The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-11
THE SAFE CONSPIRACY.

has again been ''doing noble, generous
90 and loyalservice TO the friends of his
SUPERIOR and, as he supposed, of the gov
u" ernment," one Of those things which |
make some that we wot Of have SO strong q |
"regard for him personally Or rather, TO |
be more exact, he has just been caught at
it. The "safc conspiracy" which occu.
pied so much of the public attention n year |
or more ago, is again being overhauled
both by the courts and congress. To make
the recent disclosures understood it may be
well, although perhaps not necessary, to
recall the story of the conspiracy.
Columbus. Alexander, an old and highly
influential citizen of Washington, had made
himself particularly obnoxious to, what
was known as, the "District ring" by his
efforts 10 expose their populations and
wrong dongs. In order TO put him out of
the way and destroy his influence. plot
was formed, in pursuance of which burg
larry wac to be committed in the district
attorneys office, the safe broken open, the
contents stolen, and the books and papers
placed in his hands, ostensibly, that he
might make use of them in his exposures.
As soon as the books and paptrs were
safely in his hands, the burglary was to
have been discovered, a search for the pa
pers made and, ae would have been the
case, being found in his possession, his ar
rest, trial and conviction were TO follow.
The plo. failed of execution. One Har-
rington, who up to that time had been a
respectable citizen of Washington, but who
was known to have been attorney for the
"ripg," was with others indicted for The
conspiracy, but the jury failed to agree,
although, ss was shown by the testimony
of eight Of the jurymen that the other
Jurors were ':cursed, reviled and called
every vile cpilhet il was possible to i'm
" agine in order 10 change their opinion
at that they were inundated by every plan
that could be Devised, but without effect;
"they would not finch" During this time
that is, while the jury were considering
their verdict notorious members of the
ring were in an adjoining room COM
municatiug with Jurors by signals and
Harrington, himself, was, by special invit-
alton, called ircm the prisoners box and
made an honored guest at private dinner
party at the executive mansion. AS might
have been expected the jury failed to
agree. Harrington was neither acquitted
or convicted, but the special government
counsel was peremptorly dismissed by At
torney General George II. Williams, who,
also, ordered the prosecution abandoned.
H. c. Whitley, at The time of this con-
epracy, was chief Of the secret service
division of The treasury depai tment, and
was jointly indicted with Harrington for
the conspiracy, although he was never
placed on trial. Having been promised i'm
| munity for his share in the transaction, he
has testified before the grand jury of the
criminal count of the District of Columbia,
as also before the Judiciary committee of
| the house. The substance of his testimony
| cocks house; that Babcock sent for him
and told him what was expected of him,
bus directed him to 90 to Harrington
"from whom he would get specific drec-
" tions;" that, with Harrington and with
"the assistance of certain employees Of the
"secret service division, and some profess
"sional rascals the conspiracy was organ
"ized y that after the failure of the plot
he rarely cav Babcock, but that, on one oc-
casioD, Babcock told HIM that he, Whitley,
and Harrington g had made very bung-
Z" ling Job OF il y that about the time of the
trial it was suggested that, on account OF
his position, be could save the Indicted
conspirators by the packing of juries and
'other management with the ways Of
(which he was familiar" ETC., etc.
His examination lasted over three hours,
and went largely into the details of the con-
spiracy, but we have only alluded to the
| portions which connect Babcock with it
indeed the names OF others, except secret
services employees and professional thieves,
are not mentioned in the report before us
but enough has been gwen to show the
nature aud object of the conspiracy, the
causes of its failure as well as the reason
why justice failed to overtake the conspir-
ators. All the facts, on alleged facts, de-
tailed, save perhaps Babcock g completely,
rests upon other and higher evidence than
that of whitley alone. Babcock, of course,
denies Whitley's story, but there is dis
closed, even by him, a remarkable init
macy, a playing into one another's hands, a
walchful care of Whilley's interests hardly
compatible with the belief that Whitley's
story is manufactured one. Moreover,
Whitley's record is as good as Babcocks,
no matter how it might have been regarded
years ago.. and his story is measurably cor.
roborated by tie testimony of Nettlcshir
and other con5pirators, as well AS by the
disclosures on the original trial of Harring.
ton, THAT some one very high in official
"position was at the back of the affair."
We have the consolation, at east. of know.
ing that we are in fair way Of getting the
a." bottom facts" and We trust that the
president, as is his duty to himself and to
the county, as well as under TIC law, viii
give Babcock another chance TO ''vindicate'
himself, this time before an army court OF
inquiry,
| Alexander 7. Stewart.
|