The Osceola times., 1876-04-22
THE VEIL LIFTED.
Whssei,'s History Of the shameful safe
Burglary.

whisei,'s Rsistery Of thc shameful safe
burglary.
A Washington special to the Chicago
Times says: A forked shaft struck to-
day on the very verge of the white house
again. This testimony, backed by IN
contestable witnesses, leave Babcock in a
position more UNANIMOUSLY dishonorable
than he would have been if pronounced
guilty at st. Louis. Daylight in the
safe burglary business has brought dark
ness upon Babcock, and, from present
appearances, on even those higher than
Babcock. Sufficient proof has been pre-
sented 10 the subcommittee OF judiciary
some time ago 70 indicate that the cur
rent rumOrs concerning the authors OF
the safe burglary business were not well
founded, and that the true workers oil
that iniquity came from another quarter.
Upon this hint, the machinery was set in
motion and aquest was made for Whitley
chief Of the old secret service forces. II
was known that he and those who had
been associated with him were, by sus-
picious chance, scattered far westward
from the city where there would be likely
to be fewer dangerous inquiries concern
ing them. Within a week Whitley has
been brought here and informed that
sufficient information is in the possession
of the committee to indict him for bur,
glary unless he will take advantage OF
the immunity extended by the commit
tee and make a confession. At first, il
seems that Whitley and his confederates
refused, being melted by reminder from
outside sources that the statute of limi.
tation would expire on the 2lst of this
month, and then nothing could be done
A resolution, however, passed the house
and senate this week extending the time q
year. This brought the requisite con
cession, and Whitley to-day made clean
breast. Put on the stand before Proctor
Knott, Of Kentucky, Ashton, Of North
Carolina, and Hurd and Lawrence, o
Ohio, he told the extraordinary story ot
guilt and shame.
II was evidently thought by the dis
trict ring people that Whitley being in
the conspiracy, he would not tell of it
At last, however, he lost his place, and
now has told the story.
Grants responsibility in this amazing
business is the subject of comment 10
night among the few who know the sub
stance Of Whitely's revelations. 1t i,
known that Gen. Babcock carried also al
order from the white house to William,
to dismiss Riddle. Whether Babcocl
acted for Grant or assumed to issue tn,
order upon his own responsibility re
mains to be shown.
For years Whitley has kept silence
waiting vainly for some recognition o.
protection from his old friends here. III,
has been abused in every quarter ant
held up as an associate of thieves; h,
has, after long waitin-, been reluctant,
forced, in justice to himself, to tell hi
true story. This he relates to-day will
such coroborative evidence that a new
presentment will be made before tn,
grand jury tomorrow. This case agains
Gen. Babcock is a clearer one than tn,
st. Louis one against him, and will
doubtless connect him as one of the prin
cipals in the safe-burglary scheme.
LATER.
This evening it has been shown tina
Grant is as guilty as Babcock. In Octo
her, 1874, after the conclusion of tn,
safe-burglary trial, brought to an end by
the disagreement of the jury, Whitley
went to Riddle, the special assistant at
torney general, and offered immunity
and a pardon to tell the true history o
the safe-burglary business. He then re
vealed to Riddle, under the seal of con
fidence from publication, Gen. Babcock',
completely with the case. Riddle ther
went to Attorney-General Williams and
told him about Whitely's statement
He In turn communicated the facts to
the white house. The next day Riddle
was dismissed by orders from the white
house. After that the supreme court OF
the district decided that the indictment.
found in the safe-burglary were null and
void on account Of the illeRlity of the
formation of the graud jury. The prin.
cipals were dismissed upon their own
recognizance. Some days ago this new
testimony was given to the grand jury
80 that any day indictments may be ex.
pected against Harrington and his crowd
with Gen. Babcock also. The same sort
OF evidence that indicts Babcock j.
also considered enough 10 impcach the
president, as it can be shown that he
knew of the full details of this safe.
burglary scheme when he issued order,
for Riddles dismissal. The next wit
ness to be examined is ex-Solicitor Ban
field, who was in the treasury when
Whitley was chief of the secret service