The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-24
A PLOT AGAINST A WOMAN.

A PLOT AGAINST A WOMAN.
The Conspiracy to Ruin Mrs. BETA Story
of Corruption and Bribery.
Washington Special.
Further facts have come out in the plot against
Mrs Belt formerly Mrs. Godfrey, and they are
the sensation of the town. More witnesses have
confessed that they were hired by detective
firm to give testimony which was prepared for
them. The infamy of the plot against Mrs. Belt,
became necessary to smirch. as a part of the
manufactured case against Mrs. Belt,
has thus been clearly exposed.
1t appears that when Mr. Belt took
the first steps to meet his wife's suit for divorce,
he employed a reputable firm of Baltimore de-
tectives to make inquiry regarding Mrs God
frey's life in Washington, and obtain evidence
for him. They came here and employed De-
tective McDevitt Long, a well-known officer
here of excellent character. Together they
made full inquiries in regard to Mrs. Godfrey's
life here, including the so-caled Acklin scandal,
and found that there was nothing whatever
affecting Mrs. Godfreys honor. This was re-
ported to Mr.. Belt, and the Baltimore firm of
detectives dropped the case.
Subsequently Mr.. Belt, or his attorney. ex-
Senator Pinckney Whyte, employed most dis
reputable detective agency here to obtain testi-
mony against Mrs. Godfrey. This detective en-
ployed saloon-k keeper. and together they manu-
featured case and suborned witnesses to swear
it through The main features of the plot have
heretofore been detailed in these dispatches. A
residence occupied some years since by most
reputable widow lady, who was supposed to
have left the city, WAS selected, and lot of
hired witnesses swore that it was dsreputable
house Other witnesses swore that they had
seen Mrs. Godfrey there and served her
there with late suppers. Others still
swore that they witnessed the alleged
disgraceful scene with Mr.. Acklin at Welckers.
Every bit of this testimony was perjury and it
was all paid for. Mr.. Belts knowledge that it
was false must have been absolute 1t is diff
cult to see how his attorney, ex-senator Pinckney
Whyte, could have been ignorant of its char
acter and of tho money being paid for the evil
dence ne examined, and then brought out Pub
lie sentiment at Washington is such that if all
concerned are not arrested, beginning with the
principals and ending with the scoundrelly de-
tectives and the witnesses, the authorities will be
roundly denounced for gross neglect OF duty.
The feeling ON the subject is we'll shown by
the following extracts from long, double-leaded
editorial in to-day's National Republican, "And
right here, in this intellectual, moral and re-
ligious emporium of the Nation; right here,
where religion, science and art have their cita-
dels; right here, where chivalry should live If it
be not dead, we see woman hunted down by
hired assassins of character, and for no other
reason than because she made an indignant out
cry when insulted in a fashionable restaurant,
some years ago. If this lady had re-
manned mute and unresisting instead
of calling out and repelling the insult,
there is no reason to doubt that she would
now be honored aud trusted by the husband,
whose money has paid the thugs who have been
plotting and executing the Internal scheme de-
vised to destroy her. Most of our Washington
readers will remember the incident to which we
refer. Mrs. Godfrey, beautiful and accom-
pshed lady, sister-in-law of Congressman Will
lis, of New York, went to We!cker's restaurant
with Congressman Acklin of Louisiana, against
whose reputation nothing was publicly known
at that time While there the lady made an
outcry the natural resort of assailed virtue, and
gentleman went to the door of the
room and entered. At the worst, the
whole affair was promptly repealed and
totally unsuccessful attempt to take liberties.
Last year Eugene N. Belt, a wealthy resident of
Baltimore. married this lady, and they went On
their bridal tour to New Orleans. There the
husband heard. for the frst time. of the Incl
dent at Welckers. Leaving his wife, he re-
turned to Baltimore. and began proceedings for
divorce. The wife was distracted. False
and injurious rumors were put in circu-
lation, and no effort was spared to blast
her reputation. Her reason reeled, and
for time she was confined in an asylum
for the insane. The husband engaged counsel,
and detectives were employed, not to look up
evidence, but to manufacture it. By the retrac-
tions and confessions of perjured witnesses, we
have the story of deliberate plot to blacken
Mrs. Belts character by false swearing. There
is nothing in the whole range Of fiction that sur
passes in dramatic interest the details of this
horrible conspiracy. Ihere Is no felon In any
penitentiary who deserves his fate more richly
than every man engaged in this diaboism de-
serves felon's punishment.
1--WE cannot yet tell just how broad is the
range of culpabi;ity, how high. or how low in
the social scale it will reach. The leading coun-
sci for Belt is ex-senator and Ex-Governor
Whyte. His friends assert that he is innocent.
We hope their faith in him is we'll founded If
so. he will probably cut loose from his client at
once. This is not the first case in which perjury
has been employed in aid of Mr.. Whyte's clients
1t is high time for him to show his adherence of
such infamous methods He should give his in
huence to that high moral sentiment which
would brand and pillory these dastardly viii
lians, who have been working up evidence for
his side of the case.