The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-03
any written contract to that effect 1 would
talk business with him."
aWhak did ha aav Ihan9r

auy written contract 70 tnnt eHeCL WUulu
talk business with him."
"What did he say then2'
"He said he would see aud let me know
in day or two.'
"Did you see him again?p
ayes; he came back and stated that he
could not get written contract from the
Treasury officials, but he produced an
affidavit, written BY himself, duplicating
Bluford Wilson, Dyer, Bristow, and other
Treasury officials in such scheme"
"What did you do about il?
II cross-examined him pretty closely,
and found out that he was q fraud, ready
TO sell out to anybody for a i've dollar
billif he couldn't get more, and | bounced
him"
"Did you make any propositions to
him to clandestinely corral any docu-
ments belonging to the prosecution in the
Babcock easel"
HSuch an idea never entered my head,
and / never made any proposition to him
whatever, except to get that contract be-
tween himself and the Treasury Depart.
ment which he boasted having made"
"Where Is that affidavit now?'
at is in safe hands and will be exhib-
tied to that investigating committee at
Washington"
A Washington special to the later Ocean
furnishes the following additional eyi-
dence OF Bells being fraud aud Of the
CIymer Committee having been sold with
4 fiat, stale story: Secretary Chandler
says that in December, he was in want OF
u good detective, and mentioned it at a
Cabinet meeting, inquiring OF the other
members Of the Cabinet II they had not
not some one TO recommend to him.
Some days after, the President told
Chandler that a man who had been a spy
in his service during the war, and was a
very good detective was in search OF EN-:
ployment, and that he (the President) had
sent him to Chandler. Bell called on
Chandler, and sent in his card. General
Hurlbut, OF Illinois, was in the room and
saw the card. He said to Chandler, ~
know that man; he was a spy in my en-
ploy during the war, and did good ser
vice" Chandler then sent for Bell TO
come in, agreed to take him on trial, and
referred hun to the Chief OF the Special
Agents, Mr.. Lebarnes. Bells commission
was made out, but he asked few days
time, that he might fix up some matters
he was engaged in. Lebarnes granted
it, and Bell was away for month.
When he came back he wanted his pay,
saving he had been in the service
OF General Babcock, Lebarnes refused to
pay him, and referred the matter to Sec
retary Chandler. Mr.. Chandler refused
to pay him unless he would bring cer-
tifcate from General Babcock, that he
had been on Government service. Some
how he got General Cowen to testify to
his service while Chandler was gone, and
got his pay. Then he wanted to be as
signed to duty at St. Louis, because his
family was there, and Lebarnes having
some cases to work up there, gave him q
lot OF fraudulent pension papers. Bell had
not been away many days when the Pres
ident told Chandler he had reason to be-
lieye Bell was q bad man, and il he was
in the department he had better be dis.
charged. Babcock was consulted about
the service Bell claimed to have perform
ed, and stated that it was a myth. So
Bell was given his discharge.
Mr.. Chandler says neither Luckey nor
Babcock ever spoke to him about Bells
appointment, and that, to his knowledge,
Bell was never paid cent by the depart
ment, although the vouchers show that
General Cowen, then Assistant Secretary,
ordered that he be paid. Chandler will
90 before the committee.