Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-05
The War Department Investigation.
Secretary Chandler On the Witness

morning. Secretary Chandler, Gen. BAD
cock, and Levi p Lucky were present. Sec
Ttiary Chandler previous To the eXamina-
non OF witnesses occupied him self In read
ing the testimony of Detective Bell as given
before the Committee at a previous session.
WHY BELL WAS EMPLOYED.
Secretary Chandler sworn Witness identi-
fed Bells appointment and dismissal from
The IL terror department
g On whose recommendation was Bell
slICiT:ed?
A. His name was first mentioned by the
President in Cabinet meeting / requested
the Cabinet To aid me in selecting n good IN 4
Tor the cuief of the secret service. A few
Gays afterwards the President said that Bell
wOplo make good man. A day or Two af-
teTWaruE Bell came tn the department, sent
Ia bis card and said he was the mau OF whom
the President spoke. He came several times
afterwards, and urgeh his appointment. Oue
day General Hurlbut wa in my Ofice when
Bell came in. Huribut said: 81 know that
fellow; he was "a spy for me; ne enlisted once
in the It bel army while my spy" / said:
General, If he can keep his neck out Of
halter he Will make good detective" en-
pioyed him more on General HuTlbut'S rec
OmmerdatiOn than any one elSe's. / was
rot impressed with Bells appearance when
/ fret saw him. | never was spoken TO Dy
any one else TO have Bell appointed.
why BELL WAS DISMISSED.
q. What causes Induced Bells dismissal?
A. / went into Cabinet meeting at one
time in advance of the Others. aud the PraSi
dent said lac believed Bell 10 be a scouudrel
and / had better dismiss MIN. l dit 10 at
once Inc ITShlUeUJ SalO lilAL Bell Gdu been
IrCcuril evidence, either against or for
Gen. BIZ bcock, IL didn't make any difference
which. ami he believed him to. he "A scOIu-
GIel. Witness never read the cypher teie.
gam in the New York Herald until after
bell gave his testimony before the Clymer
committee.
HOW BELLwAs PAID.
q. Was Bell PAID for his services?
A. / can't answer that question LeBarnes,
the chief Of the detectives, sand Bell had been
ON the IOil q month, but that be rendered No
=f.r.F for nn
declined TO audit his account without al
order from me. told him not To pay him
until ne brought evidence that he had been
employed. Bell was subsequently paid on a
certificate from Gen COwen. | signed the
voucher on which Bell was paid. The vouch-
eTS come 10 me in bulk. l cont read them
only look for the initials of the responsible
clerks.
q, Were the accounts of Mr.. Bell taken 10
you by q special messenger
A.-Not hat am aware Of My attention
never was called 10 II specially and distinct
~.
q Did Bell at any time mention TO you
thai lac had been in New York on business
for Gen. BaboOck?
Ole Balnes told ne so. He said Bell
Claimed that. Idon't remember speaking 10
Bell on the subject. sun IL is possible That
sion is that he did not.
Witness was shown and Identified Bells
instructions in pension cases. He said Bell
was paid for forty days service. The ac-
der6d.
Q--Ought your accounting officer to have
paid Bell Tor going 10 New YORK for Gen eraI
BabcOck?
A-NO, sir. Mr.. lie Raroes passed Bells
account uLOn certificate rom Gen. COwen.
l presume he deceived Gen. CJwen. II is
customary sometimes 20 pay special agents
ia advance, when they have not the money
with which TO travel. For that reason Bell
may have been paid enc month Ia advance. |
never knew any thing OF Bell excspt what |
from Pres dent
Bell did tell lie Barnes that he had been TO
New YOrk IA Gen. Babcock's interest. |
don't think he told me. l have no 1ecollec-
q Why is il, Bell having received no wri'-
ten instructions prior to February 81, 1915.
should have been allowed travelling and other
expenses?
a. That l cannot answer.
q If 1t should appear by the accounts in
your department that he charged for travel
ing expenses between New York and Wash.
ipgtOn prior to February IS, 1876, wouldn't IL
be pTesumptive evidence that be had gone to
New York for somebody and on some SER
vice?
a. Yes, It would be presumptive evidence.
Witness read the following
ORDER FOR BELLS PAYMENT:
Bell has been legitimately employed I'M
and per diem. VIII Col. LeBarnes please
adjust the account. b. X. COWEN."
Witness said, after Babcock's acquittal he
gave him a check for ~ 900 TO help him TO
cancel the expenses of his trial.
Witness said II was false that he bnew that
Bell was going to St. Louis To assist Bah
cock, or act as spy upon the district attor-
ney.
q. Did Luckey ever speak to you about Or
deriDg Bell TO st. Louis in the Baocock trial?
Mr.. Chandler said some weeks after the
trial OF BabcOek, he received letter from
Mr., BOrie. of Philadelphia, saying that the
expenses OF the tri al had been $4,000. TAat
II had ruined BabcOck, and he thought his
should aid.
witness drew his check for $1,000 In Bah
cocks favor.
A. c. BRADLEY WAS CALLED,
but said that he would prefer to wait until
to- morrow, as he expected to receive paper
which was the basis of the letter he wrote to
Bell; If he testified to-day he would have to
be recalled.
Mr.. Clymer said that In view of this fact
he would excuse Gen. Babcock AMI Mr..
Luckey until tomorrow, as he wished Brad
ley's testimony TO be taken in advance OF the
others. Another reason why he was willing
to defer II until to morrow was because the
Attorney General, whom he desired also TO
examine in advance OF Luckey ald Babcock,
was busy in the Supreme Court.
AN OCHER POSTTRADER.
Robert Wilson said he had been posttrader
az Fort Lincoln. Dlckey was his partner
The latter got the post through the influence
of his brother. who was member of Congress.
Lay ton and Morrill, came 10 Fort Lincoln,
the former saw the books while there ana
concluded il was profitable business and
he thought ne would try and get it A man
named Step got the post. He said he had
two partners. have heard since that J. VI.
Hedrick, of Iowa, was one, and Gen. Rice.
of Washington, was the other. Step says he
never saw the Secretary of War before ne got
his appointment. Witness knows MT BoAaf-
Mn, of Philadelphia. Witness said Orville
Grant sent a telegram to Commits
siOner Smith saying: appoint Ray
mond Indian trader at Fort Berthold'
The answer came the same day, saying:
Raymond has been appointed" Witness
az one time had been postmaster at Fort
Fetterman. Secretary Belknap revoked the
appoiD tment, aud desired j. III. Campbell,
brother of Gov. Campbell, appointed He
Md an arrangement with Campbell TO have
one Stiles, his nephew, appointed, for which
Campbell was TO be paid One-third of the
profits. Campbell wrote Wilson letter,
which was placed in evidence, TO draw uo
the papers that Stiles could be appointed.
The arrangement however fell through.
The examination of the witness was in
progress when our report closed.
WHY He WANTED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
The following is the record of the leave OF
absence granted Mr.. A. s. Hewitt by the
House of Representatives on Monday: "Mr.
Hewitt, OF New York, asked leave of absence
Tor one week In consequence of bronchial
disease induced by the poisonous atmosphere
OF the House."
Inn