The Portland daily press., 1876-04-03
washington Cor. Boston Adv,
Detective Rell.


The testimony of Bell against General Bah.
cock creates far more excitement than any
other development since the Belknap exposure.
The universal comment upon it here is, that
either Bell is au unmitigated scoundrel, or
Ba6coek richly deserves felon's jacket Bell
is tall, slender fellow, with bloated face and
very long brown beard, reaching to his waist.
His appearance is far from prepossessing. but
his assurance is sublime. General Babeock
stated to your correspondent last evening, that
last fall when he returned from the court OF
inquiry, just after Indictment, Bell came to
him and told him long story about a conspi-
racy OF the Treasury department to convict
him. Babcock had him put it In writing, in
the presence of Emory Storrs, and make aff-
davit to it. Bell then offered his services to find
out what evidence was in the bands of the dis
trict attorney at st. Louis Babcock told him
be would like to know; but Babcock soon be-
came distrustful OF him, and suspicious of his
frequent demands for money. and refused to
have anything more to do with him. Several
times after that Bell attempted to blackmail
Babcock, and the latter has letters from him
demanding money. His affidavit is new in the
hands of Emory Storrs in Chicago. Babcock
will go before the committee.
Secretary Chandler says that in December he
was in want of good detective and mentioned
it at the Cabinet meeting, inquiriDg of other
members of the Cabinet if they had not some
one to recommend to him. Some days after, the
President told Chandler of a man who had
been spy in his service during the war and
who who was very good detective, was in
search of employment, and that he (the Presi.
dentl had sent him to Chandler. Bell called
on Chandler and sent In his card. General
Hurlburt of Illinois was in the room and saw
the card He said to Chandler 81 know that
man; he was spy in my employ during the
war and did good service Chandler then
sent for Bell to come in, agreed to take him on
trial, and referred him to the chief of special
made ont, but he asked few days time that
he might fix up some matters he was engaged
in. Lebarnes granted it, and Bell was
away for month. When he came back
heen he wanted ted his pay, SAYING he had
Labarnes refused to pay him. and referred the
matter to Chandler. Chandler refused to pay
him unless he would bring a certificate from
Gen. Babcock that he had been in government
service, while Chandler was gone, and got his
pay. Then he wanted to be assigned TO duty
at st. Louis, because his family were there, and
Labarnes having some cases to work up there
gave him lot of fraudulent pension papers.
Bell bad not been away many days when the
President told Chandler he had reason to be-
lieve Bell was bad man, and if he was in the
department he had better be discharged. Bah
cock was consulted about the service Bell
claimed to have performed, and stated that it
was IDytu. 90 D6ll was gwen MS uieCndrge.
Chandler says neither Luckey or Baocock ever
spoke to him about Bells appointment, and to
his knowledge Bell never was paid cent by
| the department. although vouchers show that
Cowen, then Assistant Secretary, ordered that
he be paid. Mr.. Chandler will go before the
| committee.
| Col. Luckey says Bell came to him several
| times, and protesting to be friend of General
Babcock gave him what he claimed were se-
| crets of the prosecution, bnt never employed
him. Distri ct Attorney of St. Louis, is here
| and says Bell is fraud; that he bad come to
| him ar professed TO know all about Babcook's s
| movements. and was willing to expose them
| for money. At one time he bad intended to
| put him ON the stand at Babcock's trial, but
| dare not edo it. Krum, Babcock's attorney. is
also here, and says Bell never was employed in
the case TO his know ledge. --res-,-s
II is stated on the authority of member of
| the Judiciary Committee which is investigst.
| ing the whisky trials, that Bell came 10 bm and
| offered to tell what be knew for 5000 The
| Congressman from NJ ssissippi all krow Bell,
| h. having been mixed up IN policies down
| there some, and they unitedlv declare him to
| OF rascal aud professional blackmsier.
Gen Henderson is ported as saying that
| Bells testimony is true, and that he (Hender-
| son) can corroborate it.