The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-14
THE WHISKY PROSECUTIONS.

Gen. Horace Porter Contradicfs Solicitor
Wilson.
WASHINGTON, August 12.-Horace Porter
was before the whisky committee today in ref
erence to Bluford Wilson's testimony.
He said that he did not allude to Sylph as a
he would have been inventing rumor which
would have reflected on the President He de-
MED positively that he had told Wilson that
the greatest favor he could dc the President
was to shield Gen: Babcock, and he denied
other assertions of Wilson'S. He said that he
never heard Gen. Babcock referred to as con-
cerned in speculations except from the news
papers,
Mr.. Cochrane asked witness il he knew that
certain papers shown to the President, impli-
eating Gen. Babcock caused the President to
retain counsel for defence for him.
Witness replied that he did not believe that
any papers were placed before the President
implicatDg Gen. Babcock.
Witness further stated that the President in
timated to him that nothing whatever came to
his knowledge which implicated Babcock d.
rectly or indirectly, or in any manner whatever
with the Black Friday speculation. In reply to
the question as to what explanation Gen. Bah
cock gave the President and Pierrepont about
the Sylph dispatches, witness said he did not
attach much significance to it, He was not
present when the explanation was made
Knew, however, that Gen. Babcock gave the
origin of the term Sylph as was done during
his trial at st. Louis. He did not know that
the explanation made to the President and
that made in court were different.
Witness was positive in saying that he did
not tell Mr.. Wilson that Sylph was lewd
woman and had given the President much
trouble. etc., although Wilson did ask him
what the explanation of Sylph was, and he
told him what he had heard from others,
though. as he before said, he did not attach
much significance to it.
Witness was asked whether the President at
any time, said anything to HIM about that mat
ter, and replied that nothing was said by the
President in his presence or hearing, and any,
thing he may have heard as coming from the
PRESIDENT he declined to state. Subsequently
witness said that he heard from Mr.. Storrs that
the President had said that the statement
made by Mr.. Wilson before the committee was
incorrect. That Mr.. Wilson did repeat this
vulgar SANDER to him, and that Wilson COM
menced saying something about improper
women, when the President stopped him in.
stantly, aud he did not permit the recital or
discussion Of the matter.
Witness explained his converse alton with
wilson, saying that the substance of his Ian
guage was that Gen. Babcock was distin-
guished officer of the army, was graduate of
West Point and that therefore every officer in
the army felt an interest in the matter, and
that the President believed Gen. Babcock in
nocent, but, that if guilty, he ought to be pun
ished. Witness did not assist Gen, Babcock in
getting up his defense. He had not since sum.
moned as witness, been to see the President.
but had purposely avoided calling on him.
Nor had he consulted with anybody, but had
read some OF the evidence and had general
idea of it.
The testimony of Mr.. Porter here closed.
Testimony of William Ii. Moore.
Before the whisky committee today, William
y. Moore, special treasury agent. contradicted
in his testimony the statement made by Wilson
concerning him. Among other things he de-
MED ever having stated that he saw Gen. Bah
COCK receive letter from Joyce. On the 9th
OF April he received a communication from
6iutord Wilson, requesting him to resign.
subsequently in a conversation with Mr.. Will
son ne asked Wilson his reasons for requesting
him to resign, when Wilson stated it was be-
cause the witness forced himself before the
committee to testify against his friend Mr..
faryan. The witness informed him that his
Information was false and this he could prove
~ member OF this committee, meaning Mr..
Glover. On the Sd of May he called on Wilson
IN company with Glover, when Wilson said as
the reason for removing witness from office,
that ne did not propose 10 have any SUBJ
ordinate hanging round to testify against Var
yam. Glover stated to Wilson that the points
on which witness had beencalled to testify came
from source unknown to witness, and that
the latter was not voluntary witness. Wilson
expressed himself satisfied with Glovers state
ment and left him to infer that he would re-
woke the order of dismissal. Witness made an
appeal to the President, and on July 9Th, after
the retirement of Secretary Brstow, Secretary
Morrill,, his successor, restored him. The wit
ness had received full compensation from the
date of his removal in May to date of his re-
storation in july
Adjournment Till Next Session.
The committee have adjourned the further
examination of the whisky frauds till the next
session of Congress