The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-10
Babcock's Latest Infnmy.

Babcock's Latest Infnmy.
The additional testimony given before
the committee investigating tho safe bur
glnry conspiracy, which we print this
morning cannot fail TO satisfy every can
did reader of BABCoCK's completely in that
most infamous plot. The purpose of this
plot was to ruin one of the leading citizens
Of Washington, because he had been actve Q
In urging Congress TO investigate the frauds
perpetrated by the District Ring. From
the first, DABcocK was one of the principal
members of that combination. He aided 1t
by certifying to fraudulent measurements
and false vouchers, and got rich while COM
neoted with it. This has long been known.
and few who have watched his career for
the last seven years can be astonished at
the proof now brought forward, that he
was party to the conspiracy against Mr..
ALEXANDER.
If the testimony of WHITLEY, who was
the chief manager of the burglary, was UNI
supported by corroborative evidence, II
might justly be regarded with suspicion (;
but before the committee that witness told
spects, was confirmed by tho evidence
taken In the trial of HARRINGTON, so far
as that went. and likewise by that OF NET
TLEsHTP, who was WHITLEY's principal as
sistant in the secret service, and by other
witnesses who were acquainted with all
the facts. 1t Is preposterous TO suppose
that WHITLEY. while telling the truth in
regard TO all other features of the case,
should, without any conceivable reason for
doing so, go out of his way to lie about
BABcocK, who had always befrended him.
But there is direct evidence against BAD
COCK, aside from the declarations of WHIT
LEY. NErTLEsuIr testnes that on one oc-
casion, while he was In Washington en-
gagged inIworking up the bogus burglary,
WHITLEY wished him to call upon BAD
COCK, but he declined, saying, in detective
slang, that "he did not want to make
connections with too many people" He
also tcstines that on another occasion, In
New York, when he had expressed appre-
tensions OF getting into difficulty in conse-
quence of the conspiracy, WHITLEY reas-
sured him by saying that HARRINoroS Is
Assistant District Attorney; we have got
them all right In the Treasury Depart
ment; you know l have got WILLIAMS so
that he will do anything l want him 10
BABCocK is in the White House; the Pres
ident is great friend OF Boss SHEPHERDS 8,
and we can do just rs we please" Every
body knows how effectively all the per-
| sons named exerted their influence for the
| protection of the conspirators when HAIR
RINGroS and his confedeIates were Oh
trial. A still more important corrobora-
ton of WHITLEY's testimony Is found In
a letter from A. b. NEwcoMB, who lie now
a detective employed by Attorney G eneral
| PIERREPoNT, written and sent to the wit
ness when the latter was in Colo
RADIO, which was put In evidence. In
| this letter, NEwcoMD, who certainly
had no object for Misrepresentation, said
that he had just had an interview with
BABCocK, who expressed q great deal OF
solicitude about wHIrLEY's health, anc
hoped that as long as he continued to i'm
| prove he would remain where he was
HE wants me to keep him posted as tC
your movements" writes NEwcoMD, "ant
especially urges you, In case of trouble, 4
get out of the way" This agrees perfectly
with wHITLEY's testimony that BABcocE
| urged HIM to 80 10 southern Colorado
which was not far from the border o.
Mexico, so that If anything happened h
could easily get across and be out Of til,
reach OF a subpoena.
OF course BABCoCK denies that he haC
any hand in the atrocious oonspirac,
under investigation; but his explanation
that the job he referred TO In his inter
views with WHITLEY was merely that O.
logging THE SUN correspondent, ant
other newspaper writers. is himsy enough
when viewed in the light OF the evidence
and OF the notorious exercise of Whit,
House influence to secure the acquittal q,
HARRISGroN when the latter was on trial
At present there seems to be no doubt
that BABcocK, besides having been an &C
tive member of the Whiskey Ring, and ar
officer who certified to false measurement.
and vouchers for the purpose of defraud
ing the Treasury, was likewise one OF the
principals in the conspiracy OF profos
sional thieves and other rascals to convict
an innocent man of the crime of burglary