The New York herald., 1876-09-20
WASHINGTON.
Trial of General Babcock for the
Safe Burglary Conspiracy.
CHARACTER OF THE JURY EMpAyELLER
Republican Fears for the Result
in Ohio.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

wAsmSoros. Sept 10, 1870
THE SAFE BURGLARY coNsPIDACY--rIIAL OF
GENERAL BABcoCK CoMMENCED-A JURY
WHICH Is LIKELY TO DIsAGREE-MR. ALEX
ANDER ON THE CONSPIRACY AND Ex-cHIEy
wHiTELEY ON THE TESTIMONY.
We have entered upon the second series OF the murky
plotting and contemplating of detectives. outside law
yers and witnesses which has marked tho phases Of
the safe burglary heretofore and Tho consequent
indictment OF General o. +. Babcock, the Presidents
latc private secretary From tho first tho gamo
has been sido tho other 10
reduce tho testimony and witnesses to inextrcablo
confusion and incredibty. Most admirably hav0
they succeeded. IL amounts almost to art and
has a the outlines OF adaptaby tho construction
at least oil stage rascalty nricacy Tho first part
OF the farce, tor such II Is to-day consummatcd
In the selection OF so called jury. Tho government
was handicapped by tho provisions OF law beyond
which tho presiding Judge, Humphreys could not 60
in the allowance OF but three challenges, who the
defence were allowed four. AT FIRST counsel claimed
that ,hoy entitled to osht challenges each but
tho Court ruled not. These soon exhausted, and
some, though not Objectionable yet certainly not tho
most acceptable, jurors selected. Tho nrst who
was sworn in and passed, II not In bad taste, would,
ordinarily. at least, have put mpartiaty the blush,
for he proved to bo no other than Walker
Lewis, colored steward at tho clubhouse where
the conspirators tho safe burglary assembled
on the night Of April 23 1874 of which conclusive
tmony has been taken before tho Congressional
mittee. Next John w. Freeman. colorcd, who
has worked under General Babcock ou tho public
grounds, and last william Ferguson who. in tho
estimation Of unprejudiccd lookers-on, was sure
hang tho jury as he seemed anxious TO got It at all
hazards for the sake OF the revenue II brought
Mr.. Columbus Alexander the person most interested
In the trial, and who affected by tho alleged
conspiracy, was interviewed In regard to tho jury Ho
Is I'M old citizen of Washington but he does nos
know thcm and appeared very much dissatisfied with
tho different clements composing It SO far thcis
probable bias is concerned he apprehcnds
that tho jury will disagree and has almost made his
mind up to It, He tried hard 10 keep colorcd men Of.
he thinks they would be likely decide UNDER
standingly on tho evidence What he expects provo
In regard General Babcocks guilt Is that
terested in urcaKng him down by destroying his cred
bility during tho Investigations which mndo BY
Congress into District affairs, in which Mr.. AexandeG
and his friends werc important and persistent w.t.
ncsscs against tho thon existing Board Of Publia
Works, of which General Babcoek was Super
vising Engineer In tho matter Of measuring
tho improvements made about tho public
buildings aud grounds 1t appears that they
striving 10 show falso measurements tho part Of
General Baocock and also that hS drawing money
from tho Treasury before tho work actually done.
Mr.. Alexander says:-'Wc werc tracing tho corrupt
paymon: OF $4,000 by firm Of contractors named
DcGOyer 4 NJ cClelan, followed up to OK
Governor Shepherds Office, whero partner Of his
coivcd u large amount OF the money. necessary
thon," he sdds ''to strike mo down, and henco shoy
got up the sao burglary business 10 show tho
mitteo what sort OF man was, and effort waa
made 70 brcak down tho investigation, but 1 turned
too quickly on thom by going into tho saic burglary
NATTER which the committee took up al once, and
thore We beat them."
The most important witness will bo Mr.. II. II. O.
whitley late Chief of tho Treasury Department socrel
scrvce who Is charged with putting up tho whole con.
spIracy job. Ho said TO Mr. Alcxandcr:-"I want 10
coar myself and want to toll the whole truth was
employed to work il up. l not TO bo benefited.
but was doing IL for tho who wero to bo osas-
nted."
General Babcock's completely IL charged to have
sisted principally in having caused exSolictor BAN
Geld Of tho Treasury Department 10 telegraph 70
Whitley In effect the rollowing:-
"B. wants 70 800 you Como over"
"Somcrvle, . New York lawyer, also on trial. pre-.
pared the depositons Of Michael Hayes and of William
Benton, alias Walter Brown. now In jail TO convict
me" said MI Alexander fcclingly. no turned over
tho pages OF printed evidence, and pointed thcip
lengthy depostons in the Ono Of worst fca.
lures Of the present by-pay the activity Of Mr. A.
B. Williams. lawyer, who 10 supposed 10 have liked
up tho jury In tho Green trial and IL charged with
manipulating juries for counsel He WAS indicted Al
ono OF the consprators, and with Chief DetssUvs
Clarvoe and Major Richards, Superintendent Of Police
on tho night OF The safe burglary and with Dstrcs
Attorney Harrington, followed w tho burglars "a
Columbus Alexander's house Tno principal burciar'S
namo was Benton Mr. Williams has been busy ell day
getting up list Of and looking after the jury.
IN haf n ma kas Aha has all
the witnesses Tor the government were subpGnaod,
said thoy not Ho expresses himself a. being
considered they have very lot He iursher an.
nouncsd his opinion Of tho trial by saying, t will be
quick, strong trial on both Sides" Mr. Whitley was
later engaged with privately in the preparation Of
questions which cict his Testimony the casc
quarters and itS ramihcatons will bo found to extend
10 some notable ex-olicaIs II not crcumseribcd By
counsel or the Hating out Of witnesses.
Attorney General Taft Is understood TO DO busily
engaged to night giving his personal attention the
careful preparation OF tho sale burglary trial
sec that the government Will not IN any way be AZ
iaut overlook anything which should properly bs
done by to protect ts interests and secure full and
fair trial by bringing out all the testimony which
should be developed by IL
REPUBLICAN FEARS OF THE RxsuLT IN OHIO
SEND THE REQUIRED BARREL.
A great deal OF solictude s manifested hero amona
republicans in regard to tho campaign In Ohio Among
those who have watched its conduct there closest AZ
we'll us what Is done here there apprehension feis
that everything is not all right and that a weakness
prevails In tho management Of II In some importan.
respects In support OF this u y recalled by those
most convcrsant with tho history of tho thing that
last year, When Ohio had become tho most Important
state tho elections there some difficulty abous
providing Tor tho campaign expenses, and until near
election day the Chairman Of the State Executive
committee continued unreinforcsd with sunicions
funds for the campaign Considerable dissasisfaction
with tho National Executive Committee grew out Of
this aId exAssistant Secretary Cowan the Interior
Department. was charged with being tho obssaclo TO
Oho's Thrifty condition. When the charge made
directly 70 HIM he Lodged that he did not think
ONO ought 10 have any moro money, as she already
had $40 900, and when no Chairman OF the state
Executive Committee, that sufficient 10
run tho campaign. Upon being reminded