The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-04-06
More Startling Revelations of the
Babcock Trial:

hCu peiOIe 1INiEcr 5 lOnmlJteo that he
made an application for a post-tradership
AT Fort Davis, Texas, and came here in
June. 1873, TO see Belknap about it, He
had a number OF recommendations from
army officers. but Secretary Belknap told
him that il he had known he had come to
make such IN application he, Beiknap,
would not have seen him. Witness re-
piled that it would take him but very lit
tie time to get out of his office Tlaughter]
and he then got out. Laughter. This
brusk treatment made him angry, but as
he got to the west front OF the building a
Young man came running after him and
requested him to come back, When he
returned, Mr. Belknap said (ather apollo
geiically) that he was greatly annoyed
oven the many applications for post-trader
ships. Mr. Belknap then turned to him
(bruskly) and asked: ''lIow much is
that position worth ?" He replied that he
did not know. is it worth $1,000 a year ?''
he asked He replied that he supposed it
was worth that Would you be willing
10 pay that?" Mr. Belknap pursued. 81
would not be willing to pay anything" he
responded, and then LETT Witness could
mol remember that he had said to anybody
that Col. Goodtellow and Mr. Crosley, the
Secretary's chief clerk, were Belknaps 90
betweens in post-traderships bargains
Mr. Danford-Dd you not think it your
duty to inform the Preside Mt that the Sec
rotary had made an infamous proposition +?
Mr. Bell-No, Sill, | concluded that the
Secretary weighed little more than |
did, and that had better leave him alone
Laughter | had seen other men sheved
because they tried to fight heavier men
thau they, and made up my mind not TO
try it again, Laughter.
Mr. Bell alter stating. that he was APP
pointed q secret agent of the Pension Of
ice at the recommendation of President
Grant and Mr. Luckey in FEBRUARY, 1876.
ii salary OF 2Zu0 and travelling expenses
reluctantly admitted that he was engaged
rs a detective in the Babcock trial under
The employ of Luckey. Luckey told him
10 consult A c. bradley, and do what he
was told by Bradley, Bradley told him
40 get the evidence against Babcock from
District Attorney Dyer's office, in order
10 destroy it. lie thought this was going
rather too far, and would not do it, but he
got hold Of all the evidence surreptitious-
IL from the lawyers, etc, of Dyer's office
aud from DYER himself, who did not know
that he was in Babcock's employ, and then
told Luckev the case against Babcock
was weak. He was to be appointed spec
lal agent of the Attorney-General's office
q be sent TO st. Louis, but he was not APP
pointed That was on Dec. 10, and the
Attorney General delayed the appointment
and finally told him that Dyer would not
consent to his iBelrs) working any long
Ell DYER understood the object OF his 90
INC there, and as he could be OF no further
use there he was appointed special agent
10 the interior Department. lie submit
ted cipher between him and Luckey, in
which he (Bell) was to communicate with
Luckey while out at st. Louis The Pres
ident knew that he was to be sent out to
ST Louis as an officer OF the Attorney Cen
eral to find out the evidence, and told him
if Babcock was guilty he wanted TO see
him punished.
He first thought ii was a prosecution
against Grant, but when he got hold OF
the evidence he made up his mind that
Babcock was guilty, and so informed the
President, and three days after he was
dismissed. He tried to inform the Presi-
dent personally of Babcock's guilt, but
as he could not see him he made this fact
known to him through giving to the Her
aid the cipher hetW him and Luckey,
and mailed a copy to him, which he had
reason to believe the President received.
Three days after he was dismissed, lie
met Babcock here several times. and when
he told him Bradley wante d him to get
hold of the evidence, Babcock said it
would be no use getting part OF 1t. Ii
he did not ret hold of the whole of it it
was no use Babcock said that ii he got
the evidence he would be well rewarded,
and there We're papers and kilograms in
existence, which, if Dyer got hold Of them
ne should never explain or get over.
Sensation
Mr.. Iierrepont was averse to his going
10 st. Louis to play the spy on Dyer, and
told him that a high Treasury official
he took to be Bristow, had found out what
he was going to St. Louis for, and that it
was therefore OF no use Tor him to 90.
The President told him that he wanted
Bell to find out il any attempt was made
TO manufacture evidence against Babcock,
or if Babcock was really guilty, that he
therefore gave him a card to Pierrepont, 50
that the latter should employ him to 90 to
ST Louis as q secret officer, under the
guise of this appointment. He was to be
used by Bradley, Luckey and Babcock to
get the evidence and destroy it. lie alb
stracted some kilograms and papers from
the Acknowledgement office July 14th.
When he returned to St Louis he ex-
planned to Dyer that he had been commits
stoned 10 steal the evidence and destroy
it. This warned Dyer against Roger NJ
Sherman, who was sent from Bliss in New
\ ork to do the same Grand 50 that Sher-
man could not accomplish it. lie was
told very particularly to get hold of any
kilograms signed b. Finch. or Bulllinch
but subsequently, Babcock told him he did
not think kilograms under such signature
had been sent III that quarter. Bell wish
ed it particularly understood that he only
acted for Babcock 50 long as he believed
him innocent, but when he became con-
WINGED that he was guilty 'he threw up
the sponge He regarded Babcock s
prosecution at first as a political intrigue
against Grant, for whom he had been a
scout during the war, ard his main inter
est was to serve the President. Babcock
wanted all the evidence to destroy it.
Bradley was sent out by Babcock TO St.
Louis TO keep on the watch.
Mr.. Robbins-You say Babcock said he
had not sent any kilograms signed "B.
Finch or 'Bulltinch " to that quarter
Did YOU understand he sent it to any 9TH
ct quarter?
Mr.. Bell thought he might have sent
some to Chicago?
Mr.. Robbins - The President never
wanted you to cover up the truth
Mr.. Bell-No, sir he never did
Mr.. Danford, the Republican member OF
the Committee, cross-eyamined the wit
ness. You say that you came to the con-
clusion that Babcock was guilty, but the
jury thought he was innocent. What fur
Their proof did YOU see beyond that the jul
~ saw
Mr.. Bell-Nothing, excepting CONVEX
sation with Bradley, Luckey and Babcock
Mr.. Danford-Three days after the pub
LEGATION in the Herald you were dismissed
by Secretary Chandler Didn't he do
right in dsmissing you when he found
that you were to be spy on Dyer for
Babcock ?
Mr.. Bell-Well, III give you plain