New-York tribune., 1876-04-10

had failed agree lie had frequent conferences with
Riddle, and they agreed that there way but TO
enter a nolle prosequi.
He said the public had seemed 10 lose sight Of the fact
that the Grand Jury, whether Intentionally thus Org IL
lied not Illegal The Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict had decided by setting aside conviction found
under Indictment by that Jury the stated ground Of
illegay. Had Harrington and Wbteley been convicted
that Indictment they must have been discharged ny
the Supreme Court.
AS TO following the IL was not within his duty
Nothing could he done without new Indictments, and
with these he had nothing to do, 80 Riddle was di'-
charged and the discontinued judge williams has
not yet been summoned before the Committee. but he
says he Is summoned he give further nforma-
ton than is here stated. AS to Whitley he says he has
always found him honorable. trustworthy man, the
best of his class lie had until thought hm innocent
Of any participation In the burglares. He expresses no
opniOu further than say that II will be difficult IN
his opinion to tell which of the three directly opposite
by the believe referring particularly
to Nettleship.
THE CONsPIRATORS' FINAL EFFORT.
| RENEWAL OF THE OLD TACTICS OF INTIMIDATION
SKETCH OF TIE POLICY OF TIE RING GOVERN
MENT-ITs AUDACIoUs ASSUMPTION AND COR
RUPTIoN.
IBY rHiKGRAPH TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, April 9.-It is reported that
Harrington aud A. H. Williams, who tried In ls7i
completely in the safe burglary conspiracy attempted
to ntmldate Whitley and somervle before they gave
their testimony. II Is said that having assumed them
attempt to be made to make them the scape
goats in this affair." and they unable in this way TO
prevent them from telling their story, Harrington and
Williams threatened them with revenge II they dared 20
do so. The District OF Columbia investigation OF 1874
eliminated in April The reckless extravaganza and I'M
pudtn defiance OF all legal restrictions which charac-
tsrizcd the whole history OF the late Dis
trct Government and the Board OF Public
works had then been proved, and indeed, admitted
by many who had mp to that time defended the Rllg
The Committee had traced the jobbing in contracts to
the very cor Shepherd and had gone into
his place business and implicated of his partners
Republicans in Congress and the people throughout the
country who had supposed that the accusations fased
against the District Ring groundless slandcrs Ill
vented by an nbridlCd and uuaciupuous independent
press began open their and to seriously inquire
IT, after all another Tweed Ring had not fastened ltseh
upon the National Capital.
Gov. shepherd naturally became desperate and he
could not fail to forosee the political ruin which was sure
10 Ovcrtake the Government unless the tile could ne
turned. Threatening newspaper correspondents, VINO
had Instrumental In bringing about the invcsti-
getion and suggesting the Committee lines OF inquiry
10 be followed, was OF avail. publicly announced
determination to run certain journalists out of Washing
ton where, in the elegant language OF the R!ng they
were said already TO have had too much swing had
been wholly disregarded, and article I'm which
the correspondents Of THE TRIBUNE were personally
named and threatened with punishment by the publca-
ton of ISLANDERS upon their families did not cause TIE
newspaper prosecution to be at all ali ted even when the
article was marked and sent 70 the wives of those WHO
were conducting it.
But Gov. Shepherd and tn Sc who Immediately snr-
rounded him-IIarrngton the legal adviser; kbourne,
who managed specations of Ring men In real estate
John d. Evans the ay0re contractor, and the lesser
lights who were dependent the Rmg-Tefe not the
only ones who interested in stopping the nvesea-
ton or at least bringing dscred upon H. AT the pre-
vous session of Congress, enormous appropriations
amounting 10 several million dollars, had been made
under various preenses for the OF .he District Gov
crnInent and the Board of Public Works and, AZ check
upon its ~ enditure IL had been provided that all pay
ments under these appropriations should he made only
upon vouchers by tie officer IN charge OF the
public buildings and grounds Of the District, after fun
examination and measurement OF said improvements,
and the approval the prices claimed therefor That
officer was Cen Babcock. and the investigation OF the
Committee and the measurements of the engineer had
at the time referred - demonstrated c0ncusiyely that
he either had caused the measurements required py
law 70 he made or hnt he had knowingly carelessly
certified to false measurements III his vouchers lheSe
facts had becb published and dwet upon IN THE
TRIBUNE and IN other independent newspapers, AMI ~
Gen Babcock admitted in his testimony Yesterday they
M ast troubled him lie says he employed Whitley 20
ascertain who was author OF the articles referring 10
him, but tlA explanation is absurd as no one
in Washington knew better than Gen. Ba1coek
that these letters and dispatches were writ
ten by the regular correspondents in Washington
of the Journals in which they appeared If lie ever talked
with Whitley about those letters it l likely he did
il with view Of inyenting way 10 bring disgrace
upon their authors. Rumors OF such a plot nave oeeh
current in Washington for two years and the belief that
its execution only prevented by the failure OF The
safe burglary conspiracy is sustained by more than one
circumstance II win thus be from tbes' facts That
il win he 10 difficult matter prove the existence or
sufficient for the part lie took In IT, should the evil
dence OF Gen Babcocks guilt be sustained now seems
pro,sble not only were his relations with Gov Shep
herd social and business Of the most intimate character
but his own character assaed through the nvesti-
cation ana was likely t. share the fate Ot the District
Ring.