The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-11
THE BABCOCK TRIAL.
Another Days March Nearer Lib
ertY or Prison.

Another Days March Nearer Lib
erty or Prison.
BY American Press Association to the STAR.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. lin the Babcock
trial yesterday w. J. Bassett, gauger,
testified as to the operations coming
under his observation in 1874 and 1875.
He acknowledged conniving at frauds
while at Bevis & FraZer's distillery, and
received $100 to 5000 weekly. Witness
explained what is known as Form 122,
among revenue officers and told how the
disposition of Illicit whisky was covered
at rectitying houses. The next witness
was A. M. Everest, who testified that he
was Collector for the Ring from August,
1874, until May, 1875.
he said that on one occasion Joyce
sent him to the Treasury with $1,000
bill to get two $500 bills for it. When he
returned he handed them to Joyce, who
put them in an envelope and told wit
ness to put them in the letter box. Wit
ness did SO. He was asked if he OBJ
served the address on the letter. Be-
fore he could answer the defense OBJ
jected, asserting that the prosecution
was now trying to show that Babcock's
name was on the letter, but that evil
dence was not competent. A long argu-
ment ensued.
The afternoon session of the Court
commenced at O'Clock, and Judge Dill
lon decided that the testimony Of Ever
est In regard to the two letters would be
admissible as presumptive evidence un-
der certain restrictions.
Everest was recalled and repeated the
testimony relating to letters already
given. Joyce watched the witness from
the window of his office while witness
ha Intf
One was addressed to W. .. Avery,
ashington, d. g., and the other to Gen.
D. e. Babcock, Washington, D. c.,
marked Personal" Witness gave fur
ther details as to the envelopes; did not
remember the date or day of the week
when he mailed the letters. Witness
afterwards went from here to New York,
and thence to Liverpool. He never saw
Gen. Babcock before this trial began.
Cross-examination by Mr.. Storrs, com.
menced at $3.50 o'clock-Witness has no
business; can't fix date OF these letters
nor day of the week; thinks 1t was the
latter part of February, but Is not sure.
Witness sat six feet from Joyce when
he sealed those letters; Joyce was
standing at the time; saw Joyce put
$500 into one OF these letters, and sup
poses he put the other $500 bill into the
other letter, but did not see Joyce do it;
Joyce turned away so witness could not
see. Witness went to Europe because
he was one of the Whisky Ring and ar-
pretended difficulty; he landed at
Liverpool, and visited London, Paris
and Rome; was called home by tele-
gram by his mother while he was in
Rome; he had no arrangement with any
one by which he knew he would be safe
in returning tothe United States. Met
McFall and. his brother in New York;
went from there to Philadelphia and met
Mckee by appointment; also met Dis
trict Attorney Dyer there. From there
they Went TO Johnston, Pennsylvania,
accompanied by McFall, and remained
three or four days with his uncle, and
then came to st. Louis, still accompanied
by McFall; he knew he would be called
as witness here, but had no
arrangement by which his own
safety was assured; has made the
same statements to District Attorney
Dyer as he made in Philadelphia; told
Mr. Dyer that he only saw a $3.50 bill put
In one envelope by Joyce, and that it
was supposition, simply, as to the
other. Witness didn't know he was un-
der indictment here, only that the pa
pers said SO; never took the trouble to
investigate the matter, although he did
~ W GulOpC uOCduoO uO lodlSu tIOuDiS
from his connection with the Whisky
Ring; does not know there are about a
dozen indictments; never was arrested;
does not know why; has no bargain or
arrangement which makes him feel safe
to 20 about here; was before the Grand
Jury during the May term: did not at
that time deny that he had collected
money for the Ring.
Cross-examination closed at 4 O'clock.
The seventh witness called was Henry
p. Alexander, Chief Clerk and Teller at
the u. 5. Sub-treasury In this city, re.
members changing $1,000-dollar bill
into small notes. When he saw Everest,
three or four weeks ago, did not think
he was the man for whom he changed
the bill.
Tine eighth witness was Edwrad b.
Frazer, OF the firm of Bevis & Frazer,
formerly distiller and connected with
the Ring.
He testified to his operations in de-
fraudipg the Government. The last $5,-
900 paid to Mcdonald by the Ring to
prevent prosecution was never returned
to those who paid the money. Warn.
ings of the prospective visits of revenue
agents from Washington were usually
communicated to distillers and recti-
fiers by Fitzroy or Everest. For the last
50, 900 paid to Hoag, revenue agent, the
latter agreed to furnish Information to
the Ring of the movements In Washing
ton. Alter Hoag left he wrote several
letters to Frazer.
Court adjourned at 4:5O P. M. till 10
O'Clock to-day.
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