The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-03-09
Bah AND MAC.
That Interview In a 81. Louis JAN
Between Acquitted and
Convicted liingStcrs.
4 Theory Which Only Lacks Eyi-
dcnce of Truth to Make
II Sensation.
st. Louis Special to the Cincinnati En-
nMlrrr.

st. Louis Special to the Cincinnati En-"
qlircr'.
The visit Of Gen BAhcock to the st,
Louis county jail to see Gen, MELON
aid continues ~ excite y great deal OF
,canda.ous comment here. 1t is be
Iieycd that BAbcock's trip there was
not altogether voluntary, and that Nc
Donald held him at such disadvantage
that he could not safely leave 81 Louis
without making the visit.
Babcock called about 7 O'Clock IN
the evening, in company with Judge
Krum. The jailGr says the meeting
bet Babrock aud Mcdonald was
extremely cordial, and the visitors re
manned u full half hour alone with the
prisoner in his crll, 1t Is now known
that During Blbcock's trial the prose
cution discovered that certain letters III
McDonuld's possession from the de
lcndant would leave the jury no alter
native but to convict, Colonel Dyer
promptly set about endeayorlnS to oh
tain these letters, but it appears tha'
The attorneys Of the defense heard OF
the intended move, and sent u repre-
sentative to the county Jail to see Nc
Donald, and the messenger convey ed
from Gen. BabcOck TO the prisoner
solemn promises Of ald to Obtain his
release if he would only retain those
letters. Mcdonald took advantage OF
this condition Of circumstances, ana
through the messenger Of Blbcock de
manded certain pledges looking to his
release on condition that he refuse 10
) Weld up the letters, the fuIGIlment OF
the pledges, Of course, depending upon
Babcock's acquiLtal.
The agreement was ratified ny Bao
cocks proxy, and the prosecution dis
covered that it would be useless to put
Mcdonald on the stand to aid their
cause. In fact, they were afraid to DO
50, suspccting that some promise had
been made to him. They were shrewd
enough 20 realize that y man in Nc
Donald's position would go to any
length TO procure pardon, and II lhey
nut him on the stand, and he preferred
not to tell The truth, he cOull do so
with IMMUNITY, AS joyce, the only man
who could contradict him, was not
eligible to the witness stand, so they
did not call him, but preferred that he
should remain in his cell. Mcdonald
kept the secret OF the existence OF
these letters and their place Of conceal
mcnt within his own bosom, and re
manned content with his bargain until
the closing speeches of Stor"s anu
Porter were delivered.
When these two gentlemen, counsel
for the defendant. and who had aided
in sealing the compact in regard to the
letters, denounced Mcdonald in the
most unmeasured terms, saying that he
was a thief, u liar and Il robber, who
had aided in dragging the name of in
nocent Babcock into this conspiracy,
and no terms were black enough TO
paint his character, when Mcdonald
read these speeches, q suspicion that
he had been deceived flashed across his
mind. He believed he had been made
u tool of merely to aid in securing
Babcock's qcquittaI. The cast was
closed. and no new testimony could be
introduced. Babcock's attorneys had
succeeded in duping him, the verdict OF
acquittal followed, and that night
while Babcock and his friends were re-
joicing at his delivcrancc, the late de
PENDANT received message, delivered
quietly. 1t was from Mcdonald, de.
manding to see Babcock in person be
fore he left st. Louis. The demand
had to be acceded to. Babcock sent
back word to the prisoner that he
would see him in the Jail the following
morning after leaving the hotel for the
depot. This treasured Mcdonald, and
he received Babcock with the same
friendly feeling that had existed be
tween them when the "Sylph" dispatch
was sent.
Judge Krum is the only mar who
overheard the conversation. and OF
course will not divulgc what was said.
1t is certain that Gen. Mcdonald is
much more sanguine than he vas be-
fore the visit, and now says he has no
fear Of seeing the inside Of the peniten-
tiarv. 1t is believed that Babcock
made another visit to the Jail on Fri
day night He was seen. in company
with one of his counsel and one or two
members Of the Whisky Ring, in a
public carriage, a little after midnight,
in the vicinity of the Jail.