The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-18
GEN. BABC0CK'S DEFENCE.
THE IMPROBdBLE STORY or A ST
LOUIS LETTER CARRIER.
The Spectators Unable TO Restrain the Fx-
preston Of their Belief that u IL False
Remu RI abie Scene In tue Court Room.

heuturkobic scene III tuo tOUFt hooms
ST. LOUIS, Feb 17.-The Babcock trial
opened this morning with the introduction OF
witnesses testifying to the good character OF
the defendant. II was the usual formal ques-
tionng regarding general reputation and the
not unusual discharge OF the witnesses without
question by the prosecution. Ex-Gov Thomas
c. Fletcher Of the Rcd Cloud Investigating Com
mitt go notoriety was next called upon to testify
regarding letters he had received from Mrs.
JORGE when, In his company, she visited her
husband in the penitentIary. Various letters
were introduced passing between Dabcock and
Joyce, Rogers and Mcdonald ant
object being TO show the close political reations
OF tho men. c. c. Dickinson Of the First Comp
trollers ONCE, Washington, was called upon to
tostify regarding the handwriting OF Joyce, the
White House doorkeeper, but his memory
proved treacherous when on the stand The
-" dispatch from Joyce to Babcock was how
ever admitted. It is as follows;
ST. LOUIS Dec. s, 1874.
ordered anybody here j.
Tho two dispatches ruled out were as follows
WAHHINGToE. Dec. o, 1874.
John 4. Joycs. 81 Lou6: Cannot heat that any one
has gone or Is going o. Il. BABcocK.
cen; 0. 4. Bascoet. wa'higgion. tef Mac 70 see
rs5ssr ov q S So9rss0 and telegram to c0mm,92or
Regarding the last despatch the Court said
although II was admitted to be In the hand
he Wes 81 there spu no proof that the cefendse
had received II or II he did receive IL that lie
knew from whom It come. and there was no
proof that II was ever answered.
A. j. Miner and Henry c. Dunn OF the St.
Louis Post once force were called and testified
mailed the letters to Babcock aud Avery could
be opened readily.
TESTIMONY THAT NOBODY BELIEVES.
The afternoon session opened with a sensa-
Han Ma(It lat nj
upon the stand to prove that he had taken from
the box the letters mailed by Everest. He said
that he met Joyce In tho street, and that tho
latter asked him to open the box and take out
the letters. He eacquispced, and gave the letters
to joyce again. II Is but feeble state, %
Introduction OF this witness the OF Bab-
cock has been damaged more than by the test-
mony OF any man yet introduced. The falsity
OF the carriers statement was apparent In every
sentence. Ii appeared that he was of his beat
at the time the letters were extracted He ad-
mitted that 1t was always customary to take re-
ceipts for any letters returned to the writer's,
tut asserted that he neglected ths custom
this occasion. In the direct examination he was
fluent and correct. anticipating queries and re-
peaiing his cxplanalion OF the circumstances
With a parrot-ike infection, but IN the cross
examination, save In the answers to such ques-
tons as 1t might readily have been foreseen
about hopelcssly. lie appeared, In short,
as man who had been drilled thoroughly In
method Of telling a story, but whose prcpara-
tion had boen too limited for all contingencies.
| In the cross examination he made repeated as
sertlons OF tue truth OF what ne was saying IN
| deprecating, winning way. The effect upon the
| audience OF the mans story was remarkable
It's Inconsistencies and evident falsity were such
| that the audience, rather IN sympathy with
Habcock, could not restrain itself and the
| Marshal, and at length the Court itself,
| were called upon repeatedly to check tho min
Rled expressions OF astOnishne ent, contempt, and
incfedJlit 1t such a scene as Is rarely wit
messed in court room.
THB DEFzSCE IRREvoCABLY DAMAGED.
when the ad jouTnment took place exclama-
| tions were heard all sides to the effect that
| the cause OF Babcock had been irrevocably
| damaged by the introductio OF McGill, and the
| reckless blunIcr OF the counsel for the defence
| In tho course they have resorted to is tonight
the chief topic Of conversation everywhere.
| The past record Of McGill i largely hidden in
| obscurity. though he testified that he had been
| Lieutenant-Colonel OF a Rhode Island regi-
| ment and subsequently a street car driver here.
| In personal appearance he Is uDDrepOseslng-a
| man OF perhals thirty nve, with struggling yell
| low whiskers and "A sniirking, uneasy manner.
| viii 60 on the stand TO support In manner the
| statements Of his suhofdiuates by tcstifylng
| that the course described was not an uncom-
mon one. IL Is tonight considered scarcely
| probable that he Will appear.
| Following the Introduction OF McGill came the
| Introduction OF the Presidents deposition, in
| substance what has already been made public.
| II has been commented upon that among
those introduced day TO testify to Babcock' )
| character WAS ono Capt. Baboitt, a notorious
| been refused admission to thu court room be-
| cause OF his inebrlety, aud who has in ST. Louis
anything nut good reputation. lie testified
| that the defendants character was above re-
| prOaCh.
| Mcdonald, interviewed In his cell to-day, gave
an account Of how he got the Brooks letter from
| Kogers's table in W Washington. lie asserts that
lie took only copy.