Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-30
The Safe Burglary Conspiracy Trial.
Trial Of Alleged Conspirafors.
Argument OF Nj. Riddle for the Gov.
eRmmeDG.
TENTH DAY.

Miles, and Benton,) on the charge OF con-
spiracy In connection with the alleged safe
burglary In the District Attorneys Office in
Closed, District Attorney Wells and ' Mr. aspps.
". Riddle for the prosecution, and Judge
Fullerton, OF New York, and Colonel w. A.
Colonel Totten for Mr.. Somerville.
NH. RIDDLES ARGUMENT.
Mr. Riddle after the recess commenced the
closing argument TO the jury. He spoke
drst OF the line of defence Ia ken by General
babcock, say ing that, having failed to de-
siToy Alexander, his paid counsel comes In
nere to crush him by ridicule, and they call
III practical joke. IL was the most awful
practical joke ever contrived since man fell.
II was an invocation OF the demons of ar
son, or burglary, OF robbery, TO destroy the
The history of the safe burglary, and follow
ed The burglars and Harrington To Alexan-
oers door. Such a procession had never
moved since the ragged regiment OF Coven-
Try. They got to Alexander's door and rang
The bell, but Alexander slept ths sleep OF the
just Like his namesake ne slept soundly
ana columbus has been asleep for several
hundred years. But the conspirators had
been Instructed TO "ring In" with Alexander
and having done so they now sought to
ring in TO his house, but they failed.
Mr.. Riddle called the roll OF the cousplra-
tors as they stood at Alexsnder's door, de-
tcribiDg each one. Whitley, he said, knew
method of arrest and discharge; he did not
tell Nettleship; Nettleship had to learn this
rom Harrington; this showed who was en-
titied 10 the bad eminence in this transsc
lion; IL was not strange that the su bOrdinates
never heard OF Gen. Babcock in this connec-
ton; the paid subordinates In conspiracies
never knew the principals; even Nettleship,
wnen Harrington proposed to introduce him
70 Babcock, declined; he did not want to
kEow any more Of the connection OF q dis
tipguised officer with this transaction than
he was Obliged to do. Neither Whitley nor
HaTrir gton had sufficient reason for origin
st1ng this plot. Both might gain something
by helping others, but for themselves the
designed to help their neighbofs; the great
dlgnitaries that illustrate the history Of the
country were our neighbors here. At q dis
In Washington we knew them as they were.
Let the jury look at IL. This Conspiracy in
wolves the employment OF q whole bureau OF
tne government What power had Dick Har-
rlngtoD, bright boy, but obscure and poor,
TO do this? He was powerless to persuade
and too poor TO buy. Whitley hsd only to
DO what he was told; he had no PERSONAL
interest In crushing Alexander. VINO was
the fountain OF this bad enterprise? VINO
bad the power TO carry 1t into effect Some
oody that could command not only the chief
Oh lhe detectives, but could command his
superiors, end who desired to crush the me-
morialsts for bis own interest or the interest
or bis friends. He had no proofs further than
nose subm1tted In this trial, and he was not
SATISFIED that the last produceable evidence
had already been presented here on the wit
ness stand. More than was now known OF
we orlglnators OF this crime, he was salts
Ted would never be known.
Mr.. X. defended the course Of the Attorney
General, and OF the Congressional commit
Tee In giving amnesty TO Whitley. 1t was of
OF this crime should be laid bare than that
either Harrington or Whitley should be pun
Hhed,
He tnen proceeded TO trace the connection
OF Gen. Ba bcock. he described Gen. b. as a
brave officer In the late war, educated In tue
upright traditions OF the American army,
but brought, too soon, within the dangerous
circle OF Washington official life, to become,
In some sense, the representative of the Pre-
s1dent. and the dispenser of Official patron
age; often almost taken for the executive,
and sometimes making that mistake him.
self. He censured sharply the position OF
he defense that government Official had q
right 10 withdraw the secret service into his
own private employment and leave the In
0fnal revenue and greenbacks and the cur
rency - take care OF themselves, and then
proceeded TO examine the relations OF Whit
ley with Babcock. Babcock had Whitley
sent Tor, and when Whitley came told him
bat Sam Felker-who Is q combination OF
hoa-coDstrictor and anaconda-was after his
lWhitley's) office, and insinuated that It
snre by display of extra skill In his line.
He then placed him and Harrington In COM
Dunlcation TO work out the plot.
The &C urt adjourned.
Eleventh Day.
This morning there was only q small at
u,
both within and without the bar, rapidly
alled up.
Mr.. Riddle resumed his address 1.-THE clos.
ing argument for the government,) to the
Jury At 10:l5. He urged that Whitley frst
mentioned the plan to Nettleship and N. got
the details from Harrington. 1t was unrea-
sonable to suppose that Harrington and
benefit. II must have been for some higher
dfgnitaries. Had Harrington and Whitley
met at BabcOck's house II Is probable that
meeting took place At the Club ao1se ea' The he
nobody could detect but detectives. 1t was
chief counsel for the District government in
the Investigation. There were Mattingly
and stanton, neither off whom were pls ying
second nddle to Dick Harrington. II false
measurements was the subject why was not
Whitley sent to the two other counsel or To
the counsel collectively. Harrington was
informed of the matter.
Mr.. Riddle at grtat length argued that the
connection OF Babcock ned been shown by
Judge Fuliertnn.-"Whitley swore that
Babcock bad nothing to do with itn
MI Riddle.-So did Harrington, and they
behind you. (Babcock) Commenting on the
testimony OF Mr.. Madge, he said that he was
an unwilling witness, aud he argued that
H Haar,n testimony ne gave clearly indicated
ton with the affair. Mr.. Riddle proceeded
at great length 70 comment on the testimony
OF Newcombe and Nettleship, and In regard
10 the Interview in which IL was suggested
mat Whitley should 60 to Europe, he said it
had been said w. was unhealthy, but at that
time II was getting more unhealthy for
one in Washington. Mr.. Riddle commented
on the evidence until 1918, claiming tcat q
case had been made out against Gen. Z.
A recess was taken for half an hour
On Ieassembling Mr.. Riddle commenced
his argument as against Somerville. He
claimed that for the purposes of the con-
spfracy there was required q professional
lawyer % Vol - burglar. and rociting the
circumstances which had bean testified to
as connecting 6omeryille, he discussed the
question a. 70 how fAr Q lawyer could 20.
Whatever Y wrong for Any man 70 do is
wrone for lawyer to do. BE argued that IL
was suspicious, In the drst place, that Whit
ley should have sent to Somervtlle for Q bur
glar, and that the tact Of Somerville fnoufr-
ing OF W. Afterwards II &c was all right
showed that he knew s0mething oft.
Mr.. Riddle related the circumstances Of
Somerville procuring the aflldavfts and TO
meeting Harrington In Philadelphih which.
he said, was the result Of SomervilIe, e .
lawyer, dled for Benton before Lord High
Chancellor Nettleship bill for specific
performance OF the contract to enlarge
a n