The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-27
ghle g 9l:a.ii1lg Atgns,
GRANT BACKING BABCocK,
Some Curious Facts of Recent History
Interesting Dispatches.
From the N. Y.Eerald,

From the ". y. Herald,
WASHINGTON, jan 23.-Some startling
facts have become known here in regard to
the action of the president and Of the
Acknowledgement in regard to the trial
of Gen. Babcock Upon the appearance
of the kilograms relating to this officer,
which were brought in the Averyltrial. the
president, probably having in view the
ordering of the military court of inquiry,
indicated to the attorney general his
desire that the latter should take the res
possibility of interfering and stopping
proceedings against Babcock in the civil
courts and before the grand jury at St.
Louis. The attorney general. however,
declined to take the responsibility Of doing
this
When the military court was decided
upon, Judge Pierrepont telegraphed dis
trict attorney Dyer that the president had
ordered military court of inquiry to ex
anime Gen. Babcock's case; that Babcock
seemed to have a right to such trial, and
closed by asking. What is the situation
of things at St. LOUISE" The district
| attorney replied that the grand jury were
considering Gen. Bacock's case, but that
he had not as yet been indicted.
Mean time the speech of Gen Henderson,
of which so much complaint was afterward
| made, had been delivered, and without ex-
citing particular noticed at the White
| House. although its salient points had been
| widely circulated by the press. On the
morning of the 9th of December the grand
| Jury took vote. and found a true bill
against Babcock. The fact was iu-
nediately telegraphed by MIR. Dyer to the
| nj ~, kour thora n,p a
reply from him. which was the despatch
calling his attention to the fact that Gen
| Henderson had ID his argument in the
Avery case reflected on the president. and
asking him to say to Henderson that the
| government was not inc lned to pay Il I
any further services of the kind
The character of the kilograms and Il 6
order of events, as indicated above, create
a presumption that the news OF Babcock S
Indictment was the melting cauze of the
removal OF Mr.. Henderson, and but the
first step in breaking down of the prosecu'
ton.
| When the military court had been or
dered, Attorney General Pierrepont tele
graphed District Attorney Dyer, directing
him to furnish this military court all the
evidence in Babcock's case AS may be
supposed, this created storm among the
counsel and about the court. Mr.. Dyer
telsgraphed' Judge Pierrepont in abou
these words:
rs it expected by the attorney general that evi
dence procured by the process OF the district an
rcuit courts of the United States at tn place sha
be taken to Chicago, out of the jurisdiction OF thu
court, and delivered into the hands OF milltar,
> court in time OF profound peace, and especial
when are in daily use of evidence before tn
grand jury and in the trial cases before the courts
| beg leave to say that the court will not tolera
such proceeding, and could not personally TAX
e responsibility without mourning Its con empt.
This despatch remained unanswered
dav or two, when Mr.. Perrepont tele
graphed Mr.. Dyer to please furnish tn
military court copies OF such evidence a
he could conveniently spare. Meantime
: Major Gardiner, the judge advocate o
; the Babcock military court, had beel
notified that the district attorney at St
: Louis had been instructed to furnish hin
: with the evidence in its possession. I'll,
spirit in which he began his work is shown
by the terms in which he saw fit to addres
the United States district attorney. lg
noring the fact that the matter concernin!
Gen Babcock had come out in the regula
course of a trial before United State
! courts, through a special counsel of tn
1 SOFcIUuleUt III tiiS IoSuldi uioCudi SC VI III
sworn duty, Major Gardiner presumed t
! telegraph this order to the district at
u torney:
d You will transmit to me Immediately copi,
all charges made by J. b. Henderson against Gel
o. E. Babcock.
C C To this arrogant despatch Mr.. Dyer r.
Z piled nearly in these words:
/ am not aware that Mr.. Henderson has eve
>. made any charges against Gen. Babcock, and ppo
u consultation he assures me that he never has. TT
e only thing said by Mr.. Henderson concerning Ger
q Babcock will appear in the evdence and tho arg'
y ment before the jlry In the trial of W. o. Aver
u shall order the stenographer to send on copit
u thereof?
Upon the acceptance of this the judg
- advocate came down from his high hors'
k and telegraphed to this effect:
The district attorney will please cause the stem
grapher to prepare and transmit 10 copy
Mr.. Hendersons speech In the Avery trial.
=, The indictment of Gen. Babcock mad
q the dissolution Of the military court neces
N sary, and Major Gardiner was deprived
further opportunity of indicating the spir
n which it was ordered by any furth'
y telegraphic correspondence Of the abo,
y character