The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-31
Under Gen. Porter's State
ment Of His Intrigues
With the Mysterious 4amale,
"Sylph, the Sinner"
Wilson Further Exposes the
True Inwardness Of the
81. White House,
And Uplifts the Covering
from the Cesspool Of
Corruption.

WASHINGTON, July 30.-The seal OF
secrecy having been removed from the
concluding portions OF the testimony of
ex.Solicitor Bluford Wilson, it was given
to the press. Much of it is a repetition
Of the former testimony, or in explana-
tionthereof.
, Wilson testified, about the 9th of Sep
temker, that he wrote letter TO Hender-
son, in which he stated, substantially,
that during tho hearing of motions to
quash indictments in the case,
then pending before Judge Miller,
/ thought it important that Nc
Donsld and Joyce should be put un-
der the strictest surveillance, and that
every proper precaution should be taken
to ppeyent their escape; that it was
higl y important also that the associates
and sconsplrators with Mcdonald and
Joyee, if there were any, (then
unknown), should be discovered and
brought to punishment, and l used the
words that it was of the utmost importance
to the public interest that he should 60
to the very
i" Bottom or Top
of the combinations, and underscored the
words "bottom or top" and knowing
that General Bsbcock would be in st.
Louis with the President, and knowing
his relations with Mcdonald and Joyce,
IinSlnded to use, and did use such terms
a tr kthat Gen. Henderson might clearly
s(e Tat his relations with Mcdonald and
J6yc&, while in that city, should be care
ftllys looked after, and inquired into.
ThisI believed l was fully authorized
and warranted to do, by the terms Of the
Presidents endorsement Of the Barnard
letter, and supposed in SO do
ing would receive his support and ap-
provA. 1t turned out tha. this letter of
mine was
Taksl From Among the Papers
of Gen. Henderson while he was engaged
in law argument in the courts at st.
Louis; that Mcdonald or Joyce got pos
sessioo. of It, and TO support the charge
that 7 was putting spies on the Presi-
dent tfterwsrd, the capital letters, "W.
H." Were forged there. This letter, OF
cQp1s> contsi hing forgeries, was
brodg dght from The west by Babcock, and
shown to Bristow and Pierrepont, who
were much disturbed, but Wilson had no
difficulty in convincing them of the
forgery, and that was the end of the mat
ter with them. Wilson also explains the
letter to Gen. Horace Porter, who said at
once: "Wilson, don't want to hear any
thing more; that's the end of that
matter. The letter is forgery,
beyond question, and that lets you
out" said, word with you, General,
about that letter. wrote that letter
intending
General Babeock should be Looked
After.
If he was in the ring ! intended TO catch
him, if 1t was in my power; if he wasn't
intended TO demonstrate his innocence
beyond the shadow of doubt, if possible
to do so. l asked Con. Porter what ex-
planation he had of the "Sylph" telegram,
and he gave me an explanation to the
effect that
"syIph'' was q Lewd Woman
with whom the President Of the United
States had been an intimate associate,
and that she had bothered and annoyed
the President, till, at one time, McDon-
AIDS attention was called to her, and he
said he knew her, and would relieve the
President of her, which he did. Porter
said TO me, without going
any further into an explanation
that the most inestimsble service in his
power 10 render the President of the
United States, would be TO shield and
save General Babcock from Expos
ure;
that these matters were of a character
that could not be gone into without giv-
ing all parties the very greatest trouble
and concern. / told the General that
/ would do what could fairly
TO see that General Babcock was
honestly and squarely dealt with,
and that no injustice was done him, but
that further than that l could not and
would not go; the matter was in the
hands of local officers at st. Louis, and
would urge on them the grave import
snce 10 all parties that no mistake should
be made in reference 10
Gen. Babcock's Connection with she
Ring.
Gen. Porter expressed himself as per-
fectly satisfied.
Wilson testified as follows, in reference
10 an interview with the President:
sho wed the President the Barnard letter,
and read 70 him thst extract from 1t IN
which Mr.. Norville was credited with
having said substantially: The Psesi.
dent
Dare Not Go Too Far
with Mcdonald and Joyce, or Babcock is
lost. read to him that part OF his letter
in which Jim Casey was referred 10, and
I turned over the letter, and on the back
OF i, read 70 him, with great deliberstion,
the endorsement in which he bad said:
'!These newspaper clippings and this letter
are sent 10 the department 70 the
end, that if they throw any light
upon new witnesses 10 be summoned,
they may be brought OUT Let no
guilty man escape, If j. can be avoided
/ cad 70 the President Of the United
States the concluding sentences in which
he said, .'be especially vigilant or charge
those in authority TO be against all
those who claim 70 have high authority
to protect them, meaning TO
Prssees Oihers sr - Prsseet The.-
selves.
and in which, he finally said that per-
sonal considerations should not stand IN
the way u the performance OF the Pob-
lie duty, and said 70 him, Mr.. Pres'-
dso, what have done IN the premises
tcaching General Babcock, i have done
Under warrant, and in full pursuance OF
vour ins,auiions 70 the Secretary q the
Treasury and 70 myself. He said GER
.sainIy, had B.boock and 9ln casey %
mind when made that endorse
psnt, and i expected you I"
=. ...4 g.. him