The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18


ST LOUIS Feb. IA, 1875
To Hon. EDWARDS PERREPoNr, Attorney General
Washington, D. c.
Evidence accumulates that sherman has lent himself
in the interest OF Babcock and desire to notify you
that shall extend no further courtesies TO him.
DAVID p DYER, District Attorney
On the same day Dyer wrote letter to Sherman for
may asking him for the Hoge letters for the benefit OF
the government in the Babcock These he declined
to give but subsequently turned the letters to the
defence
GENERAL SHERMAN STAND
General W. T. Sherman testihed-I am General OF
the Army Of the United States; have known General
o. E. Babcock intimately; l have known him since
1861, but my better knowledge OF him dates from the
time he brought despatch at Savannah from Gen.
eral Grant; since then have known him almost con-
SANITY his reputation has been very good; never
heard it questioned until these troubles; have seen
General Babcock hundred times in the Executive
mansion, next the Presidents room it might be called
the ante room those who go the President Gen
eral Babcock nrst and perhaps accomplish the object
of the without seeing the President at ALL General
Babcock opens the letters, distributes them and
all except the most important; he is kind OF
ntermediaor between the people and the President.
"cALL OFF YOUR SCANDAL HOUNDS"
Testimony as to good character was also given by
General James H. Simpson, of the Corps OF Engineers
General W. s. Harvey, Captain L. S. Babbitt COM
manding the St. Louis Arsenal General s. b. Sturges,
in command OF this post; Hon. E. A. Borie ex-Secre
tary of the Navy.
AT this point ex Governor Fletcher put upon the
stand and identified several letters from Babcock to
Joyce those placed in his possession few weeks
ago by Mrs Joyce Only of these letters was read
this stage of the trial. 1t dated March IT, 1874
and directed to Joyce in San Francisco 1t is In reply
to Joyces message Babcock-"Tel Douglass to call
of his scandal hounds, that only blacken the memory
Of Ford and friends" General Babcock informs Joyce
that there are no charges against Ford and tells him
that believes he oyce) sent to San Francisco
because OF his high standing with the Commissioner.
The defence then introduced two letters from
Deputy Commissioner H. c. Rogers to General John
Mcdonald dated respectively Wash ngton, March
and March % 1875 to show, counsel said, that as
late as the of these letters there suspicion
OF General Mcdonald either by Mr. Rogers the de-
parment The first letter asks, on behalf OF Mr..
Rogers and Commissioner Douglass, that Mcdonald
will find place deputy collector in Arkansas or
elsewhere for young man we'll qualified for such
position and states that such favor on the part OF
Mcdonald ould be accommodation to a member Of
the Cabinet The other letter refers to probability OF
the appointment OF Mr.. Douglass to udgeshp of the
Court OF Claims and solicits Mcdonald influence
his (Rogers0 behalf for the place to be made vacant
by the retirement Of Mr. Douglass. This letter was re-
Ierred to by Mr. Rogers in his testimony.
T. A. Warner, cashier Of the Lindel HOTEL testified
that Hoge at that hotel in November, 1874
General j. L. Fullerton lawyer OF this city. testified
to knowing General Babcock IN the army during the
late war and since then in Washington; his reputation
good.
Three gentlemen connected with the Post ONCE in
this city testified to the street letter box system
here stating that it unsafe deposit valuable let
in the boxes and that public had been repeat
edly cautioned against doing there rule or
regulation prohibiting 1t, however.
JoYcE's ZEAL
The defence then introduced several letters from
joyce to General Babcock written different times
from 1870 TO 1873 Some OF them enclosed editorials
written by Joyce and published in the St Joseph (Mo)
Herald St. Domingo affairs They were designed
to show his zealousness in political matters Another
from Little Rock, Ark, apprised General Babcock OF
the election of Powell Clayton United States Senator
and stated this election would carry
Grant, and another enclosed resolutions the memory
OF Charles W. Ford adopted at public meeting here
after that genteman's death
Answers to these letters then produced and read
also two three others All OF these letters OF
social character and indicate that the writer's of them
friendly terms, but contain no illusions what
ever to ring matters, or anything connected with
revenue affairs
c. Dickinson Chief Clerk Of the Comptroller's once,
Washington, and George O. Benjamin, connected with
the once OF Public Buildings and Grounds under Bah
cock then called Identify for the prosecution
the signature of Georges Joyce doorkeeper at the
Presidents mansion, to whom the despatch Of April 20,
1875 addressed Babcock traced but they tailed
TO satisfactorily identify his signature
The Court then ruled on the three dispatches which
have been held two three days. The fol-
lowing admitted
''Sr. LoUIs, Dec 3, 1874
HAS Secretary or Commissioner ordered anybody
herei j."
JoYcR's MONEY LETTERS RETURNED.
James Magil letter carrier, then testified I'm the
latter part Of February 1875, was coming down Pine
street, Fifth Joyce accosted me and said there
were two letters in the street letter box which be
wished to get back he pointed the box the south
west corner Of Fifth and Pine; asked Colonel Joyce
to describe the before opened the box he
one addressed to W. o. Avery Washington D. c.,
and marked personal in the corner and the other was
to O. E. Babcock Washington, D.. c., and also marked
PERSONAL opened the box although OF my dis
trict, and among letters and found the
two and handed them TO Colonel Joyce.
Mr.. storrs-Did you get receipt
Witness-No, sir.
MT Storrs-Isn't Il customary
wtness-Yes, it is; said, Look here Colonel
want a receipt; II you want to put them IN the mail
again will 60 with you and see II done"
Mr. storrs-- WHAT did he sayS
witness-He said, "oh, that's all right, hunkidor ("
or something like that; ats only bind"
Mr. storrs-Is 1t customary to give letters backg
witness-No, sir
Mr.. Storrs-You sometimes 40 its
witness-On business route we do frequently; that
is are put in and the parties have forgot
closure something like that and they are returned
them.
Mr.. storrs-Dld you report that matter to the Post
once9
witness-No sir.
Mr. Storrs-Why?