The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-08-13
General llOr 20 POrter's Yarn, rs
Taken on the Grant Reel.
Origin of the Term Sylph again Mystidcd
The preSiden, Shocked by the Lcwd
Woman Recital Further Exami.
nation Postponed Until
December.

!
Mel onald lfwitness had thus spoken
Of Sylph, he would have been invent.
ing n story which would have reflected
on the President The with deni 4
| positively Il ut he told Wilson the
greatest favor he could do the presi-
dent was to shield Buhruck. Witness
said he never heard General Babcocl,
referred to - concerned in the specu-
latious except from newspapers.
Representative C0chrane sked the
witness whether he did not know that
certain papers shown to the Pro lident,
duplicating Babcock, was the rea.
son why the President retained coun-
sci to defend him. with = replied he
did not believe that any papels were
placed before the President duplicating
Bahcock, Witness stated the Presi-
dent intimated to him that nothing
whatever had come - his knowledge
which implicated Babcock, directly or
indirectly, or in any manner, with the
l3lac' Friday speculations. In reply
to question Ns to what explanation
General Ba6cock gave to the President
and Attorney General Peirrepont about
the Sylph despatch, witness said he
did not attach much significance to it,.
He was not present with the Presi-
dent aud Pelrrepout when the explain
alton was made, he knew, however,
that Bal cock gave To them the origin
Of the term Sylph as was done during
his trial at st. Louis. He did not
know that the explanation made to
the President and that in Court were
different, Witness was positive in
saying he did not tell Wilson that
Sylph was u lewd woman and hao
given the President much trouble
etc. Wilson, however, did ask him
what the explanation of Sylph wat
and he told Wilson what he had hearC
from others, although, as he had be
fore said, he did not attach much sig
niiicance to ii. A question was asked
whether the President, at any time
said anything to him about that mat.
ter and witness replied nothing was
said by the President In his presence
or hearing, and anything he may had
heard as coming from the President,
he declined to state. Subsequently,
however, witness said he heard from
the secretary that the Pre- sident said
the statement made by Major Wilson,
before this committee, ives incorrect
that Wilson did not repeat this vulgar
Islander to him. Wilson commenced
saying something about an improper
woman, when the President stopped
him Instantly and said he did not per.
nit the recital and discussion of the
matter. The President never, either
directly or indirectly, spoke to witness
on the subject, nor did Wilson ever
couple the term "lewd wOmann with
the "Sylph" dispatch. The witness
explained his conversation with Bah
cock, the substance of which was that
Babcock was distinguished officer Of
the army, was graduate OF West
Point, and therefore, every officer in
the army felt an interest in the mOtter
that the President believed Babcock tC
he innocent, but that if guilty, h,
ought to be punished. Wilson did say
to him, in the course OF IA conversation
that Babcock should be fairly dealt
with and no injustice done to him
but further than that, he could not go
Witness did not assist BabCoCk il
getting up his defense. He had not
since he had been summoned as wit
ness, been to see the President, bu
had purEosely avoided calling on him
at present. nor had he consulted will
anybody, but had read some of The
evidence and had general idea Of it
General Porter wDs before the whisky
committee again this afternoon, ant
examined at great length. He mad,
various corrections in Bluford Wilson,
testimony, and gave history OF hi
connection with the letter written by
Wilson to General Henderson, ut 81
Louis, which has caused 30 much com
ment, and copy of which, with tin
Interpretation of the two Initials, "W
H., was sent anonymously to Genera
Babcock. Wilson told witness thi
letter had no reference whatever to TIN
President or Babcock, or to the visit o
the President to 81. Louis, but that !
related entirely to whisky thieves II
st. Louis. Wilson also gave what h
understood as the origin Of the tern
Sylph, which was the same u
given at the trial of Mcdonald, ant
had no connection whatever with
lewd woman, ~ asserted. In othe
explanations the witness made mos
emphatic denial that he ever gave al
explanation Of the term sylph, whicl
could by any possibility be eonstrue
~ casting any reflection upon tn
President. At the conclusion Of hi
, testimony the committee postpon,
y further examination OF whisky fraud
| until nayt aaauinp nf (,nnurnaa