New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-18
AN ASTONISHING WITNESS.
IpY TELEGRAPH TO TmE rRTBrNE. |


81 Lofts Feb 17.--With the reading OF the
Presidents deposition by Judge Porter this evening
which occupied about an hOuI and "A hall, the de-
tense IN the BabcOck case rested. The questions ad-
dressed 10 and the answers made by the dstih-
glshed depOncnt were reported to the jury WIN
fine effect by MT. Porter who read in clear ih0ngh
not in strong voice. The examination was taken
down by stenoVraphcr-. and was read IN court Word
for word and il is more than Just to note that
the phraseology in which the Presidents statements
were concluded plainly revealed pdriisanshp for
Gen. Babcock's cause.
just before the Introduction Of the deposition oc-
cured somewhat remarkable scene. The defense
called to the stand lcttor-carricr by the name OF
McGill who sworc 10 having met Col JOYCE on the
day on which Everest mailed tie two letters each
containing 800 BILL - Gen. Babcock and N.O.
Avery and that at JOyoc's request h" went on bis
beat unlocked the lctter-bcx and produced the let
ters and returned them To joyce, hands The Wit
ness, though rather an ltcrate man, delivered his
statement, in clear well-rouudcd phrases, going in
some instance, into elaborate explanations OF
the postal law, although he stated he failed to re-
cciye the usual receipt from joyce which i required
in the case OF returned letters. ON croSs-cNanina-
ton the witness lodged thcqueStionS 81 tn District
Attorney m every point and took frequent occa ION
10 remind Mr.. Dyer that BE- cndcaNoIlng 10 tel!
the truth. This assertion 20 often repeated
that il had the effect coupled with other clrcum-
stances to impress, the whole assembly with the de-
Uberate conviction that the witness Rad falscd.
Daring the delivery of this mans testimony the
Cont was compelled several time, to suppress The
mingled expressions of aslonshment. con-
t.u,pt. and amusement which escaped from the
audience and on the adjournment oi the Court
the instantaneous exclamation was heard III many
nlaricr, that the defense had damaged, II not
ruined their case. McCl gave only meager ac-
count of himself, stating that he Wa lieutenant
colonel Of a Rhode island regiment daring the var,
and ON auitting the army al New-Orleans came 10
-. Louis and went 10 driving a street ear. He
afterwards bccamc policeman, and was dismissed
from the force Tor some good cause which "lll De
shown tomorrow when the prosecution Will intro
drcr evidence to impeach McGili and to establish
other facts.
II +, rumorcd that Secretary Br,t0W VIII appear
Tomorrow or the day after and explain the lis
crroancy existing between the statements Of him
sell and Supervisor Tuition garding the revocation
of the famous Douglass order. Tuition testified thai
Secretary Bri,tow had agreed with him in advising
Pre- dcnt Grant 10 rev oac the order changing super
y-nr. \, lille th. attitude of the secretary - gener-
All, uutrrst ood to have been otherwise. The prose
cution will Tomorrow call Roger VI. sherman, his
alleged spy. f. the stand 10 explain how he became
po4,r.sc,l or the Iogc letters which he had given
over to the defense. Several other pointed infer
rogator,, will be- addressed 10 him.