Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-24
The President General BabcOck.
Avery and the Whisky Ring.

iIt -NtW 1pih Gun VI NGNttENtN NDilttAA>
its loudly-advertised arTaignment OF Presi-
| dent Grant for alleged completely with the
whisky ring. The publication i apparently
| intended 10 show that Avery was not only
| not criminal i'm what he did. but that he
! acted under written orders from Gen. Grant.
| and that Grant was instigated To make him
| chief clerk of the Treasury dCpa rtment by
| BabcOck, Mcdonald and the other conSpira-
| tors, with view of further using him in the
| premises.
If the SIMS statement IL 10 be believed.
! Avery has been an ill-uScd man. His 'man-
| ipulatoTS,' IL is alleged. did not have much
! confidence in his back bone" after his arrest
| ard indictment, and feared he would expose
| their secrets. Accordingly they piled him
| constantly with admonitioDS 10 keep COOL"
| that they would stand by him." that .'aII
| W ould be right" Sc. At the same time he
! was urged To destroy all letters. memoranda
! or other documentary evidence in his posses
sion that wonld tend to eriminate any one.
| They selected Judge krum. of st. Louis,
| his counsel although he preferred Ben. But
| Ter, and did actually retain Benjamin with a
| $500 fee, but tie latter was non est al .hyery'S
| trial. Judge kTum, aS his counsel. therefore
| became the recipient OF all of AveTyS docu-
/ mentary evidence of his Innocence. Among
| those documents was one that his counsel did
! not produce on the triai-One that according
| To the SIN, might probably have induced
! Avery's acquittal.
| THIS document according 10 the San story
| originated thus: Mcdonald aud Joyce, two of
| The chief conSpiTatOrs. were known to Avery
| as faniliarS of Grant. and as frequent WISH
| Tors AT inc W nIie House While ne was chief
! clerk of the internal revenue bureau joyce
| persistently importuned him TO furnish infor-
| nation in regard 10 the proposed visits of in
| terlal revenue agents to 81. Louis, and gave
! as reason for the request that Mcdonald, who
! was supervisor of internal revenue at ST.
| Louis. was an iraScibIe fellow. with extraVa-
giant notions Of his official powers. and who
| always gave great trouble whenever special
| agents were sent there. Avery refused, on
| the ground that such acts by him would not be
! compatible with the public interests. Final
/ raft
! to him again, concluding his letter thus:
IF you have any doubt of the propriety Of
| sending this information see Gen. Babcock
| If he is not i'm thecity see c.
| Avery send this letter 10 The President, and
| ii was returned with this endorsement:
/ Joyce and Mcdonald are reliable and
| trustworthy. Let them have the information
| they want. L. ). GRANT"
After this order from the President Avery
| gave himself 30 further concern ia the pTemi-
| SeS, but furnished whatever Information
| Joyce and Mcdonald called for. But on his
| trial his counsel did not present that every
| important document which the SIN seeks To
| show would indicate that the crime OF which
| he was convicted was done by special order
| OF the President.
| The Ssal story goes on to say that after
| Avery was sent TO the peni;entiary. Babcorll
| aTd< Others endcavOrcd 10 persuade Mrs.
| Avery 10 destroy whatever letters and papers
| had been left with her by her husband. They
| were al her house every day, and even brought
! their wives with them 70 make appeals. They
| promised in return speedy pardon for her
| husband and projection for herself and Child.
| Finally she feigned TO consent. and made
| neat copies of several of the letters. which in
| the presence OF Luc6ey, the Presidents pri-
| waite secretary, were burned. After this, feel
| ing assured of safety, thc.cOGspiratorS lost all
| interest in the Avery family, which becdfne
| almost destitute of the ucceSSarieS of life. \
| friend OF the family interviewed at this june
| turc, Obtained possession Of the original let
| tiers, exhibited them 10 Attorney General
| Picrrepont. and was promised pardon for
| Avery. after the election.
| The story i'm the SUM- occupying six columns
Of that paper, bears the marks of being
worked up for purpose. The Republicon, of
| this city, says of the alleged order from the
President mdOTSing Joyce and Mcdonald as
| reliable and Trustworthy:
This pretended order is a base and malig-
| nant forgery. We may add that we have the
| iuIl and most positive denial OF the President
| that he ever gave such an order. II there is
| such paper in existence, il is forgery. Who
| Is the lorger? Is IL Avery or his democratic
! friend who made threats that q terrific expo
! sure would be made unless Avery'S silence
| was purchased? There was no one found in
| Washington weak enough 10 invest money
| in the suppression OF such "a combination of
| falsehoOds. Let the blaclImailerS now pro-
| duce the paper signed b. the President or
| admit their own infamy.
1 Ii may not be amiSS To state in this connec-
| ticn that the papers upon which the Sttn s
| much vaunted history is based were Offered
| 10 General Babcock's friends in this city
| before his trial for the modest sum of $1,000,
| and that this paltry price of somebody's in
| fanny was gradually reduced 10 -, 600, aud
| still found no takers
| The Republican says further that the key to
| the San story will be found in a letter, which
il publishes, addressed To Samuel NJ. Felker
SepteHn Der a, 1876. The concluding portion
Of this letter, which is very long, is as FOL
| lows
General Grant is no coward if he decides
| and promises you the appointment, IL will be
| made-if he decides otherwise il will not be
made; and If you are not appointed chief OF
the $. s division 1 shan certainly re-
the trial-that's plain business-if you are
| appointed, whenever you can officially sign
yourself CHIEF Of the :. s. Division, you are
| hereby authorized TO send for me, and will
| promptly respond. This is the eDldition, and
| the only one OH which L vii show up the
whole of the safe burglary conspiracy, and
| that in such manner as Will fully and posi-
| lively exonerate General Babcock from
any and all connection with the So
called safe burglary, fully supporting the
| explode the whole bubble; You are
sufficiently familiar with much of the
! details of this job TO know that Whitley him
| self. although he was the originator and sole
schemer in the affair would not have been
| suspiciOned, had j not bargained and ar
ranged with Bluford Wilson Chen solicitor)
| TO give that publicity in the Sun to the sub
ject which IL subsequently received; you can
! thus infer how complete a vlndication of
Gen. Babcock can be made, with the evidence
| at my command-bua Hsis tcil not give only
| on the condition as before stated-do not trou-
BILE me with further correspondence on the
| subject-W. a: Cook, esq, tried 10 CLEAN from
me sufficient details To make such a defense
as he believed he could do with my assistance
| and evidence but he is not possessed with
| what he wants, and 4 knOW the case cannot
| be properly made up without my assistance
| and evidence. owe the present administra-
ton no allegiance, no gratitude, no obligation
! or reverence, and have 1t yet in my power TO
! DO much damage, there are matters not yet
too late for trouble. or too private for publicity
which / intend for the Sun. You persuaded me
out OF that, with more Of your sophistry,
but now Mr.. Dana urges me In the most
| coaxing style for the subject, together with
the papers (Which are not destroyed, as sup
| posed), for which he offers me a very liberal
sum (S5,000.) You guessed my business and
again request cessation of hostilities-I
shall entertain your request only until
know of your appointment or disappoint-
ment could not or would not hold Office
myself under the present administration, We.
will serve them IL they appoint you as II
enjoyed their patronage and confidence.
| Sam, You know your proneness TO exhibit
| my letters to your friends, and collate my
ftfrr 1af-