The Safe-burglary Conspiracy

I By the (lisclosnreH of Col. Whitely, Inte detective of the Secret service, the celebrated snfe burglary in Washington City has come to the snrface undor more interefiting and important circumstapws than ever. The iire-proof safe in the office of the United F.tates attornoy was blown open with powder two years ago, on the 23d of April, and the books aiid papers were carried to the housf' of Oolumbus Alexander, one of the Washington citizens who were deter mined to breuk bown th5 District ring. This seandalous event oecnrrcd at the time a joint committee of Congress-was investigating the Board of Public Works and the District ring, and the day after the burglary was that upon which the committee had fixed to view tho work of the Board of Public Works. The plan of the conspirators was to have the papers in the hou -e of Alexander, where those engaged in prosecuting the District thieves were in the habit of meeting to discusR plans, in time to make it appear that they had come into possesRion of thein thnugh the burglarizirig of the safe, and to have them arrested with the documents in their possession as proof of their guilt. This scheme feil through because the bnrglars, hired for the pnrpose, failed to get in their work at the proper time. Before the papers were brought to Alexander's honse the meeting was over, and Alexander in bed and asleep. This led to the arrest of one of the burglars, au investigation by a Congressional committee, and the iudictment by the Grand jury of the District of Bichard Harringtou, Assistaut-district-attorney, A. B. Williams, a pólice court shyster, and others. Williama was acquitted ; the jury disagreed as to the others, after trial. Mr. A. O. Kiddle, who had been appointed specially to try the case, after it was over, was approached by Whitely and told that if he would protect him he would supply evidence conclusive as to the real crimináis. This proposition Biddle submitted to the then Attorneygeneral, Williams. The same lay the Suprenre'court gave a decisión that the Grand jury which had indicted the conspirators was not legalïy eonstituted. Following this the safe burglary case wa called up in the Criminal court, and Riddle was asked what was his further pleasure. He replied that he had been notified that hifl services were no louger wanted by the Government, whereupon all parties held to bail as defendants or witnesses, were dismissed. Here ended the matter until taken tip by the House Judiciary Committee. Whitely, who was supposed to be in Europe, was discovered to be in New York, and put in communication with the committee, and a conditional pardon promised him if he would go to Washington and teil the whole truth. This story bas been told to the whole country by telegraph, and the disclosure is astounding. The main fact in it, according to Whitely, is that he set up the job, fceting under instructions from Gen. Babcock, the President's private Secretarv, and as Superintendent ef Pnblic Buildings supposed to bo deeply intorested with the District ring, and anxious to defeat the prosecution of its bers. -