The New York herald., 1876-02-08
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
OPENING OF THE TRIAL OF GENERAL BkBcocK
AT ST. LoUIs-scENE IN THE COURT sUs-
FIcIoUs Correspondence TO BIZ DEc1-
PHERED

PHERED.
! ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb Z 1876
The trial OF General Babcock was formally opened
this morning, although the business Of the Court
will not be entered upon unti tomorrow The scene
outside the United States Circuit Court room strongly
reminded Of that presented the beginn nx Of the
trial of Henry Ward Beechcr. The room is not only
small it is Iudicrously dingy. The furniture
is rickety and lopsided The ventilation is
poor and the light imperfect that de
'cided dmness envelopes judge, jury and lawyers
Great eagerness prevailed to witness the
the defendant and his counsel The case was to be
called at ten O'clock and from about hafpast nine till
hafpast ten hundreds of curious eyes directed
with expression Of complete absorption toward the
Judges door, through which the defendants party
were expected to enter At last amid a silence so
breathless as to be oppressive General Babcock en-
tered, surrounded by his father naw United States
Marshal Campbell, of Chicago, venerable fine look
ing man, with slvery gray hair and placid kindly
face; ex-Attorney General Williams whose stalwart
frame and square head lowered way the Others
Judge John X. Porter, whose hair is turning white
also, and whose marked, strong features q
solemn expression little wry Emory A. Storrs gor-
geous in silk scarf and looking all slyness and
alertness the two Krums, the younger OF whom looks
more like young and gay sport than ex judge,
and Babcock's brother who is much smaller and far
less good looking than 0rville.
BABcocK's APPEARANCE.
Babcock himself was the cynosure OF all eyes His
generally horid and jolly countenance bore an expires
sion OF great depression and meHta anxiety The
muscles Of the face stiny set, If great deter
minaton to look unperturbed His eyes had fixed
look and the two rows OF teeth pressed against
each other Babcock certainly, despite tins gloomy
expression, the best looking in the room His
fine heavy reddish mustache carelessiy curled make
pleasing impression He sat very quietly during the
proceedings keeny scrutinizing the faces Of Judges
Dillon and Treat the first OF whom large heavy built
serious man. with long, dark beard who looks like
devout Methodist preacher, rocks himself necessarily
in the Judicial rocking CHAIR while his colleague sits
stifiy and perfectly unmoved.
Right beneath them the attorneys OF the govern
ment-Dyer, Broadhead, Bliss and Eastman-Dyer
being especially noticeable through his gaunt lank
figure, long, bony face and certain grimness which
was in harmony with the tightly buttoned boat every
button of which when he turned toward the defendant
seemed TO cry out 'I convict you as sure as Pm Pat
Dyerl"
summoned TO serve rough looking set OF country
men, whose clothes have antediuvian aspect but
their faces honest " not intelligent and they listen
70 every word with rapt attention Tho magnitude of
the could best be judged by the solemn pain
fully oppressive silence that regned throughout the
The clerks OF the Lindel Hotel have been subpenaed
witnesses in the Babcock testify to the re-
cept and delivery OF certain kilograms received
by Colonel Luckey during the Avery trial
Ii is alleged that a regular telegraphic
respondence was kept up during that trial be-
tween Babcock in Washington and Luckey IN
ST Louis and that Colonel Luckey here to
keep General Babcock posted These kilograms all
In the hands Of the prosecution, but written
cipher. That difficulty has been overcome however
by Colonel Dyer having subpGnaed a witness from
Washington who understands and readily reads
cipher. After the empaneling of the jury tomorrow
Colonel Dyer will then open the case for the govern
ment This will probably consume all day, but II
time remains, sidenton, of Ulrichs dislery will be
called q the first witness The first evidence will be
TO prove the conspiracy nhS7l, 1872 and 1878 by the
seli-convicted distillers andhus unfold the
jury the ncpient stages of the great network of the
whiskey frauds
M'DoNALD To swRAR FOR BABcocK
1t is now quite probable that General John Mcdonald
will also be called a witness for Babcock Mcdonald
II will be remembered, was convicted nearly two
months ago. but has not yet received his sentence and
in the meantime has been occupying cell in the ST
1t was discovered Today that of the resident
torneys of Babcock had made quiet and unobserved
trip the Jail and INDUCED long conference with
Mcdonald. The manifest object is to McDonald's
statement to explain OF the suspicious kilograms
sent by Babcock from Washington showing that their
purport innocent and bore reference to Whis
key Ring matters Babcock's friends have always
| claimed that II Mcdonald and Joyce could speak II
would DO shown beyond all doubt that the dispatches
were harmless. Mcdonald is yet competent witness,
sentence not having been passed and believed that
an arrangement has been made with him whereby he is
! to Babcock in the manner described and Bah
cock with his friends Is pledged bring to
bear the President certain formidable
| influences that will secure cemency The
Babcock party really feared that Mcdonald would
be used against them shortly after his conviction he
still declared his devotion the President far
be favor OF third term and characterized Babcock
as a nice little gentleman entirely without guilt
Shortly afterward however, conceivng that he
deserted by his friends and chatting under confinement
he boldly threatened that he would blister somebody
higher than lie II he was not let out OF that place
very quick
IL is believed that he assurances some time
ago he would remain quiet and do the fair thing
BY Babcock when the trial came he should receive
nIoper aud ro o,ao therefor by way OF enent treat
ment pardon being the ultimate result, when the
gale had got done blowing II this report concerning
Mcdonald Is true, and there is little doubt OF it. It
constitutes very vital and important feature the
case Mcdonald is In position TO swear either way
being left to the jury to Judge Of the credbiity Of
his testimony. II he for Babcock and the jury
believe him his evidence will go n long way knock
ing the wind out of the government sails
THE PRESIDENTS EXPECTED APPEARANCE.
The appearance Of the President in pToprid persona
witness Tor the defence Is looked upon by many
prospective turning point in the case His appear
ance the stand to be arranged TO give 1t in
tense effect and the attorneys for the defence
expect by the emphatic Endorsement Of Babcock by
his illustrous patron TO melt the hearts Of the
Jury There are those who expect, however, that
Ia the mercilcss hands Of that tough weather beaten
democrat Colonel Brodhead, the President will ex-
per.ence a severe crossexamnation. There Is reason
to believe that the attorneys for the government,
recognizing the great prestige which the Chief Mags-
traIc will give TO the defence, arrang-
ing series of questions that will snow
Grants Introduction TO be a mere coup d'ttot,
intended the jury and divert their attention
from real and substantive evidence OF guilt The
republicans large here regret the determination Of
/ Grant 90 the stand and express the fear that
it will bring unexpected disasters the party Some
rich developments are expected W be made during the
n1HcooEis SUDDEN AcorrsrrsoS op WEALTH
The line of investigation TO DO adopted this ques
tion-f carried out according TO the programms-wll,
1t Is alleged, trace of the "crooked" whiskey
money TO ST. Louis directly 10 the row OF houses
owned by Babcock at the capital In connection with
this subject prominent party from Washington now
here and watching the case for the government told
the following story;-At time Babeock
was not so rich BabcOck, Porter and Leet
were on General Grants stan during the war at the
time development OF the great warehouse fraud
! in New YORK. The revelations involved Leet stock
ing the members Of the firm Congressional com
mIltee visited New York and took the testimony OF
LeeI Leet testified that after the termination Of the
war when General Grant In command OF the
army he u.eetl, General Grant, General Habccck and
General Porter dubbed together and rented
house in which they all messed together on
the score Of economy At that time they were all ooor
Leet is now poor man, so far as outside appearances
90: stocking whose daughter is married 70 Judge
Miller of the United States Supreme Court, died OF
heart disease last summer on board sound steamer,
Tnrter s vice President Of the Pullman Car Company
This is history Of the messmstes.