Secrets of the great whiskey ring Author:John McDonald Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. Col. Joyce as a Revenue Agent—Babcock and Joyce's Intimacy —Babcock Telegraphs that no Agent has been Sent to St. Louis—My Trip to Washington—How ... more »I gave Babcock $5,000—I Give Grant Receipts for the Buggy and Team— I inform Him of My Gift of $5,000 to Babcock—My Ride with the President—He Promises Me that any Changes or Appointments I Desire will be Granted—The Altitudinal Dispatch—Babcock's Sylph Dispatch—Louise Hawkins, the Sylph—How Babcock Took Her to His Bosom—An Interview in the Dark—A Remittance to Babcock in a Cigar Box. Col. Joyce, even after his appointment as revenue agent, remained in my district and continued to act as my confidential secretary. He was a shrewd, and thoroughly reliable man and withal one of much cunning and spontaneous resource. I entrusted him not only with all my secrets but left the arrangement of all the details furthering the interests of the Ring, in his hands. He was especially intimate with Gen. Babcock, and during the visit of the Presidential party in October, Col. Joyce and Gen. Babcock were almost inseparable. They canvassed future contingencies and the need of money by the White House officials. Very soon after the departure of the President from St. Louis, rumors came to us that a raid was contemplated by revenue officers. Col. Joyce at once wrote Gen. Babcock concerning the rumor but receiving no immediate reply he indicted the following dispatch: St. Louis, Oct. 25, 1874. Gen. 0. E. Babcock, Washington. Have you talked with D ? (Douglass) Are things right ? How? Answer. (Signed) J. The report being false Gen. Babcock did not answer by telegraph but sent Col. Joyce a letter in which he assured him there was no present danger of official interference. In the latter part of November reports were again circu...« less