Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-04-07

Washington, April 6. Attorney General Pierre
pont before the Clymer committee to-dsy, tes esti-
fed that about the middle of December last,
man named c. S. Bell sent in his personal card to
his office, and subsequently called with a card
from the President. This card was mislaid, lost
or thrown into the waste basket. 1t read some
thing like this: "The bearer wishes to get employ
ment, think be might render valuable service"
Bell then said that he wanted employment on the
secret service, and as high wages were given in
that service Bell seemed to talk in a Commanding
way. Witness told him he would see the Presi-
dent first Next day in the cabinet meeting, he
asked the President if he knew anything about
the man.. President answered that he had either
known or heard of him during the war as a scout
or detective, ald he now wanted an appointment
in the secret service
Bell called next day and asked if he was to be
employed. Witness questioned him as to what
services he had done heretofore. He answered
that he had been employed by the district attorney
at St Louis because Of the extraordinary means
he had of getting at some papers in the possession
of Joyce. He said he left st. Louis because Dy-
Ell had not the means to pay. He said that as
soon as Dyer would write or telegraph that he
wanted to employ him witness would act promptly
in making the appointment and preparing the in
structions. Bell came in the next day or day af-
ter and showed despatch he had sent to Dyer to
the effect that if Dyer would employ him the At
torney General would sanction it.
There was an interval of few days, during
which Bell did not call, but meantime the witness
had talked with the Secretary of the Treasury and
the Postmaster General, and found that his record
in the department was very bad He never knew
of Bells existence before he first presented his
card and has never seen him siuce. He refused
to give him his appointment. Neither Babcock
nor Luckey had spoken TO him about Bell. Wit
ness says that the interview Bell speaks OF in his
testimony was entirely imaginary, and denied
every part of Bells evidence referring to him
where it conhicted with this statement.
A. c. Bradley, the lawyer, retained the connec-
ton with Bell as follows =
Babcock had been telegraphed to from St.
Louis to go down there in November last, as his
name had been used in connection with the whis-
key frauds.
him, as he could not leave the White House. At
st. Louis he met Col. Luckey, who informed him
that Bell had been engaged in the Avery case,
and Bell had promised to Luckey to get the
Hogue dispatches. Luckey said Bell had repre-
sented to have the run of the district attorneys
in the Babcock case. Luckey added that Bells
proposal was so astounding that he put no faith in
him, and Bradley agreed to this Subsequently
Bell got the Hogue dispatches, and Luckey
statements were always wandering, and he always
thought Bell drew largely on his imagination
He represented himself as friend of the Presi-
dent, and desirous Of protecting Babcock from the
unjust prosecution of Dyer, Bristow and others.
Bell said that Bristow had wanted Dyer to put
the Babcock dispatches into the Mcdonald trial,
that Henderson and Dyer were at loggerheads be-
cause Henderson wanted to ruin and indict Grant
Dyer wanted to spare Grant because he had head
to lose, &c, &c.
This was month before Babcock's Indictment
and he was naturally anxious to learn what evil
dence Dyer had against Bebcock. He never au
thorzed him, however, to steal or destroy the evil
dence. All he asked him to do was to obtain such
information he could as to the evidence there was
against Babcock and for this purpose to get him
such copies or papers as he would obtain. Luckey
was also distrusttul of Bell and only listened to
him out of regard OF his duty towards the Presl-
dent. Babcock never authorized him to employ
detective do anything improper. Babcock
never presented himself except as innocent. Be-
lieyed Babcock innocent as he bradley was him
self.
Col. Luckey testified
Was not sent to St. Louis by the President
Wrote statement while i'm St. Louis, last fall, as
a witness for Avery. Bell told him of the great
conspiracy against Babcock and Grant, by Bris-
tow, Henderson and others; of their hope to
make Bristow President by breaking down Grants
administration.
Luckeys account of Bells rascalities, which
was very long, agreed closely with that given by
Bradley, even to the minutest details. His expa-
nation of the cipher that he wanted to have a
safe way Of communicating with Bell in case the
latter discovered that forged letters were to be
used against Babcock, and Bell had represented
that kilograms or letters to the President inform
ing him of the fact might be interrupted by Dyers
minions. He OLuckey) went to st. Louis withs
out suggestion from the President or Gen. Bah
cock.
Luckey contradicted Chandler, who had testi-
fed that Luckey never spoke to him about Bel,
by stating that he did speak to Chandler. When
it was pointed ont to him he said that he was not
quite sure of having spoken to Chandler. Per-
haps he did not. All his dealings with Bell were
in the interest of the President because Bell rep
resented that he would expose conspiracy
against the President He never informed the
President that Bell had proposed to him to steal
the papers.
Mr. 'Robbins-Then you still left the President
under the impression that Bell was faithful and
honest man
Luckey-At the time the proposition was made
to me Babcock had not yet been indicted.
Robbins Bad as he you were willing to
use him
Luckey-Yes, detective.
Mr.. Danforh-What did you tell Bell when he
made this proposition
Luckey-Referred him to Bradley. | did not
know whether it would be wrong or not to have
that done.
Gen. Babcock testified;
Lnckey and Bradley, when they returned from
ST. Louis reported to him Bells statement. On
the advice of Luckey, he saw Bell on his return
from the Chicago court of inquiry, when Bell re-
peated these statements. Babcock thought that if
such conspiracy against him and the President
existed, it was very interesting. lie got Bell to
make an affidavit as to the facts he pretended to
know. Bell urged his pressing wants and Bah
cock gave him 800 for his services.
Bell said that Bluford Wilson would give him
an appointment TO get evidence against Babcock,
and he told Bell that unless he would show such
appointment he would have use for him. He
only saw him once more, when Bell met him at
the war department and told him he was going
to New York and might give him important in
formation. On Jan. 18th, he received message
from Bell, asking him to lend bin forty dollars so
that he might 90 to New York for important pur-