
was undertaken went to Washington inst anl
Benton followed ia a day or two"
Reporter" When yon arrived at Washington
whom did yousceg Miles" Nettleship Introduce,
me To Harrington and after this introduction N,
details and suggestions abou. the job came frou
Harrington"
Reporter" Did you ever have a talk with Gen
erll Babcock o. Miles" Well will tell yol
how matters stood When had been in Wash
ington day or two, saw that Nettlcship begai
to show the white feather did not like tn
thing grew anxious about the looks Of thing.
and went up to Hauington's to tell him how
felt in the matter Babcock was at Harrington
/ sVIa I Il. a..
same We three ut here this afternoon. liar
rington and Babcock both heard me through, an
Harrington assured me that everything wa
straight, and he would see me protected 10 III
end whereupon General Babcock spoke up an
assured me that whatever promises were made m
by Harrington would be strictly adhered to- i"
Reporter" Then Babcock was present at flai
ringtons and heard what you told him abou
Nettleship, and the doubts you had about siraigi
sailing o. Miles" Yes be heard all about IT, %
Miles then goes ON to state that when he wen
into the office to break into the safe he opened
closet door and found two prominent citizens q
Washington hid there, whose names ho refuses &
disclose. The interview proceeds
Reporter" Now, Miles, You have given me tn
name Of Gen. Babcock as being coguizant Of hi
plot DO you think President Grant ever knew O
Babcock's doings In ~? Miles" No, honestl
believe that Grant was entirely ignorant Of tn
whole thing think it has always been kept a
far from him as possible, and Grant has now to b
dragged into this matter Of which know D.
knows nothing"
Reporter" iou speak honestly about this, d.
your Miles" Yes, aud most solemniy."
Reporter" Where and with whom do yo
tTNa ANHf Vtsrfs NalN