The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-07

lnproper; alter L returned tC
Washington received the letter from
Bell. 1t concluded by asking its return
as "God knows there are enough papers
in existence now" l took a copy of il
and expected to give it to the committee
to-day, but l have not received it. The
letter said the District Attorney, in order
10 secure the Indictment of Babcock
was using forged letters, and that Dyer
had been endeavoring to procure letters
from Joyce. Witness acknowledged the
identity of letter written by him to
Bell, requesting him to come to Wash
ington, aud that he would be cared for.
and continued: Bell came and did not
have much TO do with him afterwasds.
He frequently called to borrow monev,
out ! did not invest in that way. paid
him in st. Louis $500 at one time and
$l00 at another. Babcock knew nothing
of Bell until after l returned to Wash
ington.
Upon cross.examinatlon Bradley said
he asked Bell to get copies of the papers
from the district-sttorney's office. Bell
said they were lying around loose and
that he could got copies easily. Luckey
told witness that if Bell came on to
Washington he might get an appoint
ment.
Q-What indnced you to think you
could get a man an appointment iI
whom you had TO faith? A-Well. the
government either has to or does employ
detectives. 1told Luckey, however, that
l did not think much of them.
Q-W Where did you meet Bell when he
came to Washington? Ale came TO
my office l dent remember what passed
between us. Luckey was in my office
a few minutes. When he was there he
was passing in a carriage and l called
him IN: he said he didn't have time at
first; have no recollection how long we
were together; all my interviews with
Bell were prolonged, he generally did
all the talking.
L. p Luckey testified that he was
not sent to St. Louis by the President
nor in the interest of Babcock; he had
written statement while in st. Louis last
fall as witness for Avery; he met Bell,
who told him of great conspiracy;
against Babcock and Grant by Bristow.
Deyer, Henderson and others, and OF
their hope to break down Grants admin
istra,ion, for political effect.
Luckey's account Of Bells transaction,
which was very long, agreed closely with
That given by Bradley. AT no time had
anything ever been said by witness which
could be turned into proposition to e1-
trat or destroy papers. Witness returned
To Washington in fore part OF December.
Some time after Bell visited Washing
ton and saw him, when he mad several
further reports 10 make In regard to
Henderson and Dyer and other officers,
all bearing upon the matter OF a political
conspiracy. The witness told him he
must talk with the President now that
he was here. The President recognized
him us former spy who was under him
III the war \ few days after this Bell
said he was to be sent to st. Louis by
the Attorney General TO assist Dyer
in procuring evidence. but if he
saw that any unlawful means were
resortod to snch II. forged letters, or Of
ferins inducements for forgery he was
to reportit lie said, if he should discover
any great wrong going on how could ne
communicate it! II he telegraphed,
Dyer would know at once, and that 1t
might be too late. Witness told him
such an emergency was unlikely to rise,
but feeling that he might be to blame if
j, should, he wrote n short cipher and
showed Bell how to use it.
Witness said he did not at that time
distrust Bell and considered the cipher as
u simple device in teIegraphing to Sc
cure the privacy o!rhe dispetches, the
same as a sealed envelope for the same
purpose, aud thBt aftersproviding these
means whereby he could telegraph what
he thought the President ought to know
as safely rs he could send it BY
mail. He thought little more
about it until he saw
/; published in the New York Herald in
3 garLlei state some tme after that.
Whatever responsibility there was in
giving the cipher dispatch was entirely
his, ss neither the President nor General
3abcock knew anything of 1t. No mes
sages were ever sent or received under
tins cipher. The witness considered that
he had right To use this cipher i: he
saw fit in order to secure the absolute
privacy OF the communication. The wit
ness knew nothing of Bells appointment
in the Interior Department. Witness SAID
he never doubted Babcock's innocence,
and never said anything which would
imply that be had.
Gen. Babcock testified that he had
first seen Bell ut the headquarters Of the
army and at the Executive Mansion,
when be was recommended rs a scout.
He next heard Of him when Luckey re-
turned from St. Louis, but didn't see
him till he 90. back from Chicago, on
D,cpmb-r2i. He received considerable
from Bell, who said he
turned them over to Bradley, who would
report particulars He left here for the
west on the tn of December and heard
nothing from Bell till the oath Of Decem-
Der. He asked Bell around to bis office
Bell made long report to him there and
said be wa, very poor, &c. and witness
told him 10 put what he had to
saw in writing, and he could submit 1t to
hI. counsel. Storrs, and If it was valuable
he SHOULD be paid for Il. Storrs told him
to get Bel 10 make an affidavit 10 the
statement. He went out and got a
notary. brought him 10 witness house
with hi. seal, and made affidavit to the
document. Witness believed IN Bell
when he found him subscribe to the sfi-
dsvit End first, paid him so
aud paid him altogether about 500.
Bell called At his house SIX or eight times
and at his Office three times. On the
Ism o. January Bell sent letter to
witnesses house asking for $40, but
witness did not give it. General Bah
cccl denied that be hsd ever told Bell
that be Bsbeosk) was::guilty.
Gen. Babcock On cross examination
said thst after Bell gave him verbal in-
formation he asked him to put his
statement in writing. which he did IN the
form OF a. affidavit. he didn't know
.hs, Bell went to New York after telling
him he Intended to do so, nor did Bell
write t. him from New York. Babcock
SAID be informed the President
., ,an.rsl terms n. Bells statement; ne