Year: 1876

OF the, safe burglary, conspiracy,
Which, taken altogether, is probably
one of the, most remarkable in the
annals of crime, is soon to be laid be
fore the public in all its details. The
confessions of Whitley and Nettle-
ship, two of the principal agents em-
ployd by the original conspirators,
fastens the tolls around Babcock and
Harrington, and despite the almost
superhuman exertions which will be
made by the District Ring to save
them, their doom is certainly sealed.
But will these two mscreants have
to expiate the sins of the other and
perhaps guiltier mon who stood be4
hind themi This is the inquiry that
addresses itself to every man as lie
reads the story as it has now been
unfolded by two of the principal &C
tors. 1t is 80 plain that neither of
them could possibly have any motive
to Originate such conspiracy
Neither is it likely that Babcock and
Harrington were alone the origin
ators of the plot that Whitley and
Nottleship undertook to execute
Doubtless both Harrington and Bah
cock had sufficient malice to lead
them to conspire the ruin of one or
two cory espondents who had shed
flood of light on their dark and de-
vions ways. But is it possible that
they alone deliberately planned the
destruction Of hall score Of eminent
gentlemen, whose only offence
them was the pctitioning Of Congress
for an investigation into tie affairs of
the District government.


TIE STORY OF TIE PLOT,


as read in the light of the Develop
mcnts of the last few days, is as iol-
loYg; When a committee Of Congress
began some years ago to investigate
the frauds and thefts of the Wash
ington Improvement Ring, the innu-
ential persons concerned, whom
discovery would have ruined, stopped
at nothing to prevent it. The CONS
mittee had, fortunately, help from
some of the honest and substantial
citizens of Washington, chief among
whom was Mr.. Columbus Alexander,
gentleman who has shown remark
able pertinacity and ability in his
long pursuit of the Ring. 1t was at
Mr.. Alexahder's suggestion that the
committee required the leading men
ofthe Ring to produce the books in
which the course and cost of the city
improvements were set down, and
who pointed out, when set of books
were produced, that they were false
and that the genuine books were still
concealed. Thereupon it occurred
to some of the Ring to endeavor


TO GET RID OF MIR. ALEXANDER,


by duplicating him in what would
have the appearance of q criminal
act. a Spy was sent to Mr.. Alexan-
der, who told him that the real books
were in safe in the office of the
District Attorney, and that if he
would pay certain sum of money
the, office could be entered, the safe
broken open and the books handed
over to him. Mr.. Alexander replied
that he would have nothing to do
with such transaction, and this little
plot failed. The plan of entrapping
him, however, had been formed, and
was not so easily abandoned. Two
burglars had been hired, and other
preparations made, and 30 the spy
was again sent to Mr.. Alexander with
Simpler proposition-that on q Ger.
tain night the books would be brought
to him; and it was determined by the
conspirators to post we'll instructed
policemen in such a way as to seize
Mr.. Alexander while he was in the
act OF accepting the books. All the
arrangements were, therefore, made
for q given night. The police who