The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-21
GEN. 0. E. BABC0CK'S TRIAL.
THE sTORY THE sAFE BURGLA
CONSPIR.fCF RLTOLD.
Tie secret service Force Used to Blacken
the Characters of Honest Men-The Clear
Evidence Of Gen. %. n. Babcock's Guilt.


Evidence Of Gen. d. X. Babcock's Guilt.
wAsHrNoToN Sept. 2O.-The attendance
in the Criminal Court to-day to hear the presen-
tation OF tho safe burglary conspiracy case to
the jury by the United States District Attorney
was very large, embracing nearly every lawyer OF
promin ence at the District bar. Gen. Babcock
and his counsel, and Thomas p. Somerville. |
Babcock's associate In this trial, were promptly |
in attendance at ~ O'Clock, but Judge Macarthur |
was behind time ten minutes this morning IN |
beginning what will be TO him daily amuss- |
ment for several weeks. The statement OF Dis |
trict Attorney weles was substantially |
the testimony of Col. whitley, the principal |
Government witness. " was such stateme en- |
as only one who has had the long experience OF |
Col. whitley In the detective business could |
furnish. The man who for six years success
fully tracked counterfciters, burglars and
thieves could not fail to present the facts OF
case In which he was tho executive oficer in the
ccarest manner. MIR. wollcs, therefore, is not
entitled to any credit for the narrative, which
forcioy showed that the shadow OF the White
House was tho only benedicton the conspira-
tors required to make them bold and fearless In
the task assigned them by Gen. Bibcock.
Those familiar with criminal practice will
readily understand in how many ways evidence
which would convince honest citizens OF guilty
intent may be ruled out upon technical ohjec-
tion. To u majority Of the audience assembled
10 tho court room to-day, three-fourths of
whom were lawyers, Col. whitley's testimony
was plainly this Richard Harrington, Assist
ant United States District ATTORNEY, who had
negotiated for the purchase Of house from
Gov. Shepherd, was selected by him to manage
the defence OF the District officials be-
fore the Congressional investigating com
mittee; that that investigation In
olved Babcock az we'll as Shepherd, and,
as shrewd men were aiding the memoralists
In ferreting out facts, detectives were matched
against them. The secret service Afforded tho
men and Gen. Babcock requested Solicitor Ban
Geld to let Chief Whitley do him service. That
duty, II well performed should keep whitley at
the head OF tho secret service. His tenure OF
ONCE was then doubtful. II would bind him to
Babcock and Babcock TO Whitley. and so long
as the Presidents private secretary wis involv-
cd nothing could be done that would reflect
upon the Administr 4ton. IL is in fact the story
Of the whiskey frauds repeated with but
little variation. Gen. Babcock was the head,
and all we're intimate with the President. Then
what harm could come to the crooked distillers1
The lesser officials, the Raugers and storekeep-
ers, even Avery can answer that, from prison
cells, who then thought that they would be
protected, Sotoo DID harrington whitley, Iunz,
and Nettesnip think that the White House
| would protect them IN their daholical schemes
| 10 ruin the reputation Of reputable citizens.
But the most important statement made by
| District Attorney welles was to the effect that
| the secret service was detailed by Gen. Babcock
| to watch the movements OF your correspondent
| in Washington, TO ascertain who furnished him
| the information which was daily making the
District Ring thieves vince. and whether come
| Job might not be put up that would keep him
silent. The secret service was employed by
| BaUcock ~ silence the voice OF THE sun. Fail
ing in that, the safe-burgary conspiracy was re.
sorted to. Aud this ia what WIN. \. Cook aud
| Judge Fullerton, Babcock's counsel, say was a
After District Attorney Wells had concluded
Columbus Alexander testified that be was one
| OF the memoIialists before Congress asking Tor
an investigation OF the affairs of the District Of
| Columbia. and was the person named In the in
those of John U. Evans were before tae Con.
| gressional lnyestigd dtipg Committee. nnd when
belief the books had been manufactured for
| the purpose, and were not the genuine books.
nhe Rawlings square aud street circle and
Reservation II we're subjects OF investigation,
| ana Gen. Babcock's measurement about these
| squares was inquired into.
The District Attorney said that he proposed
| to place on the stand Col II. C. Whitley, who
was one Of the parties CHARGED, but desired, be-
| furo doing SO, to place on tue record condl-
tional pardon OF immunity granted to him. Dir.
Wells read the P'ber IN question, letter Of
1916 addressed to the Hon. j. Proctor Knott OF
| tire House Judiciary Committee, granting Whit
les full immunity ana pardon II he will full an d
| ruthtul disclosures make In regard to the safe
| burglary appended TO which Is the resolution
Of the COMMITTEES directing the delivery OF the
letter to him. He asked that the letter be put
on record, aud then entered nOlle pros.
Col. whitley was then sworn, and In reply to
Treasury Secrs. Service fOr slS years, his supe-
Iiot being Mr. B nneia; that he was IN Florida
and reported TO MIR. Banncd
o-Did yau sSs. Gen. Bsocock2 Al DID. went
70 NE ofaee ana NJ conversation Win Cen Ba9eoek
und, rstood that man named samuel Feiker Chicago
rendcr me sh assstsncs he could lie vent on to say
ihst IA an Investigation they had CHARGED HIM uilh
that a msn nsncd Dcmnne had beeh msking these
Know ihii sSid i6at SanneG had toid me to come to
s,9cost Street, %.1s YJ ae'dS''T; It Sa %
my ONCE hst,ieshiP, ,.r DeiSne AMI Cum.
ia y HH T nsa a. he ipS
ported 20 Bsnned At hl. nouse, and went 70 cen Bah
pd n9. see zen pIR,oeS az hii s 9ss
ana lsd some con,esiicn as 10 the prSbabiitie,
Of retaining my pace usr witch @ Gen Be Baoeock ,oie
rec!ed me 70 go aud see hTrinslon. Gen; BabcocA
hs "sa Win S ss @ M Bana seS SSa' ssa 6
latter went WIN me TO SHOW mo the cuo house on New
ton, but DID not zee aim until after had walcd f0
versation.
Tho defence objected 30 the conversation
being gwen, on the ground that It had not beer
shown that Harrington was "A cOnsp pirAtOr but
the objection was oyerruled, and an exception
was noted. Witness continued:
a"ns'Sa asa SS $s '' Gs .aro iGo% his wa. D0'sst .
q a. g. Cornell ',.,li,i, and saa {, was not
ana should send .ome Of my men to WORK IN WIN h'
mcmuraisis and nnd out what they we're doing.
paper whom ne vthtd to be worked IN Win. don'
remember l1c names. told Harrington that oull
srud me- oNCr namluR Mr. Nttiltship. went 90 NcN
YORK On he SAINT nlgut C5liD and sent Mr.. Nttte
snip over SWING INN tue names, and telling hin
that they were tne parties &, re worked. G0u't re
mtmb tat gave Nett.rshlp uny Instinct IONS -
port tu Harrington at this PARTICULAR time. was asar
VousD sent over n man named OberwOrti
Win Notticshp. | found On my arrisa
that ObcrN Orh hid been arrested for peddling cigar
without uceLsc, ani told Harrington that hr (ODer
NOrthJ Was onu of my men, and he was re
. lratCd. Mr. narrlngi IN complained that thl
[ men Nere good ior p'tning and no wanted met
, WHO would push matters along ami worA
to come purpose. Harrington said some hin,
must ne done that ne had a plin winch would throw
5 thought that EVanss books his Office hel
were trying tO get them, and he though
that TO hayA his o1lce rohhed Was the best plan
he said he dlI not care II lis safe was knocked O
blown TO nell, as the damned safe belonged 10 hn,
sad did not Wish tue men TO gel into trouble, ant
Harrington replied that there MAS no uanger as he
pistrict Attorney, and they should not be hurI.
81 from New YORK On the 2lth. and returned n,
sAme night eaine ag In on tue Stl April, rui
Hhout the ineugaon, and he saiu oil rGht, that liar
ungtou koit him pOtted up.
was again ~ abhngtun on the 21th, artiYug Il
~ afternoon tow days Hfter the sale blown up
went up to larrngtuns house, ana he told aDOu
4 what had trRhspircd dunng the blowing OF the SAT,
lie said that eyery Thing NOuld have worgod All rgh
y | except for the Interference Of Major liclaru
the superintendent OF Police who would not coOperat
70 with hm. After that called upon Gen BaocOCk ID
hs olCe IN the White House. H. spoke ABOUT the SAT
burglary thYlng that II was very iudY nAnAEe4 ina
ln rTerf s,all., M