The New York herald., 1876-07-31
Efforts of the Ring to Break
Down the Solicitor.
LYING, INTRIGUE AND FORGERY.
The Presidents Dissatisfaction with
General HENDERSON and Mr.. Dyer.
1 FOOLISH SCANDAL FROM A STRANGE SOURCE
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 80, 1876.

lhe injunction OF secrecy having been removed
Q. Prior to the discovery OF the "sylph' telegram
you know OF any other fact or matter indicating that
the President OF tho United States not sympa
my with you and the Secretary OF the Treasury in
Four prosecution OF these dstilorsg A. In answer to
that question wish TO state that with reference
10 the whisKsy cases generally, there never was,
10 my knowledge any lack Of cooperation on
the Presidents part Thore were delays, 1t Is true,
during the ali oi 1875 in turning out some who
the secretary and myself thought ought to have been
removed sooner but the whole we got along very
we'll IL until struck Babcock in what
seemed to be srong suspicious evidence OF his com
plcity that We began TO grow apart After the Presi.
dents from his trip to Des Moines. Colorado,
and ST. Louis ascertaned upon information, both ro,n
the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General
that trouble; that was charged with having
put spies upon the President with the view to prove
his completely IN the ~hiskey frauds. TINS learned
return from the West, where had been under
the direction o! the Attorney General and the Secre-
larry of the Treasury consultation with the officers
charged with the prosecution, which was late IN Oc-
tober or early in November last will give the COM
mitiee the precise date soon as to my pri
vato letter books
THE sYLpH TELEGRAM
Relying upon the Presidents Endorsement and in
Wow oi the "Sylph' telegram and the rumors which
nave already referred To- had early IN August sub
United the telegram TO Mr. Henderson and Sir Dyer in
the presence OF the Attorney General in this city and
II was understood there TO be OF so high suspicious
character that General Babcock should be thor
onghly but iary investigated TO that end on about Tho
StG 9th OF September alter Messrs. Henderson aud
Dyer had returned to ST LOUIS wrote Nr. Henderson
letter in which said to him substantially:
This will be handed to You William II. Herr, reliable
and trusted agent OF the secret Service division lie will
report TO you for duty.
l stated that curing the hearing o, the motion TO
qulsh the indictment in McDonalds case then pend
ing before Judge Miller, thought II important tha.
Mcdonald and Joyce should be put under the strctcst
surveillance and that every proper precaution should
be taken to prevent their escape; that it highly
important also that associates and coconspiraors with
Mcdonald and Joyce, II there were then unk nown,
should be discovered and brought TO punishment apd
used the words that it was OF tho utmost Importance
10 tho public interests that he should go to the very
bottom top OF the combinations, and l
undcrscored the words ''bottom top" aud knowing
that General Babcock would be in ST. Louis with the
President, ana knowing his relations with Mcdonald
and Joyce, intended to use, ard did use, such terms
as that General Henderson might clearly see that his
relations with Mcdonald and Joyce while III The city
should be carefully looked alter and inquired into
This, believed was iully authorized and warranted
20 do by the terms OF the Presidents ndorsemcn and
supposed that IN dong would receive has support
md approval 1t turned out that this letter Of mine
was taken IRON among tne papers OF General Hender
son while he was engaged IN a law argument in tho
courts at>St Louis; that Mcdonald or Joyce got pos
Besslon OF it, and 10 support the charge that was put
ling spies on the President, alter the word "top'
my letter tho capital words Nv. H." were forged
therein.
THE FORGERY
was apparent on comparison with the leter-press
copy. which was lucky enough, under the circum
Stances, to have retained my letter book, and that
Tact doubtless saved me from instant removal The
forged letter copies containing the forgeries,
brought back by General Babcock from the West and
after the first Cabinet meeting which was held ON the
Presidents return he tBabcock) called Attorney Gcu-
erai pcrrepoLt and Secretary Brisow INTO the private
secretarys Office and showed thom ;hat letter OF
with the forged letters .W H. In it, The Secretary
OF the Treasury and the Attorney General both
greatly disturbed aud manifested that disturbance
interviews with me on the sunday morning OF my
turn from the West aud for the reason they said
that they saw no justification and no explanation OF the
letter laughed and said TO them that II gave not
the least concern denounced the forgery
my letter book and proved 1t; aui that tho
end OF the matter with them. General Horace Porter
awarm friend OF General Babcocks and all the time
OF my own that Sunday IN the city. In going
down for my letter book met HIM, somewhat DIS
turDed about the matter. We touched upon the sub
ec and the General expressed his regret that had got
myself into such pos tion, and without telling HIM any
thing more said to hm:-"Just wait, General and
then go with TO my Office the Treasury Building"
He said he would. We wen. together after |
ihrough with the Secretary and the Attorney General
and General Porter had with HIM copy OF the letter
SAID 10 him to hold his copy and would read the
original from the book. read the original which was
word for word AS was in ne copy Gen.
forged interpoaiion "w. H." then sad to
General Porter To take the letter book and
satisfy himself that the letter-prcss copy did not
contain the words ''W. II. which he did; and fur
thernorc asked him the position o the letters
the word "topn being ;hc last the line asked him
II he had seen the handwriting OF The original Nv H.
and he said he had and he said at once .'wil.
son dom, want To hear anything more:
that is the enu OF that matter; the letter is
. forgery beyond question n nd that lets you out
! sxld;-"A word with YOU, General, about that
letter wrote that letter intending that General Bah
cock should bc looked alter II he was IN the ring
intended TO catch him II II was IN my power; If he
pot, intended 10 demonstrate his innocence beyond
the shadow ola doubt. If II were possible to 90 So"
TUE WORD ''srLrr' EXPLAINED.
asked General Porter what explanation be had of
the "syph" telegram ard he gave me an explanation
cred aud ANNOYED the President until at time
cbanced that McDonalds attention called to at
some place where she either IN reacn OF or IN the
vicinase OF the President. and nc said:-
General Babcocs SAID, "Do you know tha, woman
AcDonaldf' aud Mac said, Yes know her we'll"
Iabcock said-To use General Porieris Words
s'She has been giving the President great deal OF
trouble; VISA you would relieve him OF her IN
way, and Mcdonald said, Certainly, that rs easy;
can manage her," and he did manage fer ana
imloriant was the service shat Mcdonald thus
reudered tue President tbat the term 'sylph'' be-
came commo' matter Of Joke between General Bab-
cock and AcDonssd 60 that both oi them tho
habit, AS occasion ixht require address nc Que an
sthor under that name !ie also said me without
endeavoring 20 explain Scnpiely, that he (BabcockL
Joyce and Mcdonald ncqnensy haa occasion to CORE
kpond with each other with fslcrence to the move.
meats OF mutual friends and tAat tho .Svlphr tcIe.
gram referred to movements OF some parties who
were gong out to ST. Ions on bridge eqsiness
Afrx,L Dor RABcocK.N
lie said to me, wiihou. going any further into ex.
olanation, that the mist inestmaOie service In NV
power 70 render the resident oi the nited states
would be 10 shield General Bsbcock rom exposure:
that these wee OF character that could NOT
be gone INTO without s,ine all parties the very greatest
trouble and concern. told the General that would
10 what could fairlyio see that General Babcock was
boncsi and squarey 'eais with and that injustice
was done him. but futher than that could not aud
would go that tie matter the hands vi the
local oicers at 81 lnls aud would urge upon them
the gray-lmportsno' to all parties thst no mistake
shop-<be made In reerencc to General Babcock con-
rstion with the Rim General Porter expressed
sen as wholly and citrely satisfied with my expiaas
tion OF my letter aid with the position which as
kumed and assured ne that the attention OF the Pres
ocht haa not pccn called 10 the forged letter and
would not bc. | said to hlm, II
you to tell tho President OF the United States
about that letter. have no conccalmcnts about IL;
none whatever l anu upon IT, aud willing The
whole world should sec AMI read and know o. IT, ana
have no apooges TO make for it, waat that clearly
aud July understood. ! hope you Will tell the Prcsi
tent OF the inats9r andthat he will give me oppor
lunity to say to nm what have said to you ana the
Attorney General ait the Secretary heard nothing
more about THIS Las, IA August or early IN septem
Der, before the Presd.ut went West, urged upon
'ccreary Brs,ow that he call upon the President and
ell him OF the 'syiph" telegram and that the invests
Intions were likely TO involve General Bstcock. lie
Old mc that he would, and carr september | be
ieyc nbou, the Sih, met Gcnetai BaOcock at Phlla-
ieiphis, he coming from Long Breach and from Cape
Nay, aud | made up my mind go,n1 down with him
mat would urge Secretary Brsssow to tell General
baocock about the 'syiph" telegram and give