The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-17
GEN. BABC0CK'S DEFENCE.
LiNDiULET WILLTiNS'S OPENING
ADDRESS TO THEJURY
An Explanation Of the TcIcRrnm- TINT is
Entirely Too Thin-Iioge TO he Made tho
Real Informcr-The stolen uoge Letters.

ST. Lows, Feb l6.-Willams opened for
the defence in Bat cocks case with an address
exciting some surprise from Us assertions re-
garding what the defence expected to prove.
The witnesses for the day have given little OF
the testimony promised. williamss manner
In speaking was harsh and uncouth. but vleor-
ous enough, emphasizlne at intervals by swing
ing movements Of his long arms. His style in
speaking was much that Of the average tinerant
cxhortcr, commanding degree OF attention
from It's very odlity. lie stated the theory OF
the defence to be In substance that Dabcock
was Imposed upon by Mcdonald and Joyce (; that
the letters with money in them never went to
him; that the telerrams from Babcock and tho
letters sent through Grimes indicated no guilt,
ami that oge was the real lnformer. 1t has leaked
ont that tho desire OF Williams to take part In
the defence has been bitterly opposed by Porter
and Storrs, the latter renarking that II the case
were any worse he would not submit to VIII
liams's entrance. Williams backed by an author-
~ not to he tri0ed with under the circumstances,
insisted upon being admitted to vindicate Grant,
and as the manner of his speech showed he
exerted himself in that direction as far as for
Dabcock. His explanation regarding the famous
"Sylph" despatch from Babcock is considered
especially unfortunate. lie alluded to tn, ncu-
tous signature as merely an exhibition Of play
fulress and thoughtlessness, and made no
planntion at ali of the words, :" have succeed
ed they viii not go.
TESTIMONY ron THE pEFENcE.
Gen. A. A. Humphreys, David W. Mahon OF
the Treasury Department. cx Mayor Of Wash
ineton j. q. lierrett. and Gen. \. Y, Banks es-
peciav vouched for Habcocks military quali-
ties. Tuition, the Pennsylvania Supervisor. then
iesthed regarding his part IA erectlng a re-
It clear that his influence was as potent as
his famous published letter would Indicate.
lie made IA shtewd witness. villas, n clerk in
10 At t1 u af NJ fk
was at the hotel at o'clock on OCT. -. 1873 but
as he could not recoliect concerning train rates
point. tho object being to show that liabcock
could not have been IN Washington eisht hours
was contested unsuccessiuliy by the ptosecu-
,ion. An cGeT .n 20 fo1ce Ssu, tho defence
who obtained them, al proved unsuccessful.
II now comes to hght that the letters. at tho
tire sherman cot them. were held hy Bingham.
adistilier wnere over thoutht them SAFE ana
| ihht sherman, a,ailng himself of Dyers con-
! rdence ~ lr got the letters and took them at
! once 10 krdm. Of Bibc'ck's counsel The de-
fence will seek To show that through ilose In
stead of tnr9nFh hAococS much Of ,ne inior-
| bingham will be put upon the stand.
wlTNFss WHO FAILED TO RESPOND.
One witness relied uuon TO prove Bahcock's
| character tailed the defence to dIy. "tlll Gen.
sherman said defendants counsel. "ls It W.
| r.. sherman asked the matior-of fact Marshal.
Yes call him" W. 4. sherman was called
through the court room. but he failed 10 an
swcr. why the General did not appear the de-
| fence seem unable toe cxplnln.
Tact having an important bearing upon the
| Issue Of the case has just come to light from a
| source which leaves no doubt Of its reliability.
1t appe"rs thst previous to Bihcock's indict-
| ment II had been arranged At the White House
| that before the close OF the Adminstra-
ton, General A. A. lumphreys, present
| thief OF Engineers, should be retired, and
Babcock elevated To his position thus securing
20 the Secretary good thinS a. permanency
| before his patron should lose his power. The
| Indictment ruined the plan. Nothing short of
| the absolute acIuittM ana vindic ton OF liab-
| cock. u Is considered, Will now allow such a
| uromotpn IA the &c oil puhnc opinion.
| Hence ono cause q the hltter ana excitement
| created and the subsg glacui energetic efforts to
| stitlds pc Secletar5 by every possible means
! Rtbc'cks friend, here. who hole ne may ect
away from cout t ION. are s,il de-uondent
over his PROSPECTS ior the pronot. u. That tue
real oiirioA oi tLc situation hell last MI. 10y
! fhe fHrtv WIS NOT thst fn arQ littll would come
may he cleaned frtm the ttxl OF Telegram
| sent o tho deuelHie WHO, IL was " Case iI
the prlsecution closed to-day. We don't lhink
| convict n possible
FisnBAcK's ExPLANAr1oN.
Among the witnesses summoned by the de-
| me D,mpclNi. lie wul ue called upon To ex-
plain the leicsrams from li ilbcocl, recording the
| pro'omeuis Mr. FiaAoack said IN con-
NeIsaii1n to-day that he could explain
no'hi9g. lie viii swear tnat be hsd
| reference was made 10 petty matters. and that
| this B4tcock telegram was founded on tue in
| teIycw, but that Is all. Mr.. Flshback says that
| he shOud have heen summoned rather Nv the
| prosecution. lie SAYS that after BristOw became
| secretary Mcdonald found 1t necessary to keep
constantly inform ed Of his Q'ishb ck'sl move
ments. Information on tnat point was Simply
one Of the wants Di the Ring.
EX-Sccret ry Of the Navy Dorie will take the
stand 70 testify 10 Il lbcochs character to-mor-
row. u re y working zeAou-ly for BnbcOek.
lleye him guilty than would ste 4 ahorse.
by. he's only worth S3OOI now," said the *
Secretary IN conversation. Borie doesn't Ike
he pr, scnce Of Banks as a witness to character,
asserting that Banks might better have been
lett Oh the stand.
SNAP EEropT os WILLIAMS.
williams in his speech made allusiods to two
Missouri editors for occurring whom IN the Grant
Interest Joyce had seemed TO merit con-i era
that OF these two editors ono Mileinson
Is already convicted Of cOmplicity In
the wniskey Rlhg. ond another wAAinson
has hei the country. In his speech, also,
the ex-Att1rney.Generm introduced frequent
references = tho ch rhcter o. the Government
witnesses, calling them self convicted felons
ana other bad nance, the effect OF which was
fanny incldent NJ the door. one Of the late
storeknepers WAS listening TO tho effort, and
wnru Williams sn'ciei at the effect Of money
says a word about the L4ndaulct."
inaic'ments have already been found in
Springfield, H., ug.in,t X. =. westermor, Jno.
l.. SmitH, and g. G. Glassford Of Pekin Tor con
spiracy to dcfraud the Government.
/, Is not yet certainly assured that the defence
In tie case have the Post once employees so:
cured who will TESTIFY to the return to Joyce Of
the letters mall 10y Everest.
a man nnmcd Wright is talked Of, but does
llgl aunt Allal ilt VI l4l hb TESTIFY
ONE OF DAnCOCRs ; LETTERS.
Tomorrow the defence will introduce In evil
| deucu letter from Blbcuck 10 joyce IN san
Francisco, with the idea of showing tnnt the re-
| luions of the defendant with j lyce were OF
| merel, of "a friendly Character The letter pur-
| ports to be- an tntWer to the e-patch from
| Joyce containing the words, "Iell ID. to all on
| his scandal hounds" The possession Of tho let
| ter inuieate late understanding with Joyce.
| 1t IS as follows:
W,sniNoroS, u. C., March l. 1874.
DEAR dofcki fcccN your tclesram 1ust before
You eft nave stcn d., aHd ie ASSURES me nen-
iton has been made OF Ford's name IN the matter
OF ncWCry. liz says thtrt are 10 charges against
Oilcti ont here; thht IL Is against brewery. do
nut know your Instructions ma reference to fran
DISC think though That AZ 10 because u. wants you
to DO important wurE.
hop YOU VIII nave pleasant trip and a successful
one. Nothing new here. All well.
To Col j. A. JoicE Grand Hotel san Francisco, CA.
EX-Ait itOlncy-teDernl WHlinms's Address.
ST. LOUIS, Feb, 16.- EX -Atto.ney-Gon-
e.ul Williams, In opening the defence OF Gen.
B j. cock, devoted much time to a criticism OF
the Governments testimony. Assuming that
what the Government had presented was COM
pc'ent evidence, which was by no means admit