Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-08
The Safe Burglary Investigation.
The Alleged Disclosures by Colonel
whitley.

| whitley.
The former chief OF the secret service force
OF the Treasury department, Col. Whitley,
yesterday afternoon made a sworn state
ment before the Special Committee OF Con-
gress investigating the safe burglary con-
spiracy. He was examined under the PROM
hd OF Inn immunity nnEi rom prosecutor when
Knott, chairman of the House Judiciary
| Committee, and he proceeded TO relate what
| he knew of the transaction. He stated that
some time prior to the burglary" he received
| a letter from Gen. BsbcOck that there were
| Influences operating 10 have him turned out
| of bis position, and that he had better come
| To Washington and look after his interests.
| When he received the letter he was out OF the
| city, but be responded TO the summons as
| PxpeditiOusly as possible and came here.
| He proceeded to the Executive Mansion,
| and made an appointment IN meet Bab-
| cock at his residence. He did inset Bah
| cock, who told him that he desired him to do
| some work in his line, aud for him tn rep Tt
| to Richard Harrington, then Assistant Dis
| frict Attorney OF the District. He reported
| 10 Harrington, who disclosed to him the de.
| tails of what was required OF him. Whitley
! says he considered the undertaking one of
great gravity, aud that he would not be
! party To 1t unless be was assured that he
| would be protected against any proceedings
| which might arise in case tse plot ever was
| exposed. He bad an additional intervie "
| with BabcOck after the interview with Har-
| ringtoD, and he received assurances from
| BabcOck that In case of any unforeseen tr0u-
! 'Ie aIlSlDS ne kDO0il nave inc fullest DrOtPc-
| ton. Upon receiving this assurance he went
| to New York and communicated the details
OF the plot 10 bis assistant, I9habod Net.le-
| ship, and directed him TO come to Washing
| ton, connect with Harrington, aud follow
! ont his orders. He told Nettleship that he
| had the assurance of protection from persons
! very high In authority in case there sho nd
he any slip 10 any plan which might be ar
| ranged. Nettleship came to Washington,
saw Harrington, and between them
| THE PLAN FOR THE ROBBERY
OF the safe OF District Attlrnay Fisher
| cOnsummated. Nettleship then went to New
! York, secured the persons necessary To per-
| form the service eXacted of them, with the
| result well known. According TO Whitley's
| testimony, Nettleship remained here until
| the day preceding the night of the "bur-
| glary." He had left written paper with
| the two VINO were the assumed burglars
| TO do their work az 10 O'Clock. By some mis-
| Interpretation of the Instructions, they uu-
| derstoOd it TO read o'clock and 1t is thus ac-
| counted for that one OF them proceeIed to
| AleXander's house at such an unacceptable
| hour and that repeated ringings OF the door
| bell failed to arouse the inmates.
| 1t is understood that Whitley also testified
| that the proceedings for a second trial against
| Harrington and himself were dismissed upon
| toe order OF the President AT all events,
| that General B6bcock in person took an
order, osiensibly signed by President Grant,
| addressed "To the Attorney General" d.
| reciing him 10 have all further proceedings
| stopped. To subStantIate or deny toe state
| ment, eZ-AttOrney General Williams has
been summoned To appear before the COM
| mittee.
| THE examination OF Whitley was COZ
| Quoted in secret, but the above is reported to
| he the substance Of his testimony. II II Is,
| and II it is cOrrobOrated by other testi nony
| then il looks bad for Babcock
| TODAY.
| the comm t'ec have examined a bert Is unZ,
| Ichabod Nettleship, and New York lawyer
| named SOmmerville. Tue two fOrner sub
stantiate the statements OF Whitley, so far
| as they knew OF the details Of the trausac-
| 'lOn. Nettleship said that he was assured
| ny Whitley that The "thing would be all
! right" .1d be inferred that some one very
| high up in official position was back OF il.
| SommervilIe was Intercepted concerning
/ an affidavit he procured ffom one 0t the
! burglars named Benton, while in jail here,
| duplicating Columbus Alexander with the
| transaction. He said that Harrington first
| suggested to him to get Benton TO make such
| an affidavit, and that he would see that
| nothing came OF 1t, for he woIid pigeon
; hole 1t.
RUMoRs AFLoAT.
| II Is rumored that Whitley also connects as
/ accessory both before and after the fact
! several prominent citizens OF the District
! who now hold high social poSiC.o IS, ;ild
| >Ome of whom have held res ponSibIe posi-
| lions OF EonOr and trust unier the District
| government.
| WHY WHITLEY MADE THE D scLoS- RE.
! 1t is represented that some few wee < ago,
| Nettleship communicated TO Whitley that
| re thought there was conspjct'y being
| FORMED, between Harrington and OthAys, con
| nected with the burglary by which Harring-
| ton was 10 turn stS ties evidence and impli-
| cate him Whitley as the chief couspir4tor
| who was responsible for the safe robbery.
| Whitley came hers at once, called on
| Proctor Knott, and intimatad to him that if
4 he (knott) would secure for him a fall par.
! don he would tell all he knew about IL. and
| would spare no one who was connected
| herewith. Mr.. Knott was az first not in
| clined TO believe that Whitley would be will
| ing 10 make complete disclosure. Whitley
| assured him with all the vehemence OF words
That he would, whereup0n Chairman KnOtt
requested The Attorney General, In the in
terests of justice, 10 promise the pardon, aud
| 1t was made out and given 10 the committee
| investigating the matter to turn over to
| Whitley after he had divulged all Ike knew.
| HOW DID wHITLEY's TESTIMONY LEAK
After Whitley had concluded giving his
evidence yesterday, the committee imposed
| upon him an oath not 10 disclose the nature
| OF 1t to any pers ON, and indeed minated TO
| him that, IL he should, they would have him
committed for contempt. Members of the
| committee are quite reticent Concerning any
OF the details, and are considerably provoked
that Geographic statements of the testimony
should have been sent from the city last
| night for publication.
Gen. Babcock has been summone! to ap.
| pear and give his version of the affair, and
| eX Solicitor Banfieid Is in the city, waiting
| to be heard.
| 1t is said that Gen. BabcocIz has prepared
| card, denying Whitley's statement in toto
| BABCoCK EEFoRE THE COMMITTEES.
A subpoena was served on General Bah
appear before the committee. He arrived al
| the committee room at twenty minutes after
TWO oclock, and was being examined al >
O'Clock.
Mr.. RIDDLE,
who was the special attorney who prosecuted
| the case, states that the developments re-
| Gently made correspond with what was and
| is yet his theory of the case. 1t is not gener-
| ally known that Whitley, before the trial in
which he was one of the defendants was con-
| clpded, had an interview with Major Rich
| ards, superintendent of police, and offered
| In certain contingencies TO make clean
| breast OF the affair, and that he was anxious
then TO do so, even going so far as to at
| tempt TO procure immunity by sending
some OF his friends 10 one or more of the
! judges.
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NATTER
| 1t may be of interest to state that the bill
recently passed by the House 10 extend the
| jurisdiction OF the courts over this case. so
as TO prevent the statutes of limitation from
| interrosing as a bar TO further prosecution,
has been passed by the Senate, and now
! awaits the signature of the President.
THE CoLoRED NATIONAL CONVENTION,
| In session at Nashville, yesterday passed
| resolutions reaffirming their adherence 10
the Republican party, extending the olive
| branch OF peace to the late Shareholders OF
the South, calling for The punishment of
and EAl.- l-~NI-