The New York herald., 1876-09-21
w WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Sept 20. 1876
GENERAL BABcocKs TRIAI.-APPEARANcE OF
COLONEL WHITLEY ON THE sTAND-EFFEcr
OF HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ATTITUDE
OF THE DEFENCE-REPUBLICAN FEARS FOR
THE EFFECT ON THE PARTY.
The trial OF General 0. f. Babcock In the Criminal
Court for completely in the safe burglary matter was
full OF interest 4. proceeded to-day upon its way
development Of the theory adopted by the prosecu.
ton that very large part II not all OF the nspira
tion and encouragement shared by the consprators
cmanated from General Babcock Colonel Whitley was
tho first witness examined when the tedious opening
speech OF the prosecution was rccItcd from manu-
script by District Attorney Wells In order
TO subserve caref1 diction and argument,
though he we'll known to be a fluent taker and an
intrepid criminal lawyer
There socms TO be very funny atmosphere all about
the case, and the surroundings, they are
looked into closely, calculated to make laugh
invountarily. Even Justice Macarthur, tho presiding
it great and conscentousness in his deliberations
and rulings seemed frequently to allow smiIo to light
up his handsome features he evenly held the scales
Of JUSTICE and, though not often his won't he could
help laughing outright frequently he no
doubt thought the marknbIc changing OF places
which this trial illustrates General Babcock begin
with, the patron Of many OF those TO testify
against him. and Is under trial assoicd by the leading
beneficiary, Colonel WHITLEY, VINO has tho immunity of
the Department OF ustlcc certified TO him and in his
pocket Among tho witnesses many whom the
government has heretofore prosecuted because they
were OF or connected with the conspraiors In somo.
way, but who now. however, also under an imn,u-
nifty to be used as Its witnesses.
appearance he here before, and he dfldcntly
gavo mis- testimony to-day, occasionally consulting
memoranda with studded effect in seeming to try to
remember date sand occurrences Both tho Judge,
counsel and audience treated to surprise In the
much constrained in VIII ch he tried
give his testimony to-day He appeared be in
and conscientious in the evidence he giving, but
suffering with bad head and extreme nervous
ness OF manner His eyes twinkled and snapped with
the regularity OF machine knitting needles as he
copncd over all that ead by himself or was con-
tained in ihe questions and instructions OF counsel
His hestancy the remarkable from the fact
that he has been over the statement within twenty
four hours from which Mr. A. G. Riddle, counsel
assisting the District Attorney, framed his questions.
lie Affects candor, but tho gallery in tho Rurcau of
Secret Service has many face that looks like him and
is intended for one OF tho many Ku Klux arrested IN
the South during political troubles.
General BabCOck frequently prompted his LAWYER,
Mr.. Cook, behind whom he sat observer OF
every iota that was said or done. When Colonel
Whitley reached hIs point-biank statements, under
oath, or conversations had with General labcock and
instructions received from him nj various times every
the audienc. startled, and General Iabcock
us well The co-dcfendant. Somcr,c, was soinew nat
moved, but on the whole, throughout tins trying or
DEAL which is aggravated by what he has gone rough
the ST. Louis whiskey trials, he displayed admirable
nerve and mainta ned himself with CONNIE dig
nity in the matter OF fumblng with u handker-
chief held in hs Lett hand, pressing the back of his
counse's char.
All hope OF hts conviction is abandoned. even by
those most anxious Tor IL, because It Ia SAID Colonel
whtlcy's testimony will not be sustained, and can
OF itself stand, because It will be all pieces
account, Is frecv remarked of his having ties
tihcd to three different and contraticor DRY of
the sale burglary and other matters Genuine pa - and
surprise we're felt when Whitley In his testimony I'M
pugned the Supcrin tcndent of Police Major A. &,
but this lixo all other damaging evidence
given by him, Will 20 for nothing unless sustained BY
other credible Witnesses :,
A perfect bombsheIi is expected when Mohae
Hayes, the New York witness and States evidence.
will be called TO the stand He IN tho unfortunate
position ofhavIng no place to go Tor lodgings th's after
appealed to- directed him TO the United States MARSHAL
who is required to furnish quarters Tor attendant wit
ncsscs whom he has summoned.
Tho first step to drag In high cx-olcials was taken
TO-DAY In Colonel Whtcy's testimony, when aiusIon
was made to Bluford Wilson. This rs TO bc followed !
by incidental aspersion Of ex-Secrctary Bris-
tow, and he is to be brought forward
whsh, II is supposed will develop a
part Of the administration ight IN which General I.a
cock is mixed up. Whitley Is to he broken down and
any other testimony which cduced TO corroborate
him. Meantime tho parties heretofore guilty among
the consplrators are 20 purge themselves and they IN
arc 10 bc attacked by counter statements that
the Jury can have literally nothing to so upon reg.
uar chereuy de friss surrounds tho position on both
sides the shape o planting sharp witnesses outside
Of their entrcnchments
Tho District Attorney thinks today that IL will be
long trial, and those posted on tue undcrcurrcnis
which are well covered up. say that tho case will
broaden In importance gradually 1t goes along and
he Of tho most exciting and remarkable trials ever
had In tho United States Judge Fullerton has entered
into II with the great vim and carncstncss of tho
celebrated trottcr that bears pamc and means TO
adopt IL would secm avery bcligcrcut course Though