The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-01
WAS THE PRESIDENT CoGNIzANTa
How the Witness Relentcd and Sherman Was
Used Instead.
PIERREPONTS LETTER WRITING
Report Of the Judiciary
Committee.
lis FLIHSY EXCUSES PULLED TO PIECES.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL coRREsPoNDE
wAsHSoroS, March 81, 1876.
STARTLING xFYECT OF THE DISCLOSURES CON-
cxRxNa THE BABcocK TRIAI,-NTRRvIEws
WITH CHANDLER AND BABcocK
The testimony Of c. g. Bell before the Clymer COM
mittee to-day created profound impression. He said
In conversation after the close examination thas
he had told the truth and that If his actions seemed
ncons stent IL because he started out with firm
belief that Babcock was innocent and the victim
political persecution that he acted In good faith
TO defeat what he supposed tho Vaccinations Of
Babcock's and tho Presidents enemies until he be-
rame satisfied Of Babcocks guilt, when he asked
10 obtain and destroy the evidence against him, and
that then he had dropped the matter,
and 80 far AZ he had done anything
had worked in the interest OF justice
The principal points in this testimony that he had
frequent conversations with the President who wished
10 know whether Babcock guilty not and seems
70 have taken this queer way Of discovering It by
poying detective get look at the evidence In the
governments hands, some OF which the President
appears to have suspected to be false forged The
President sent him first to the Attorney General for
appointment, who delayed and finally told him that
high onical in the Treasury had advised him not to
send Bell to st. LOUIS then to Secretary Chandler,
who appointed him the Presidents
mendation. Bell says that he enjoined by
Babcock and some OF his lawyers to get the
testimony against Babcock and brngs to the Linden
Hotel TO be there destroyed that Babcock told HIM he
must get Il all get only part would BE- useless;
that whsa b. became satssAsd OF Babcock's guiN he
dropped ~ matter, having meantime got access TO
Dyef's papsrs aud looked at Of thom, and that
Roger Sherman Afssrward sent out to St. Louis
from New York 20 do what Boil had refused failed
70 do and did over documents Babcocks
counsel
In confirmation Of Bells testimony the following
points turn up here from different Secretary
Chandler says he appointed Bell at the request OF tho
President and that afterward he dismissed him the
President's motion, General Grant telling him that
Bell was scoundrel Bell says he was dismissed
Ihree days after he reported to the President that,
In his belief Babcock was guilty. II is known
Also that Bell did get to Dyers papers st.
Louis and that detective Waterman caught him IN
The act Of replacing papers he had taken out II
y also known Independently Of Bells testimony, that
the cipher, he had and which published In tho
HERALD was mostly In Luckey's handwriting. This
was known here At tho time IL was published. Il was
also known here at that Bell had access 10
che President Among persons who have had the
means 70 be thoroughly informed OF the manp-
uations In tho Babcock Bells testimony is re-
garded true in all its main statements and prob
ably entirely true, and is certain that corroboratng
circumstances other than those mentioned be ana
probably will be discovered.
INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY CHANDLER
HERALD correspondent called on Secretary Chand-
Ter and up his card this evening
The Secretary came In smiling and said ssYou have
come to ask me about Bell only read the report or
his testimony late this afternoon
The Secretary went on TO say that Bells inference
and that he (Chandler had an ndng
with the President any ono else that the witness
employed for General Babcock was totally false,
but Mr.. Chandler said that Bell recommended to
him BY tho President and the recommendation
written card to tho effect that Bell
good detective and would be o proper
TO put the service force Of the
Interior Department Not long aer this General Hur
but, OF Illinois, other officer OF rank in tho
army, called at the secretary's of1ce and Bols
card lying the desk, whereupon tho General said
that Bell was good spy and was valuable man
10 employ on secret missions requiring detective
talent. He had known him in the army employed
him q spy. He had also known him as o soldier.
Bell proved competent and faithful, and was pro-
noted
THE PRESIDENTS CHANCE
After this Secretary Chandler gave Bell q place ON
Ms iorco under the chief Mr. La Barrs
and he nothing OF him nor heard anything
Of him for several weeks Ono. day the President
told him 1.-THE Secretary that he mistaken about
the character Of Detective Bell He had thought he
was good man, but had found that ne was q scoun
6reI, and he wanted him removed At this the Secre
larry ordered Bells discharge month or two later
Bell applied for his pay, having received
rst engaged Tho chief Of the detectives was con-
suited and he said he did not know. what Bell had
done 70 warrant payment Secretary Chandler then
sefused 70 pay He said he would sign no vouchers
for employees who did nothing, and TO this
day the Secretary did not know VI ether Bell
had received cent from tho department
Perhaps General cowen might have signed his vouch
YRS and tho rnsa received pay, but not through Mr.
chandlsr NJ Chandler did not remember that
Luckey had spoken word 70 him In favor OF Bell or
wen mentioned his name The only persons who
youched for him President Grant and General
Huribot He did not recollect where tho President
vas when he spoke In Bells behalf He believed Il
~ . Cabipst meeting
INTERVIEW GENERAL RABcocK.
General Babeock was also interviewed this evening
~ his house He seemed 10 anticipate the object OF
the visit, and soon as Bells name was men,
siousd he SAID with emphasis .Bsils story lisa tissue
Of lies from beginning 10 ends
TEE ATTORNEY GENERALS ssDrscounAomo-
LErrzR REVOKED.
The judiciary Committee having to-day reported .
resolution condemning the Attorney Generals letter
70 dissrict attorneys discouraging witnesses" and
declaring that ~ ought - revoke IL comes out this