The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-29

noI III tnlS Ddttl0 counting neauSs we are
trying to break up these unlawful con-
spiracies and combinations, which we
all know exist, and If possible to reach
those who have inspired and organ
ized them, and l know of no
other way of doing this and obtain
ing proof of conspiracy than by going
inside OF the ranks of the conspirators,
and give 1t to you as my Judgment that
the policy which mas been adopted by
local counsel upon their independent
Judgment, and not under the instructions
of either The Secretary or myself, will
result in accomplishing this purpose,
and that none other WILL" Secretary
Chandler sat just back at the further end
of the Cabinet room, and l said to.the
President, "Mr. President, notice the
presence OF member OF the Cabinet.
If you will give me- him to 90 into this
matter L think could satisfy you that
y GU are laboring under misapprehen-
slon." "Oh," said he, sit is not worth
while. simply wanted to call your at
tention to the fact that, in my judgment,
there is too much oil this going. on"
said to him: "That beng so, have
nothing to do, Mr.. President, but to bid
you gOod morning." and L did so. L
went out deeply impressed with what
the President had said to me, went to
the Secretary OF the Treasury and told
him what had taken place. l said to the
Secretary that, in my opinion, IL was Of
vital Importance that he should see the
President on that day, that l had rea-
son to believe and diu believe that A.
T. Fulton, then lately returned from Chi
cage Con the 20Jh o. January, believe),
had endeavored to create the impression
IN tue mind of the President that we
hi l,n nttv Af
Chicago for the purpose of convicting
Rehm and Heslng and Ward,
and, while the question as to the pro-
priety OF policy was not important, it
Tas important that he should see the
President Immediately, take with him
his letters to Fulton, and let me take my
letters to Fulton and his telegrams 10
Nj. Webster and explain to the Presi-
dent the whole case. He reluctantly
consented.
AT that interview Secretary Brstow
explained FULLY to the President that
having iull confidence in the local Off
GERS, all matters had been lett to them.
In the talk between the President and
witness about Everest, witness told the
President that the latter would testify
to having seen Joyce mail two letters,
containing $500 each, one addressed to
Babcock. Next is filed letter from
Wilson to BrisJow written just alter the
interview of the two with the Presi-
dent, in which Wilson says:
within less than an hour after our
return from the White House Babcock
came in little while and a good deal
nervous, and asked me il l mad any
news. 1 replied that had.none except
what nad given the President, to which
l y yl.t.
desire to ask you. What does Everest
| His Exec ilency had conveyed at once to
| Babcock every item OF possible evidence
| which he had received from me. Bab-
cock stayed quite while and had a
very prompt and emphatic denial to
every story, and theory to tit it. He
asked me, on going away, to tell him il
any thing new turned up. This l posi-
t yely refused, but added that could
not deny when the President asked. He
laughed and said that would do Just as
well, and we see that it does. The point
OF all this Is that the President ques-
tons me in Babcock's interest. WHAT
am to do? Again | have no objection
OIL general principles to give Babcock a
lair show ifthe testimony is really false !;
but how il it should turn out to be true;
and what right has he more than any
other accused party to hear the details
OF the case against himW
On the 29tn OF January the Attorney
General sent for me and read draft of
he famous circular letter to the District
Attorney. He said he had been good
de al em mDarrassed by the request of the
President that he issue leBrer caution
ing District Attorneys against taking
the testimony OF accOmplices. He said
to witness: "You note, Wilson, that L
don't go SO far as the President wanted
me.n The President was not satisfied
with the letter; he wanted it to say in
specific terms that the testimony OF no
man who pleaded guilty could be taken.
Witness said to the Attorney General
that the letter, If published, would do
great harm. The latter replied that it
was not for publication. Soon a.ter-
ward it appeared in the Chicago Times,
and the correspondent of that paper said
he got copy OF it from ths attorney oil
General Babcock.
All personal relations between Mr..
Bristow and the President were broken
off, and by the 10Th of February he had
resolved 10 retire from the Cabinet 1t
was understood from most reliable au.
thority that both witness and Mir. Bris-
lOW W0lO W w ul9hiooCN "s DuC Gnu VI
the Babcock trial. About this time Mr..
Wilson wrote letter to the Presidea d .
denying certain newspaper reports that
be was after relatives of the President,
but saying so far as Logan and FarwelI
were concerned he hoped If they we're
implicated in the whisky frauds they
wOul be detected. e.,.
Then came letters and reports that the
President demanded the neads VI the
Secretary Of the Treasury and his solie'
ItOr.
On Sunday night, February 27, state-
menLs were submitted to the President
OF tue United States by which IL APP
peared that Orville Il. Babcock, Private
Secretary OF the President, mad been en-
gagged in Black Friday gold transac-
lions, that he and others lost in that
transaction $40, 1000; that the money was
lost to Jay Cooke u Co.; that, to make
good his own losses and that Of his
associates, Babcock made trust deed
OF his property, creating Asa Bird Gard
ner, OF West Point, subsequently the
Judge Advocate of a Military Court Of
Inquiry ordered at Chicago, his trustee.
Thls statement was made to the Presi-
dent while Babcock was en- route from St.
Louis to Washington. Ii was. believe,
subsequent y verified BY competent evil
denoe, satisfactory to the President.
The result was chat neither General
L