Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-22
The Safe Burglary Conspiracy Trial.
Colonel whitley Closes aud Nettle.
ship Taxes Up the Story.

Auomas L. oOmefNllle (lnulcteu Win hAr-
Iington, Whitley, Nettleship, Bliss. alias
Miles, and Benion,) on the charge OF con-
spiracy In connection with the alleged safe
burglary in the District Attorneys office, in
closed, District Attorney Wells and Mr.. A
@. Riddle conducting the prosecution, AMI
Judge Fullerton, OF New York, and Colonel
and Colonel Totten for Mr. Somerville.
Judge Fullerton offered the testimony OF
III c. Whitley before tine joint investigating
Re direct-Witness had no opportunity to
correct his testimony after giving 1t bsfore
the committee. Msjor Steuart was q man
that appeared at the st. James hotel, aud
eral said that he would grant witness immu-
nifty II he would go before the committee and
tell the facts. General Babcock spoke of the
articles. Did lot know whether Demaine's
name was connected with them or not. 10
to the consummation of the burglary the
witness and Nettleship, but subsequently, il
was a barred subject. and II talked of at all
1t was In blind way.
TESTIMONY OF Ex-soLICIToR BANFIELD.
Treasury department, was then sworn, and
testified that the secret service Of the Treas
ury was under the control OF the Solicitor,
In Florida, Babcock called at his Office and
asked him where was Whitley. BabcOck
said he had little matter for Whitley TO
him over to see me"-meaning to the White
House, where Babcock had his office. Wit
ness remarked to Babcock that there was an
effort being made to have Whitley displaced
as chief of the secret service, whereupOn
BabcOck replied that he could see no reason
why Whitley should be removed. Witness
sent q telegram to Whitley, and he soon re-
him that Babcock wanted to see him. Some
time after that BabcOck called again at the
Treasury department and asked for Whitley.
Witness informed him that he was in New
York, whereupon Babcock said, Telegraph
him 10 come here immediately" and said,
"You and he come to my house 10 morrow
morning Sunday morningl aud have
riDgton would be there. Whitley arrived In
Washington the following morning; did not
call on witness until after he had his break
fast Gave him Babcock's message, when
he said he would go up and see Babcock,
which he did. Witness met Whitley again
the same evening, and accompanied him to
the Washington Club House, where he said he
Accompanied Whitley because he did not
know where the Club House was. Upon ar
irving at the Club House they learned that
came In. Harrington advanced towards
Whitley ard shook hands very cordially
Witness walked off TO an adjoining room,
and did not hear what passed between them.
There was no cross examination.
TESTIMONY OF NETTLEsHrP.
Ichabod G.. Nettleship was then called,
and before being sworn, the District At
tOrney obtained permission from the court
to enter a nolle pros. in regard to him, n ettle.
ship beipk one Of the PARTIES indicted for
connection with the conspiracy. The court
given in q rapid manner, created sensa.
ton. Before commencing, the District At
torney said there was no pledge or promise
made him. but that he entered the 'a0le pros.
In simple justice to Nettleship.
Nettleship testified that he resided In New
ark, New Jersey, and had for several years
held the position of assistant chief of the
secret service under Col. II. G. Whitley, aud
that he took charge OF matters In the lstter's
abb Ell &c; that in March, 1874, he received
Instructions from VIII tley to come to Wash
to do piece OF work. Whitley told him that
the folks at Washington were being inyesti-
gated by Con gTess, and that they were
pressed very hard, and that the memorial.
them. He said their duty would be to con-
meet with the memOrialists and to ascertain
what they were doing, so as TO be able 70
If there was any thing wrong being done;
witness first sent for man named ]. N.
Oberworth, and another named Gus Zirruth
gagged them to 90 to WashinSton al eivi H
them the same orders that he received from
Whitley; witness accompanied them part OF
in Win WIFE sney sn3 fa N Sng
York Tribune, Captain Adams, q Newspaper
writer. and A. n. Gi bson, correspondent of
the New York San. also Mr.. Columbus Alex
ander, who was the head OF the memorial
lists, who had asked Congress to investigate
the affairs of the District, and try and md
out everything they could, especially where
published, and to report daily 70 George S.
Gideon, who was Babcock's assistant. Some
days afterwards, probably the Zth or 18th OF
better 90 down 10 Warrington and md see es h nS
things were working, which witness did. Ga
his arrival In Warrington witness learned
that one OF his men (Ober worthy had been
or out OF boxes without stamps. Whitley
also came TO washington with him, and
they both called upon Mr. Harrington at his
arrest. HarriDgto said that the men should
hereafter report to him, so that he would
know them. Witness secured q release for
oSerToIIh, sGG ORDERED hin to New York
field, he returned to New York, as did Whit
ley: About the LIST Of April, Whitley COM
planned Of men at Washington not doing
anything; he had In the meantime sent a
man named Parker here in Oberworth's
place, and said he bad a good plan, and one
that II worked properly would snit. He
then spoke OF the investigation at Washing
ton, and said that the books OF John o.
Evans, District contractor, had been called
for and had been brought before the commit
tee, but that the memorialists thought that
the books were not genuine. He said that IL
these same books could be stolen and given
to the memOrtalists, and have IL arranged
as the genuine books and then expose the
memorialists afterwards, after they found
they had been fooled, that they would be
blown ont OF water, and that the memorial
lists would be rtdjculed SO that there would
be no more Investigation heard OF. Witness
asked: "But suppose IL don't work well,
what then" Whitley answered: "Harring-
ton is the District attorney there, aud he
will take care Of us ALL" adding, 1--WE don't
intend that any one shall be hurt, only ridi-
culed and blown out OF water" During this
time Zirruth was working in with Alexan-
der, and through others had managed to get
introduced TO him and other memorialists.
He was letting on that he wanted to buy
property and build q saloon. On April Sth
witness was In this city again and met
Michael Hayes, who bad been sent on here
TO work part Of the case by Whitley; SO
far witness had taken no steps to have
the burglars break the safe open; he had
long talk with Hayes ct the owen House
In this city, drst giving Hayes Q sup
posed case 10 see how he would bite at 1T
speaking about robbing Controller Green's
safe, OF New York, &c, when Hayes says,
impatiep tlv, ''What 10 this job p" Witness
then told Hayes OF the plan given him by
whitley. He told Hayes that ths Eva ~
looks must be put in Harriugton's office,
aud all that he wanted 10 do was to make
the memorialists sick. He told Hayes that
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