Year: 1875

The telegrams exchanged between st.
Louis and Washington, which were admitted
in evidence on Monday in the Whiskey
Ring trials, have SO ugly look for General
Babcock, the private secretary of the Presi-
dent, that it concerns the reputation of the
White House, and especially concerns Gen
eral Babcock, to have the matter cleared up
and his innocence vindicated. General
Babcock is compelled to admit that the pub
lished kilograms carry on their face strong
presumption against his innocence. On
Tuesday he sent the following despatch to
the United States District Attorney at st.
Louis-


am absolutely innocent and every telegram which
| will appear perfectly innocent the moment can
be heard demand a hearing before the court when
can testify. .. Il. BABCOCK


General Babcock's emphatic denial is no
proof of innocence any more than the Gus
tomary plea of ''Not Guilty" which he will
make if indicted and brought to trial, But
his despatch to the District Attorney removes
all doubt as to the genuineness of the incul-
pating kilograms. They were proved to be
his in court by the testimony of experts that
the originals were in his handwriting. 1t
might have been replied that the experts
were mistaken or that his handwriting had
been counterfeited. But he has taken away
the possibility of such a defence by his ad-
mission that he sent them. He only declares
that he can explain them in such a manner
as to clear his reputation. He virtually con-
cedes that without explanation they are cal
culated to destroy his character. and on this
point his judgment comedies with that Of
the public


The method Of explanation which General
Babcock proposes will not be deemed salts
factory He asks to be called as a witness !;
that is to say, he wishes to be believed on his
own statement. We think the investigation
ought to be more searching and thorough.
The guilt of the parties in whom he was in
correspondence has been established beyond
all question. He was communicating with
them in the crisis of their difficulties, and
the dates and subject matter of the tele-
grams prove their connection with the opera
tions of the Whiskey Ring How did it hap
pen that he was mixed up with their affairs !?
How did 1t happen that when that rascally
combination got alarmed they applied to
General Babcock to find out whether they
were in danger2 In reply to telegram ask
ing if inspectors were coming to st. Louis
General Babcock sent the following =


WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 1874
Colonel JOHN A. JoYcE st. Louis-


Cannot hear that any one has gone or is going


BABC0CK.


Why should they have applied to him for
that kind Of information, if he was not an
accomplice and had no motive to protect
them? General Babcock can vindicate his
innocence only by a trial which will allow
the production of all the evidence, both for
him and against him. The thing is too seri-
GUS to be dismissed on his own er pdrte state
ments. II is the clear duty of the District
Attorney at st. Louis to procure his indict-
ment by grand jury, and put him on trial
as an accomplice of the Whiskey Ring. A
trial will bring out all the facts Ii he is
innocent his innocence will be established
beyond cavil by verdict of acquittal 1t
cannot then be said or suspected that any
part Of the evidence against him was kept
back or concealed.