Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-21
WASHINGTON FER.
Tine SSfe burglary Investigations
Emancipation Day-CnVetlln%
a..

Emancipation Day-CnVeiIlnS
LincOin-s STATUE.
IFr,m Our hegula- Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April Is.
The tolls are gradually closing
around Gen. Babcock, Harrington and
other and more prominent District ex
officials. There never was more elab-
orate and bungling conspiracy than
that which has received the name OF
tue "eafe burglary"
Over two years ago prominent citi-
zens of Washington, conspicuous |
among whom was Columbus Alexan
der, were pushing an investigation
into Boss Shepard's administration of |
District affairs.
They had the District government.
by the throat and were making it hot |
and vle orous for it. 1t was becoming |
evid'nt that unless the investigation |
could be paralyzed, Shepard and the |
ring woul3 soon be in a situation la |
Tceed in at this juncture the iron
safe of Richard Harrington, Shep- |
bard's nearest friend, was blown open
by two profes sional burglars and bogus
books of District accounts with which
Harrington had previously stocked the
safe were taken out, and an unsuccess-
fnl effort was made to place them in
the hands OF Columbus Alexander.
Let it be borne in mind that Alexander
had, few days previously, during the
investigation, expressed the opinion
that certain books and accounts pro-
duced in evidence by the Shepard ring
were not genuine, and that it was the
object OF the consplrntors to make it
appear that he (Alexander) resorted to
the crime of burglary in order to
obtain what he supposed were the
genuine books. It will easily be seen
that the gentlemen who were investi-
eating the Shepard ring would have
been demoralized and paralyzed had
the stigma of the burglary been fast
ened upon Mr.. Alexander, and the in
vestigation would have been paralyzed
and failed.
The conspiracy failed of fixing the
crime upon Mr.. Alexander by being a
few hours too late. It was planned to
deliver the books to him at 10 o'clock,
but the burglar did not reach MIR.
Alexander's residence until l in the
night, when he, not anticipating any
thing of the kind, was asleep, SO
5oundly asleep that repeated ringing
the bell did not waken him. His first
knowledge of the so-ca1led burglary
was obtained from the morning pa
pers.
[ have endeavored thus briefly to
give an outline of this conspiracy,
emitting many interesting episodes,
for recent developments prove, as has
been expected, that it is of scarcely
less Importance in the moral and
political bearings than the Belknap
affair. Harrington, who it is said has
| "A 70
Attorney az the time. He is hand
shallow but brilliant theatric style of
oratory. During his trial he spoke in
his own defense, concluding, amid
great applause. 81 am innocent, so
help me God"
twill aforementioned that Harrington
during his trial, received an invi sation
TO attend a reception at the White
House, and during the reception was
in long conversation with the Presi-
dent. The IMPROPERLY of the Chief
| Magistrate of nation placing himself
on a social level with Il man indicted
for criminal offense, lid not fail to
receive its comment from the press
throughout the country.
And on the other hand, the incident
was skillfuliy used by Harrington's
lawyers as an emphatic recognition
by the President of great nation of
the moral aud social Standing of the
accused. The jury disagreed and the
suit was dismissed.
Mr.. Beck. OF Kentucky, made
logged effort week after week to have
a committee of the Add REPUBLICAN
Congress investigate tue matter, but,
until Mr.. knutt's committee took il
up, Mr.. Harrington and the more
powerful men behind him enjoyed
immunity. They are now called to
their account, and the investigation
promises to be one of the richest in
startling results that the present Con-
gress has taken hold of. I have
deemed tuis short resume of the much
talked and writ Ell of burglary not out
of place, since 1t is a matter that
promises to De of national and political
importance, and it occurred SO long
since that many of it's features are not
remembered
The present Congress is every day
earning place III history for economy
and honesty. Demag0gues like
Blaine, Morton aud Boutwell, make
spasmodic efforts to start new issues
or to revive old ones ever and anon
they galvanlze, shock or thrill with
malignant "reminiscences or gloomy
augury. But the constant deter mined
tenor OF of the present Congress, is so
pronounced for the honest economical
al nlnlstratloG of the national govern
meut That it will be so remembered
long after the silly frantic oratory of
those gentlemen, mingled with the
imprecations of thieves and drones
hurled from Office is silent in the land
There have been many objections
urged against the policy of investiga-
| tons with closed doors, but it is quite
plain now that this is the wisest policy
In some instances already the point of
investigation has been blunted or
foiled through the enterprise of news
papers i'll publishing their secrets.
Implicated parties anxiously following
the Investigations have learned that
they were wanted two or three days
before the issuance of the summons
and have thus been enabled to get out
of the way.
Secretary Delano's son John was
summoned from New York but he
pleaded sickness, and now one Reed
by whom it was expected to prove that
son John pooketed ten dollars per
mile for surveys that cost only rs
cents per mile has been so unpatriotic
as to sail for Europe in this Centennial
year. But these exiles will be home
sick before it will be safe for them to
return, for it is now believed that the
present Congress will remain in session.
taking short recesses for the Exposition
at Philadelphia and for the conven-
tons at Cincinnati and st. Louis, until
September. If these gentlemen who
have gone abroad are only half as
avricious of silenc money as the safe
burglars it will deplete the Republi-
can campaign fund no little to keep
them from testifying.
The week in Congress has been
quite dull. The Senate has been de-
| batting bill for tie requirement. of
Pennsylvania Avenue. This avenue
was paved by the Shepard govren-
ment with Nicholson pavement only a
few years since. but it is now pitted
| l., l.