The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-02
THE WHIsKEY PRosECUn;-1y,
Col. DYER Giving n History OF His Connection
with the -. Louis Cases.

Col. Over Giving n History OF His Connection
with the -. Louis Cases.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The special COM
mittee on tho so-called whiskey frauds In Mis-
souri examined to-day Col. Dyer, United States
District Attorney at St. Louis. The examina
hon lasted about three hours, and was exhaust
I've. IL was, however, rather disappointing to
the committee, as Mr. Dyer now seems to think
that all the suspicions whioh he frankly admits
TO be at one time entertained OF everybody at
Washington, except Secretary Bristow and 60
lioitor Wilson, were Rroundlsss. The objective
point OF Mr.. Knott's examination was
to show that the Naturalization had
intsrfered with the prosecution Of Dabcock,
and that toe Attorney GenerAI had been mainly
instrumental IN procuring such obstruction.
This MIR. Dyer denied in so many words: but all
throughout his testimony he showed that at one
period Of the trial Of Baboock he was suspicious
OF every one, az he felt that he was being be-
trayed upon every side In the interest OF Bah
cocks defence. TO quote Mr. Over upon this
point VIII eNnress his state Of mind: GOOD
God Almighty, said he, from the beginning
OF that trial 10 its close there was clear brim-
stone streak Of cursing over u. expect l
cursed every one, from Grant down, a. inter
ferinR, ana they in turn, perhaps, cursed me
but you couldn't hold a man responsible for
what he said under such crcums anres."
Toe manner OF MIR. Over similar to that Of
Pierrepont: The questioning beg with the
KEY prosecutions from May last NJ to tire pres.
ent time. All letters and dispatches that had
passed between tho authorities here and at ST.
Louis upon waich the ATTORNEY. General was
questioned wee again introduced In to-day's
testimony. Step by step the committee slowly
went over every detail Of tho case.
MIR. Dyer's nrst visit to Washington on crooked
whiskey business Wa in August last. lie came
on here to examine the records In regard TO
Avery, and at this visit had hts frst interview
with Secret1ry Bristow. II was then that he
learned OF the "sylph" despatch. In working
up the Avery case he found IL In the ONCE in st.
Louis but nd not then know that " was from
Baocock, When he arrived here 10 August he
showed II to BristOw. lie sent over to the telc
graph offics here for the original. aud then II
was learned for the fret time thai this "Svlph''
despatch was in Gen. Babcock's handwriting.
P1ERRrroSr WANTED ALL THE EvIpENCE.
Mir. Overs second visit here WIS In Octoncr.
This was "A more important viait, and iis "DETAILS
occupied rec prop 'rtion Of the attention Of
the committee. MIR. Over came here at The re-
quest Of me Attorney General, to consult apD ut
the Babcock case. lie went TO tue Attorney
to the supreme Court. MIR. Pierrepont made an
AppOin' mcnt with Dyer later in the dny, over at
HlistOw's room In the Treasury Department.
Here these three gentlemen met and held "A long
consultation. Mr. Dyer was requested to give
IN detaii iuil PARTICULARS OF tins onnversation,
which he did. lie said that the Attorney Cen
eral was very anxious To know the character OF
the evidence against Babcock. as his close rea.
tons with the President of necessity involved
great deal OF scandal. He was especially
anxious that Mr. Dyer should b. very certain
that there was case against BabcOck, doubly
an Indictment
Mr. Dyer was here asked II he thought Mr..
Pieuepont manifested any improper AnX-
iety about Babcock. 10 this Mr.. Over said
No, not as | could see. Hc, appeared %
should be attached to the Administration"
SEEING TINS anxiety upon the part OF the
ward to you from time to time the test-
mony as II Is taken before the or nd
Hy SDyea for your Swn hs5s
Dyer's testimony. He was sure that he mad nrst
suggested tnat the testimony In the Babcock
e,al, and his explanation Of how this TESTIMONY
ultimately passed into the hands Of the defence
eIculpates the Attorney-General from the
cnarce that be nd turned over this evil
dsnce TO Baococks counsel. IDyer was
case was ready for trial the defence had 10
| its possession iull knowledge Of all the lmpor-
mt features OF the testimony for the prcsecu-
| tion He did not do as he agreed to 10 the in
terview with the Attorney-G General In October
aud forward the testimony az, inst Bapcuch.
| Dyer admits that late in the fill he became Gus
| plcious Of nearly every one IN Washington. and
| iOr time only conhded In Secretary Bristow
and Solicitor Wilson.
SENDING THE TESTIMONY.
In January the Attorney G eneral wrote a let
ter to Dyer skiing for the testimony In The Blo-
CO X case, as promised. Dyer sent him Fltzroy's
YOU think Of this ?" Peddrick, Assistant Dis
tric, ATTORNEY In ST. LOUIS or In Washington.
shortly after Pierrepont mad made r,quest
upon Dyer for tue evidence, furnished to hiu a
summary oil the evidence given In the commit
MIs
and his eyes twinkled humorousy as he said
that, owng to toe fact OF the other evidence
ueing IN snort hand notes untrunscrbed, nd
with such II rush of work In his ONCE, ne could
not by any possibility furnish any more evidence.
Mr.. Dyer alter tins frankly confessed that he
was suspicious Of Mr. Pierrepont, but added
that he VS. then suspicious Of every one. ana
m u clear through at the Wv all knowledge Of
his movements passed INTO the hands Of the de-
now THE DEFENcE COT HOLD OFT.
He was now asked to explain, II he could how
the defence became so well informed as To bis
evidence. Mr Dyer said there was Fox on the
Grand Jury, who In every sense merlted his
name. Fox lie was only one OF Two on the
Grand Jury who voted Tor tue acouittal Of
BIucock. Af.er the adjournment OF toe Grand
Jury Fox AT once oalno oa 10 ashington aud
went TO the President and gave him every
befnre the Grand Jury, MIR. Dyer dio not say
tnat the President pedded out this testimony,
nut charges the whole responsibility for thi,
evidence getting out upon Fox. lie SAID that
Fox msre presented him Dyer To the President,
ana tried to make out mat the prosecution In
the babcock Gaze was anxious 70 smrcn the
President. Mr. Fox SO managed TO inRr thte
curing hi, visit here that he secured the ap.
puintment'of hIs son To consul ship.
In relation TO the secret clrcul-r order Issued,
Ar. Dyer sald tnat the hrst knowledge he nd
tn II was out was through the ST. Louis Tunes
copl ING it from the Cnicago Tunes, IL was COP.
lea In 81. Louis as addressed TO ID. =. Dvef. Inis
at frst led oeople In Washington to imagine that
Dyer IA d gwen out the order. TINS no denied
safe, and had shown II 20 no one even In HIS
Otfice Mr.. Dyer denied that there had been any
trading among the whiskey thieves, or a general
promise OF immuni Tor any one for the pur-
puse Of securing convictions. He said the order
would never have been issued To hln mad II not
been for complaints made as to the management
OF the Milwaukee cases. IL was practically a
deau letter then IN 81. Louis.
EXCHANGING MUTUAL suspicious.
He was then examined In relation to any Sc
cTet correspondence that he n.ight have had
with any Washington officials tnat was not
known 10 Pie rcpont He was 1Tst asked II he
had COrrespop.. ed secretly with Dristow. To
tins he = III " No." When asked with whom, he
said, "With solicitor wilson" They "ex-
changed mutual suspicious" is the way Mr..
Dyer explained the subject Of their correspond
ence. Wilson and Dyer were m general ccord
In their dstrust OF aid Ami0stratIon oflci zig.
NJ, Dyer was nj able 10 state whether
WILSON Was still suspicious. lie (Dyerl
Was free to contess, IN the iight Of subsequent
circumstances, such as the OetrsYsl ~ testl.
mOuY Dy Fox and otners. that he naj done
Grant and Perrepont an injus.ce. When Over
cine here last J.nuary he came upon nc ones
solicitation. lie came for the sole purpOre Of
seeing Everest, and even expected TO 20 TO N
adj. He was Duon surprised TO ind that the
President knew quite kB much about the testi-
Ihis did not please Dyer, and he TedOu1led
the auspicions .that at that time clouded hls
mtnd.
Col. Dyer left for st. Louis this evening. Mr..
Knott Informed him that no would DO needed
g4in within u week or ten days.