The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-05-13
THE TRICKY TRIO.

In the sharp and too often dirty transac-
processes known as black mailing" fleece
their fellows, we readily denounce them
as shabby fellows, whether they conspire
against the purse of their victims, or. as in
individual regulations. Viewed in any
light, political conspirators are despicable
characters, even when victimzing each
other, but doubly so and constituencies, as
Algerine pirates when fortune throws a
woman in their way. Miss Ada C. Sweets
experience, told in Washington on Monday
last, before the Committee on Civil Service
Reform, shows that she unwillingly fell
into the hands of a trio of political pirates,
albeit they were Federal office holders.
This lady, the daughter of a gallant Fed
eral soldier, was appointed by Gen. Grant
Pension Agent at Chicago, on account of
her fathers services to the country and the
reduced circumstances in which his family
was left at his death. 1t appears from her
testimony, that certain David Blakely,
her predecessor in office, was indebted in
considerable sum to the United States Mar
shall at Chicago, B. A. Campbell, father
in-law of Gen. Babcock of recent unenvia-
BILE notoriety. When Miss Sweet became
an applicant for the position, Blakely and
Campbell formed the honorable and gentle
manly resolution to have her assums Blake
ly's Indebtedness $4,000 to Campbell.
The disnterestedness of the plan will be
manifest, when it is remembered that
Blakely was no more to Miss Sweet than
any other rogue. However, they succeeded
after time in persuading her into the
arrangement, and by preventing her from
taking counsel with her friends on the sub
ject, received from her over two thousand
dollars, before she refused to pay more.
She was in office but short time, when
she discovered that Blakely was defaulter
to the amount of $1,000. She was again
induced to sign receipt for this amount
by the indirect threat of Campbell TO use
his influence at Washington to have her
removed if she refused. Blakely left for
biiuucSold, duu MISS SWeeG UnulnS CDaC
repayment of the amount was not to be
expected from him, became alarmed when
she discovered that the showing of her
books made her appear defauter to the
Government Subsequently the third con-
spirator turned up, in the person of Gen.
Baker, then Commissioner of Pensions
He, in company with Blakey, demanded
the payment of the So, 900, or her exposure
as defaulter. Fearing their influence,
she succeeded in borrowing 80, 900, and
Endorsed Blakely's note for the balance, on
which the money was obtained, and the
full amount of Blakely's defalcaton was
paid the Pension Office by her. Suisse
quently Miss Sweet came to Washington
and narrated the facts of the case to the
President, who directed her to pay no more
under pain of dismissal from office. Camp
bell is now using every endeavor to sup
press the facts of the case, and promises
to refund the full amount paid by Miss
Sweet to save Blakely. The details of the
case show it to have been disgraceful
conspiracy to rob this woman, and no in
fiuence at Washington should save these
men from the stigma of their acts The
Government service could be well rid of all
such characters.