Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-08
The Safe Burglary Investigation.
The ALLEGED Disclosures by Colonel
whitley.

of the Treasury department, Col. Whitley,
| yesterday afternoon made a sworn state
ment before the Special Committee OF Con-
gress investigating the safe burglary con-
| spiracy. He was examined under the prom
| Use of immunity from prosecution, which
| had been obtained for him by j. Proctor
| Knott, chairman OF the House Judiciary
| Committee, and he proceeded to relate what
| he knew OF the transaction. He stated that
| some time prior to the burglary" he received
a letter from Gen. BsbcOck that there were
| influences operating TO have him turned out
| of bis position, and that he had better come
| IN Washington and look after his interests.
| When ne received the letter he was out of the
city, but he responded TO the summons as
| expeditiOusly as possible and came here.
| He proceeded to the Executive Mansion.
! and made appointment IN meet Bab-
cock at his residence. He did meet Bah
cock, who told him that he desired him to do
some work in MS line, and for him tn report
| 10 Richard Harrington, then Assistant Dis
frict Attorney OF the District. He reported
| Ia Harrington, who disclosed 10 him the de.
! tails of what was required OF him. Whitley
says he considered the undertaking one of
! great gravity, aud that he would not be
party 10 1t unless lie was assured that he
| would be protected against any proceedings
/ which might arise in case the plot ever was
exposed. He bad an additional interview
| with Babcock after the interview with Har-
ringtOn, and he received assurances from
| BabcOck that i'm case of any unforeseen tr1u-
| HE arising he should have the fullest pro.ec-
| ton. Upon receiving this assurance he went
To New York and communicated the details
OF TIE plOL 10 DIS dSSlSLaUI. 1SDaDOt NSL 1ie-
| ship. and directed him 10 come TO Washing
| ton, connect" with Harrington, and follow
! ont his orders. He told Nettlesbtp that he
had the assurance of protection from persons
very high IN authority in case there sho 1ld
| he any slim In any plan which might be ar
! ranged. Nettleship came to Washington,
! saw Harrington, and between them
THE PLAN FOR THE ROBBERY
Of the safe OF District Attorney Fisher was
| contaminated. NeItleship then went TO New
| York, secured the persons necessary To per-
/ form the service eNaptpt of them. with the
| result well known. According 10 Whitlcy's
testimony, Nettleship remained here until
| The day preceding the night of the "bur-
| glary." He had left a written paper with
| The two VINO were the assumed burglars
| TO do their work az 10 O'Clock. By some mis-
| Interpretation of the Instructions they uu-
| derstoOd ii TO read o'clock. and It is thuS ac-
| counted for that one OF them proceeIed TO
| Alexander's house at such an Unreasonable
| hour, and that repeated ringings OF the door
| bell failed to arouse the inmates.
IL is understood that Whitley also testified
| that the proceedings for second trial against
| Harrington ard himself were dismissed upon
| the order OF the President. At all events,
| that General B6bcOck in person took an
order, Osiensibly signed by President Grant,
| addressed "To the Attorney General" d.
| rectirg him 10 have all further proceedings
| stopped. To subStantlate or deny the state
| ment, eZ-Attorney General Williams has
| been summoned Ia appear before the COM
| mittee.
| THE examination of Whitley was COZ
Quoted in secret, but the above is reported to
1
| and II il il CorrObOrated by other testi nOuy
then il looks bad for Babcocll
TODAY.
| the comm zee have examined Aibert kunZ,
| lchabOd Ncttlcship, and New York lawyer
| named Sommerviils. The two former sub
| Stantiste tue statements of Whitley, so far
| rs they knew OF the details Of the trausac-
| zion. NettleShip said that he was assured
| ny Whitley that the thing wOuld be all
! right and be inferred that some one very
| high up In official position was back Of il.
| SommeTyilIe was interTogated concerning
/ an affidavit he procured nom one OK the
| burglars" named Benton, while in jail here,
| duplicating Columbus Alexander with the
| transaction. He said that Harrington first
| suggested to him TO get Benton to make such
| an affidavit, and that he would see that
| nothing came OF 1t, for he would pigeon
(, hole It,
RUM0Rs AFLoAT.
II is runnOred that Whitley also connects as
/ accessory both before and after the i.l3t
| several prominent citizens OF the District
| who now hold high social pOSit.o IS, ami
| >Ome of whom have held responsible posi-
| lions OF EonOr and trust unier the District
| government.
| WHY WHITLEY MADE THE d SOLOS RE.
| 1t is represented that some few week ago,
| Nettleship communicated 10 Whitley that
lie thought there was conspirt'y being
| formed, between Harrington and othAys, con
| nected with the burglary by which liarring-
| ton was 10 turn states evidence and impli-
| cate him whitley as the chief cOUSpir4tor
who was responsible for the safe robbery.
| Whitley came hero at once, called on
he (knott) would secure for him a fall par
don he would tell all he knew about IL, aud
would. spare no one who was connected
| herewith. Mr. Knott was AZ first not in
| clined to believe that Whitley would he will
| ing 10 make a complete disclosure. Whitley
assured him with all the vehemence OF words
| that he would, whereupon Chairman Knott
| requested The Attorney General, in the in
| terests of justice, TO promise the pardon, aud
| it was made out and given 20 the committee
! investigating the matter To turn over to
| Whitley after he hal divulged all Ike knew.
| HOW DID wHITLEY's TESTIMONY LEAK
After Whitley had concluded giving his
| evidence yesterday, the committee imposed
| upon him an oath not 10 disclose the nature
OF 1T to any person, and indeed intimated TO
him that, II he should, they would have him
| committed for contempt. Members of the
committee are quite reticent Concerning any
| OF the details, and are cOnsidera bly, provo ded
| mat Geographic statements of the testimony
| should have been sent from the city last
| night for publication.
Gen. Babcock has been summone! to APP.
| pear and give his version of the affair, aud
| eX Solicitor Banfeld is i'll the city, waiting
| to be heard.
| 1t is said that Gen. Babcock has preoared
a card, denying Whitley S statement in toto
| BABCOCK EEFORE THE COMMITTEES.
| subpoena was served on General Bah
| cock at his office at two O'Clock to-day to
appear before the committee. He arrived at
| the committee room at twenty minutes after
| two o'clock, and was being examined d; ;
| o'clock.
| Mr.. RIDDLE,
| who was the special attorney who prosecuted
| the case, states that the developments re-
| Gently made correspond with what was and
| il yet his theory OF the case. 1t is not gener-
| ally known that Whitley, before the trial In
| which he was one OF the defendants was con-
| clpded, had an interview with Major Rich
| ards, superintendent or police, and offered
| In certain contingencies TO make clean
| breast Of the affair, and that he was anxious
| then TO do so, even going so far as TO at
| tempt TO procure immunity by sending
some OF his friends 10 one or more OF the
! Judges.
] IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NATTER
| IL may be of interest to state that the bill
recently passed by the House 10 extend the
| jurisdiction OF the courts over this case. so
as 10 prevent the statutes of limitation from
! interrosiDg as a bar to further prosecution,
has been passed by the Senate, and now
awaits the signature of the President.
THE CoLoRED NATIONAL CONVENTION,
In session at Nashville, yesterday passed
resolutions reaffirming their adherence To
the Republican party, extending the olive
branch of peace to the late Shareholders OF
the South, calling for The punishment of
corrupt and dishone offic holders, and
thanking President Grant and Senator
Morton for their efforts for the elevation OF
the colored race. Resolutions were also
pipc haaly md ha