The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, April IL, ls7d
AN INTERESTING oFFsHooT OF THE BABcocK-
WHITLEY sCANDAL-THE ALIBI ESTABLISHED
By THE GUESTS OF THAT DINNER PARTY IN
THE L1onT or THE DETECTIVES CONFESSION
IN ORDER
The collateral scandal involved in the confession Of
Whitley the subject OF The safe burglary conspiracy,
affecting the reputation OF such men as the Collector Of
the port OF Boston, A. W. simmons, and his Deputy
Collector Harrison W. Huguly, is likely to create as
much. II not more, OF a sensation than the original
or main branch OF it duplicating General Bah
cock. When Whitley was trial here in
November, 1874, under indictment for completely
in the conspiracy he came near beng convicted on tho
testimony or Mike Hayes professional burglar whom
he procured to be pardoncd out Of tho Penenary to
conduct the burglary but who turned statcs evidence
and all the circumstances or an Interview at
which Whitley gave him his instructions for commit
ting the burglary Not only did Whitley contradict
oath all that Hayes said and protest his innocence OF
this charge but he produced series Of witnesses to
prove that ut the time Of the alleged interview spoken
OF by Hayes. nc was absent in Boston
whore he gavs dinner party to Collector Simmons
His counsel, In his preliminary address opening tho
case for the Defence referred his intention prov
ing this aIib saving, under the appropriate head o.
his argument that the defence would show by
petent witnesses that Sunday, the 9Th OF April,
1874 Colonel Whitley was In Massachusetts,; that on
that day he had dinner party nj Cambrdgcporr that
that dinner party several gentlemen were present
who viii be here 10 testify; that It dinner party
OF gentlemen, among whom Mr. Simmons, Col
lcctor OF the port OF Boston, that Colonel Whitley
renamed in Cambridgcport until Monday morning,
and leaving for New York tho ten o'clock train
from Boston.
In subsantatng this line Of defence for himself and
provo the abi whitley brought forward tho Deputy
Collector OF the port Of Boston, Harrison ". Hugely.
who swore that he present at tho dinner party
which was presided over by Whitley. For some rea-
son Collector simmons was not summoned to come
from Boston TO give his testimony, but lie knew,
doubtless the object OF his dcputys attendance at the
trial Of Whitley and sanctioned the latter's absence
from his Official duties The other witnesses proving
tho abb wcro probably agents and sub.
ordinatcs Of Whitley himself Tho four
mcnTillsy. Hutchinson Appegate and New
combe--doubtIess belonged 10 tho Secret Service
corps Of officers, Of whom whitley was the chef In
Decd Ncwcombe IL known to have been government
detective. One other witness was Bates who recently
held an Office OF some kind In the Boston Custom
House. Here arc seven persons Of moro or less
prominence before tho pubic upon the testimony OF
SIX Of whom Whitley established his abb aud evadcd
punshmcnt Tor the part be took In tho
conspiracy. But whitley now comes forward
and In his confession 10 Proctor KNOTS
committee that what Hayes testified
TO was truc In other words that the abi was sham
aud that he twhItey) was New York instead OF At
the dinner party TO Collector Summons In Cambridge
port, the day stated by Hayes and with the latter
concerted the plan for carry ing the safe burglary
II the abb il a sham what becomes Of the testimony
the SIX mon who demonstrated 1S What says the Col
cc,or Of the port Of Boston, who must have known At
the time from the newspapers the nature Of the ev
dcncc upon which the aIib established. his name