The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-17
A Convicting Coincidence.

A Convictimg Coincidence.
There is no theory reconclable with
Innocence or integrity upon which the
connection between BABcocK aud the
chiefs Of the Whiskey Ring can he ex-
planned or relieved. The letters and the
kilograms under disguised names which
have already been exposed, bear upon
their face evidence of guilty completely.
BAnc0cK's arrangement with Major
GRIMES to send letters for MCDONALD
under cover of the formers llrcss, so rs
O. mask th 'ir relations tells its own story.
The repeated efforts made to influence
the official action OF DouGLAss. while Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, especially
IN regard to investigations and in relation
10 the order for the chang, Of Supervisors,
leave no doubt in whose interest BAnCocK
was working, or with what object. In this
matter one extraordinary coincidence has
been developed in the last few LAYS. which
cannot fail to produce decided impress
sion.
Last Friday, when DorGtAss was on the
stand, he sworc as follows;
lone, IN 1874 n,ncec came to my once and we
WIS dtar no the liiue. tod hin there charges
lfa.t.. nni Tat iae Charge was seii!as " aIFe
"",ne s.6ea what .cyamina'lon had been madc ana
iYt re only "ay n'an's nfmoly q q Be biicAensd
Mo va. dead was by an examination"
On Monday, among the kilograms pro-
duced on the trial, was one from JoYcr,
which exactly fits in with thi. testimony,
aud, strangely enough contains the pre-
else words which BABcocK u cd to DouG-
LASS. Here it is:
"sr Loris March II. 1874
"stiri for san trlncls.o tomorrow nigtt. Make u.
re nenotg qfpoor FORD and friends, j."
An explanation Is Necessary to make this
telegram ineligible. From 1872 down,
charges of whiskcy frauds at ST. LOUIS and
other cities were constantly made ut the
Internal Revenue office. The agents of
the Ring were always powerful enough at
the White House and the Treasury to
nyoid or TO control any investigation. SEN
ntors and Representatives. through whom
supervisors, agents, gaugers, storekecpcrs,
and the Ike were appointed, took care to
guard every point, and TO prepare their
eonfederates by notice, when an exaraina-
ton was threatened.
These frauds at St. Louis at length rs
sumed such vast proportions rs to attract
public attention aud 10 become an open
scandal. They could no longer be d isre-
garded, and at least the appearance of an
Investigation was demanded. The Ring
were doing an immense business. and di-
vidirg many thousands of dollars every
week. Any interference would be iuju-
rious, ana an honest inquiry would be
Tuinous.
co, in order, ms he alleged on the stand, to get
him out of the way, AMI thus to make the
examination more thorough by two special
agents who Were detailed for that duty.
JOYCE dill not start however, without no.
tifying his confederation the Whit House,
and urging him to "make DOUGLASS call
of his scandal hounds
A preteXt was necessary to stop the in
vestigation, and JOYCE furnished it by tel
egraph when he told BABCocK the whole
eject of that proceeding would be to
"blackcn the memory of poor Ford.
Therefore, when BABCocK went to DoUG-
LASS to persuade him to recall hs special
agents from II. Louis. his best argument
was that they would blaolcn the memory
Of FORD" by au examination into the
whiskcy frauds.
BABCoCK was for the moment thrown
back by DOCGLAsss answer that there
were no charges against Fond" and That
the " charges were against the living
Bat he recovered his equilibrium and car.
ried his point. JOYCE soon returned TO ST
Louis. ana the crooked" ran in greater
streams than ever before, until Mr. BRls-
TOW wound his net around the Ring, and
with one great blow crushed its power and
Ell pped is swindling.
WITH such proofs as these, to say nothing
Of the money traced into BABcocK's han ds
It Is absurd TO suppose that he was not in
tho Wni.koy Ring, and that his relation,
with JoYCE were wholly disconnected with
that corrupt conspiracy. No sensible man
can como to any other conclusion thar
that BABooCK was the head and front OF
the Washington end of that huge rascalty