New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-18
THE DEPOSITION.

IN the Circuit Court Of the United States, East
ern Distriet OF The United states against Or
VILE f. Babcock Transcript Of senoeraphers notes OF
the deposition Of u s. Grant, for tue defendant taAch al
Washington, February, 1876.
Direct examination by Mr.. Cook:
Question How long have you known Cen Babcock.
and how intinatoyi Answer. have known him since
1863; we first met during the Vcksbnrg campaign IN
that veal since March 1864, have known him init
mately.
O. Please state in what various capacities he has been
employed, and what positions he has held since 1868
A. From about March, ls6l to the 4th of March, 1869
he was aid-e-camp my military STAN Since that
time no 10 the time his Indictment he has been acting
a. my private secretary and In addition to That iof sew
eral years he has been superintendent OF Public Build
ngs and Grounds
e. As your Private Secretary please state what we're
his neral dutIes A. His general duties were To carry
All communications from the President to Congress- to
have charge aud supervision over all Of the correspond
ence particularly official correspondence and IN ms
capacity OF private secretary ho received my mails
opened my letters ana read them In regard to many OF
them he gave directions to the department with refer
enco la me- and such required any diction or answer
fiom me he submitted to me.
q. His relations with you confidential A. Very
O. DO you know whether, during the period OF time
that cen Hancock has been your private secretary. lac
has been frequently applied 10 by persons throughout
the country lag their special matters before you or
before the various d.! artlaents
ICouns, the prosecution objects to the question a.
Irrelevant and incompetent to the issues In the case
A. That was the frequent anu you might say, almost
daily occurrence.
o. In what manner. 50 far "a you have observed with
reference to the public interests. has Gen Babcock dis
charged his duties your private secretary
OBJECTED by counsel for the prosecution as imma-
terial and rrelcyantl
A. have ALWAYS regarded him most efficient aud
faithful.
q. Are you acquainted with the general reputation OF
Gen Il ,bcock in The city where he has lived among HI,
associates and his acquaintance IN the army ani else
where FOR honesty ami .nesr!t, A. .uJp'se that
might say tlnt have been acqu united with his general
reputation in the army and where he Is Inown; where
hc has lived clsc here ito know thing about IT,
but suppose myself 10 b. acquainted wi,h the reputa
lion no has in the army AMI in this city.
q Now state II you please, what his general reputation
is and has beenl \. have always supposed It 10 be
good II II years intimate association With man gives
ono an opportunity ~ judging what other people think
~ him. certainly had good opportunity. not only
Of knowing hi, character myself but Of KNOWN; tho re
puiation bc su,tains.
q. And from these opportunities, what has beeu h'
rcputatoni \. Good.
COLLECTOR FORD
O. We're Won acquainted with G. W Ford ~ 81. Louis in
lis lifetime aud what. II any position did he holl at the
tin, Of his Gcatni A. WAS intimately acquainted with
hr. fufu lfrt IN me state 81 NtN-1hih, WIEN was
u.utcnnn, IN the army he was then young lawyer liz
Iug ia tie same town where was stationed; then from
ISL To $50 We were both living IN 81 Louis Comfy.
ana our relations int mate from 1871 ~ to the day
of ms death; he was connected with the United states
Expires, Company ST. LouiS aud from 1850. but WI!
not be ,ure that 10 mis- death be Collector OF
Internal Revenue OF the First Collection District OF
Missouri.
JoYrE's APPLICATION FoR FoBDS PLACE.
@ State what. IL ANY. appcat were m ide ut the
time OF his dcceaso to tine appointment OF his sue
ccs orr
lQleson objected to by counsel for tho prosecution
mmatefia. Irrelevant, an incompetent
A. IL will he impossible for remember al u the
applications that made for tho pao'; 10 remem-
bcr. however, OF Gen. Babcocb bringing dispatch
that WIS addressed to HIM John \. Joyce pract
cally applying for the place.
Answer objected to by counsel for the prosecution IN
less the telegram is produced.
O Have you that dispatch A. have not
q. Do you know when IL is personality A. No sup
pose it could be found think very likely either Gen.
Babcocks counsel or tho DisrictAtorney at ST. Louis
has il.
@ We're there any requests or communications with
regard to the appointment OF Mr.. Fords successor
rmanating from his suretosl
IOhjoctcd to by counsel for the prosecution mma
terial. irrelevant. and incompetent
A. When Gen. Babcock showed mo that dispatch from
y.
very sudden and away from home should be guided
largely In selecting his successor by the rccOmnenda
tions wishes OF his bondsmcn that thought they
were entitled at least TO approve OF the appointment OF
the who should 80 and settle up Tie affairs OF his
Office.
ANSWER objected to by counsel for the prosecution
the ground that is incompetent for the witness TO state
bcweoen himself and the defendant Of the
nature giycn.I
nat II on mi I'll decide a ID
To the appointment and to whom any one. you
decide to leave the naming OF his successori
[Objccted by counsel for the prosecution irrele
want and incompetent
A. That WAS answered In my answer to tho previous
question.
MAGUIRE'S APPOINTMENT.
o Whom did the bOndsmen actually TecOnmondi
lObiccted incompetent aud irrelevant
A. Constantine Mcguire.
O. And on whose recommendation exclusively he
apppiutcdi A. | could not say whose recommends
iUn exclusively lie was well recommended aud salts
factory to the bondsncn OF Mr.. Ford.
ANSWER objected BY counsel for the prosecution
unless the recommendations, II IN wrg. are produced
q. Did Gen Babcock In any way directly or In
directly urge request seek o influence the appoint
ulent OF Mr. Mcguire did he ever exchange IA word
with you ON the subject which indicated that he desired
his appointment
(Ohjcccd to the ground OF irreloyancy aud incom
pefency The witness cannot state conversations be-
tween himself and defendantl
A. do not think he ever did do not think he WIS
aware Of existence Of Constantine Mcguire before his
Recommendation.
O. Did on inform Gen. Babcook that you intended To
leave the name Ford's Ia his bondsmcn and
ala you reaues hin to no ify those paril,si
lObleoted To the ground OF irrclcvancy and ncom
potency the question is answered in pre- ous answer
O. IL embraces perhaps this addition Did you roouos
him to notify the partics lSame objection as to pro