The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-17
Let this be Explained.

Let this be Explained.
1t was at that time charged that all the
Government officials here were in the
ring, and at Washington it was thought
that the distillers were working revenge
on the Government authorities by max
Ing indiscriminste charges. Babcock
was warm friend of Mcdonald and
believed him innocent. The newspapers
had printed the names OF many persons
about the country and attached
to trivial circumstances guilty
meaning. and Babcock very
naturally shrank from allowing the fact
of his correspondence with Mcdonald 70
become known, knowing it would be In
terpreted as evidence of guilt. The con-
tents of these letters had been shown,
and they could not be proven as OF guilty
import. 1t will be shown furthermore,
that this man Hoge was in the rlng,
| giving information as early as May, 1874;
| that While enjoying the confidence OF the
defendant, he was carrying orlbes
from the ring. Bsbcock had no
means of obtaining information from the
department but Hoge had and he pro-
baby sent the information. Evidence
will be adduced to show that Babcock
had no part in inducing President Grant
| 10 revoke the order transferring super
visors and revenue agents, but by the
Presidents own deposition it will be
proven that this revocation was orde ed
in the presence and through the repre-.
sentations and influences of Supervisor
Tuition. Gen. Williams closed with quite
brilliant peroration, in which he asked
Justice of of the jury not mercy, and
trusted the verdict would be triumph
ant acquittal.
Gen. A. A. Humphreys
Chief of the Engineer Corps OF the Unit
ed States army was put on the stand ana
testified thathe had known Babcock since
1862. He has OF late years had charge
of the Department of Public Buildings
and the observation-disclosures of the aqueduct
al WASHINGTON. With the exception OF
the capital grounds and the Treasury
Denartment. ne has had charge OF all
bindings and grounds, and he has per-
formed his duties admirably rs an en-
cipeer officer and dispensing ofhcer,
handling 100000 annually. HIS stand.
inr in the army is that of an officer OF
integrity, high character and sbllity'
So far as know his standing at Wash
incton is of like character.
David w. Mason,
first officer of the Treasury OF the nlteo
States. was next examined and testlhed
to having known the defendant tor four
wears; audited his accounts as superln-
ttendent of public buildings and grounds;
his total disbursements were S2,2oo,oooi
his accounts have all been settled; ne mas
not been bonded officer during the time
have known him; his standing,
General reputation, &c, so far as
have heard from the opinions OF
those in Washington seems to have been
good. . 80,
Postmaster of Washington, testified: L
have known Mr.. Babcock for SIX years
socially and from observation us any
gentleman would know another IN city
of that kind. General Babcock's character
and standing have been good; his ad-
ministrstion of the affairs which he has
held has given general satisfaction, and
his integrity Is unqustioned.
stS. Gen. n. Il. Banks,
member of Congress from Massachusetts
testified. | have known the deiendent
since 1861; he was on my stall IN the
early part of the war and | have since
known him at Washington; his gener'
al reputation for integrity, capacity ana
fidelity has been very goodi L Know
much of the duties as private secretary
N the executive ] have mad frequent in
tercourse with Gen. Babcock as such
secretary; his manner OF dlscharging
his duties was always prompt, inteiiigent
and upright, leaving strongly iaVorao'e
impression on me.
Alex. Il. TuttOn
then took the stand aud testified: l am
| Suneryisor of Internal Revenue OF the
! States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
| Delaware and the District of Coumolai
| have been supervisor since 1868; am,
| | think, the oldest supervisor IN
the country; remember an order trans
Ferrjnr the supervisors in January lS'oi
sucb an order was made and
under II was to be
| trans tered from u!iHucIPu'a ~ 'J''
Louis. and ordered to report here oH
February 10Th; l visited Washington
in February in regard to this order, and
reached there on the % Of the month;
on the 81 saw Commissioner Douglass,
and my object was
Mr., Brondhead l object to the con-
yersation with Douglass or any ohe else
A discussion followed, alter which the
witness continued
called on Douglass on February Sd
in relation to this order; I next called on
Secretary Bristow at the Arlington
House.
The ame objection was again made,
and after another discussion the court
said If this conversation with the Sec
retary was reported to the President 1t
NAV be admitted"
Witness proceeded had converse.
ton with the Secretary, and he directed
me TO call on the President and state
what | had said to him; it was ii o'clock
A NJ: | called al once At the Executive
Mansion and saw the President; l sail
had been ordered by the Secretary to
report for duty at st. Louis, and 1t would
be very inconvenlent 10 me TO go, ana
impossible if the transfer was to continue
for any length of time; l had property
and personal matters to look after at
nome, and would not move my family to
- Louis. ana would not come without
them; that i this order was e.toreed 1t
would be necessary for me to resign
The President said he was foEry that !,
inconyenisnced me, but it was thought
great deal of fraud was being commit
ted in St. Louis and Chicago, and tins
order was made to detect the frauds; that
while he did not think the officers OF
these places were involved, he did think
the frauds were being committed, and
! that change of officers ~as necessary
in order 10 suppress these frauds;
that there had been considerable politlcaI