The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-23

A dispatch from Washington, June Is, to
the Hartford, Conn. Times, says:-Aceording
TO the latest information given out at the
Navy Department, Secretary Thompson eX-
poets to have better luck in getting the bot
tom facts in connection with the thrice re-
peated attempt to destroy the Navy Depart.
ment, or at least certain records in il, by
fire.
1t is said that Thompson has secured infor-
nation which shows the full depth of the
conspiracy which was placed on foot with
view of destroying large quantity Of re,
cords, which interested persons, officials and
contractors, wanted to put out Of the way.
1t has not yet leaked out who the guilty
parties are, or how much each of them is
implicated. 1t is asserted, and always has
been since the several attempts TO destroy
the building, that Robson had a hand in it.
At one time Mrs. Attorney General Williams
threatened to expose the whole plot, because
Mrs. Robson made her angry in some way,
Afterward Mrs. Williams wrote several anon
ymous letters to Grant about it, as also TO the
editor Of a Sunday paper here. For time
full exposure seemed inevitable, but mutual
friends stepped in and quoted down the vol
cano that would have otherwise soon boiled
over Judge Williams went before commit.
ever written any anonymous letters about the
FIRE, or that she had any information in con.
nection with it. Bluford Wilson, on the
other hand, testified that Grant had sent him
several letters which he had received, and
that he had some OF the Treasury detectives
investigate the matter, and ascertained that
without doubt, Mrs. Williams wrote the
letters. There was a great deal Of scandal
over it, and, had not it been that the women
were cooled down as soon as they we're there
would have been = great deal more.
| Wei! now, in regard to the fires themsel-
yes, 1t will be remembered that two of them
were discovered at night time, and one late
| in the afternoon. In each case experts testi.
fed that the indications were that the fires
were not accidental; that, on the contrary,
| they felt confident that some one had set the
building ON fire about the close of office hours,
and that it did not burn sufficiently to be dis
covered until several hours afterward. Each
time the fire was started in the uppermost
story and in the same wing. Men who are
| skilled in investigating such matters were
called in at the time for a blind, but soon af.
terward cold water was thrown on their efforts,
or they we're persuaded into giving up the
| job. One thing was discOvered-and | have
been told the same thing by several of the
men who were allowed to partially investigate
the fires-that eolored messenger named
Daniel Muse had always been seen about the
rooms when the fires were discovered just
before the breaking out Of the fire. Now,
this might have been accidental, but some
thought otherwise. No one, as far as | am
aware, ever made direct charge against him,
although the suspicion against him was very
strong. Who was behind Muse, or who paid
or induced him to do wrong (f ne did has
yet to be ascertained. All that is known
about him is this Soon after it became ru,
mored around that the detectives were deyot.
ing their attention to Muse, he was suddenly
transferred to the Navy Yard at this place, BY
order of Secretary Robson. 1t was not long
before Daniel was caught stealing some bras,
or composition from the Navy Yard. Instead
Of being sent to court for trial, he was quietly
shipped away in a United States vessel liz
is now somewhere on the Indian ocean or OIL
the coast of Africa; at least, when his shiI
was last heard from she was in that section
Of the globe. Now, as | said before, thes,
things may have occurred and not proved
anything against Muse, but it must be admit
ted that it is a circumstance. If Mr.. Thomp
son has Muse brought back, he may lear
more than he knows about the Navy Depart
ment fires