Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-23
The Safe Burglary Conspiracy Trial.
Nike Hayes, COlumbus Alexander.
Major Richa rds A0d Others
On tho stand.

m1ke Hayes, Columbus Alexander.
Major Richar ds aod Others
On tho stand.
Yesterday, in the Criminal Court, judge
Macarthur, the trial of o. E. Babcock and
Thomas p. Somervllle, Indicted with Har.
rington, Whitley, Nettlssnip, Bliss, alias
Miles, and Benton,) on the charge OF con
tpiracy In connection with the alleged safe
burglary In the District Attorneys office, IL
April, 1874, was continued after our report
closed, District Attorney Wells and Mr.. A
@. Riddle for the prosecution, aud Judge
Fullerton, of New York, and Colonel W. A
Sook appearing for General Babcock, and
Colonel Totten for Mr. Someryille.
DISCRIMINATION OF HAYES.
The court had taken q recess when our re
port closed, and on re- eubling Michael
Hayes resumed the witness stand and his
cr0sseXaminatiOn was proceeded with, co.,
Quoted by Mr.. TotteD, with the understand
Ing that the government might examine hin
as To tie afficavits. Witness went to Som
erville's house at night after eleven o'clock
asked IL he was Mr.. Somerville; told him
Nettleshfp had sent him there and SOmer-
Vile spoke Of Benton as his client. Witness
did not ask him If he was counsel for Benton
Son1ervflle spoke of getting Benton out OF
hour, the subject being about Benton. Som
Vile did not ask him II he (H.) had sent Ben
ton to Washington. Did not say he had
charge Of Benton. Witness did not give
done; dont think the subject of his (Hs)
connection with Benton was mentioned; rec
objects that Somerville asked the name OF
the party who was with Benton; don't think
Somerville was endeavoring to find out what
witness would answer to; thinks that Som.
erville knew his errand there. The object
OF going to SOmeIviile was to further
the original plan TO get the release OF
Bep ton SO that Alexander could be blamed
Witness allowed allowed Somerville to do
the talking; knew that the affidavit was
wa in,
the front room half an hour, and In the back
room but few minutes; not over I've or six
minutes; thinks he left few minutes after
II. Witness had drank several times with
Nettleshfp that day, but was sober at Som.
erv1lle's. Don't recollect that Someryille
said that Alexander must have been q great
ject; was willing TO swear that he saw no
writing done at So nervilles; fs under the
impression that the affitavit was prepared
when he went there; objected to certain por-
lions OF the AFT tRvit, put made no sugses.
lions. SOmerville said he thought that IL
was all understood. Somerville made an
appointment for him to come to his Office In
the morning. When he went to the office
saw 8, who produced the affidavit and said
that he had MADE the amendments, and he
signed 1t. A lady was present, but she went
out before the notary came in.
Croes-examined by Judge rullerton:-Wit
ness heard Whitley say he was not in New
there.
Judge fare you sure of it, and how are
you SO SURE?
Answer.-By q thousand little matters.
Judge F.-Give us nine hundred OF them.
Hayes then gave number OF incidents
which enabled him to d the date, among
others that of having some work done on
q house that day; that the wigs were paid
was remarkable for him-shook hands with
him quite warmly fectionately, in fact.
COLUMBUS ALEXANDER
testified that Hayes and Zlrruth called upon
him several times and said they had IL In their
power TO produce the genuine books of John
tee; that the books that had been produced
were made up for the purpose, and that the
genuine books had been sent out of the city,
OF put I'm snat tney would get them for him Most
who was known to him by the name OF But
Ter. witness replied that he wanted to pro
cure all the evidence he could, and If such
bringit before the committee; that while he
would pay any necessary expense, he would
not pay any money for evidence of any kind
him by express, and he promised to pay ex-
press charges. There was no ARRANGEMENT
that the books should be delivered during
me night. Hayes brought Benton to his
the man who will bring you the books; take
good look at him." He suspected from this
that there was something wrong, and In
formed his counsel OF IL next morning, who
in turn informed several members OF the
committee; did not know until the morning
after the burglary that Benton, one OF the
burglars, had been arrested at the door of his
Witness then went on to explain how he
heard OF 1t, when Mr. Cook, counsel for Gen.
Babcock, stopped him in the middle OF a re.
der, turning to the Court, said: ~ do not in.
tend 10 be cut off this way / want all the
facts to 60 to the jury"
After q colloquy between the witness and
S So ase tne witness resumed, stating that
although he had heard that the burglar who
had the bag full OF stun taken from Har
ripgton's safe, and who was attempting to
I maze nm ,' receive It, had rung his door bell
After the examination of Alexander was
concluded, he turned 70 the Court, and in q
has not been asked me can 1 have the priyi-
lege OF stating 1t to the Jury?"
The Court answered-NO; You have made
your statement.
Mr.. Alexander then left the stand, when
Colonel Cook said, "You can put your re
quest In writing, Mr.. Alex ander, ana then
the Court can pass upon It,"
Mr.. Alexander replied, "The Court has
already passed upon It,"
MAJOR A. G. RICHARDS,
Superintendent of Police, testified that on
the night of the sd of April, about O'Clock
p. m, Harrington called upon him and said
he received an anonymous letter from New
York giving him Information that his (Har-
r1ngtOn's) safe was TO be robbed that night
Witness said he would have q force OF OH GERS
there to arrest the burglars should they
attempt It, but Harrington said he didn't
want them arrested; that his idea was that
there was something behind the fellows who
were doing the burglary, aud that he wanted
the burgla TO 60 on and the men who did
II followed 10 see their connection aud to see
who received the stuff taken from the safe,
which he said he had packed for the occasion,
AID that 1t contained no papers or articles
OF value. Witness finally assented, aud 1t
was arranged that he, with Harrington and
one Of his subordinates, should watch the
office and follow the burglars, Harrington
being particular that the one who would Ia ke
the bundle should be followed. Several
others assisted In the watch; saw the bur
glars, Miles and Benton, 20 into the office
About O'Clock heard the explosion OF the
safe, having heard hammering for several
hours before that, and then told Harrington
that the men were evidently professionals
and IL being very dark they were liable
TO get away: He thought 1t best to go In
and accost the men at once. Harrington
demurred TO this. saying he was the District
Attorney and would have to prosecute the
burglars, and he wanted bis way about how
the thing should be worked, In which Wit
ness acquiesced; saw the men come out OF
the ONCE; after crossing the street noticed
that they separated. Witness aud Herring