New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-06
BELL And B1BCOCK.

The testimony OF Bell, the former scout VINO
was appointed a clerk in the Interior Depart
ment at the desire of the President, was of
such character that 1t could not be unhcsltat-
ingy accepted without confederation. In some
essential respects however, 1t has been sup
ported by Distlict-AttOmey Dyer and Others,
and by documents. IL is thus proved that Bell,
who had served Gen. Grant as a trusty scout
during the war, was appointed at the Presi-
dents wish, and was sent to ST. Louis. lie
says that being ordered by the President to
"look into the hands of the prosecution and
report whether BabcOck was guilty or not, he
did obtain knowledge of the evidence, in
formed the President that Babcock was guilty,
and three days afterward was dismissed; that
Mr.. Luckey, and at his desire Mr.. Bradley of
Washington, and afterward Gen. Babcock
himself, urged him to remove the proofs
against Babcock so that they could
be destroyed; that he declined and being
convinced by this proposal that Babcock
was guilty, told the whole story to Col. Dyer.
lie is sustained by Col. Dyer, who testiies that
he detected Bell searching drawers in his office,
and that Bell afterward told him substantially
the same story that he now tells. In other re-
spects, he is supported by the testimony OF
District-Attorney Bliss The persons impli-
Gated by his statement fatty deny it, and as
sert that Bell is utterly unworthy of belief.
But they fail to explain why the President,
who had known the man for years, and tried
HIM in times when the lives of thousands de-
pended upon his fidelity, caused his appoint
ment, and did not discover that he was un-
worthy of belief until he bad reported that
Gen. BabcOck was guilty. Vague and general
denials will not break tho force Of this state
ment. 1t looks amazingly like the truth. I'm
less it can be effectually refuted, it will be
generally believed.
Two facts give this testimony peculiar
strength. 1t is certain that tho man was
recommended by the President as thoroughly
Trustworthy person, and that he offered to
testify to the statement he now makes in oEen
court on the trial of BabcOck. At the outset
he evidently believed that IabcOck was innO-
cent, and was the victim of a political plot
| aimed at the President. TO this day. though
removed from Office, he insists that the Prcsi-
dent never seemed to desire to screen Babcock
If he was guilty. 1t is perfectly natural that
| such an old and trusted scout, full of regard
| for his former commander, should have been
| thus trusted by the President, and that Bell,
though willing to oblige Babcock as long as
| he seemed innocent, should have told the
President, and withdrawn from relations with
Babcock as soon as his guilt was proved by
the proposal to destroy evidence. To suppose
that he deliberately invented such story as
this, and offered to go upon the stand, subject
to cross-examination, contradiction, and the
penalties of perjury if detected. and to do this
for the purpose of injuring Gen. Grant. his
former commander, is well-nigh impossible.
The man had every motive to keep on good
terms with the President, and no motive
whatever, that has yet been suggested, for
contrivng falsehood against BabcOck.
| The Importance Of this statement, if after
full inquiry it should be accepted as substan-
TALLY true, cannot well be readily appreciated.
It settles the question as to the guilt of Bah
cock, but it also casts flood of light upon
the conduct of the President. IL this story Is
true, the President was anxious from tho first