Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-10-15
THE FLINT FORGERY.

The Philadelphia Ledger OF this morning
publishes statement in regard to the swind-
ling dispatch passed upon that paper, which
it now appears Was the work OF one III. M
Flint, OF tins city, the notorious /" Druid" Of
the New Ysrk Ners. The dispatch was re-
ceived through the New York correspondent
Of the Ledger. That paper says:
"Our correspondent says that the original
manuscript WAS given 10 him by Mr. III M
Flint, OF Washington, who Is one of three or
four persons who ard him In procuring WASH
ineton news. MI. Flint confirms this, and the
substance OF his statement is as follows He
says thata person IN ONCE told him that a
paper dated at the Executive Mansion was
seen on the table of the Attorney q eneral, con-
.ainine @ ING qniries on the subject Of the duties
the present Congress, and relating TO its legal
ity when so many States excluded from repre-
sentation, and requesting the Attorney Gen
eraIs opinion in writing. and that the Ques-
items sent 10 the Ledger are the same. in cub
table.
"He further says that another .persou in of.
nee told him that the President had been con-
xersing with an intimate friend in the Execu-
i've mansion about the same time on the same
qoesuons or the same subject This statement
OF Mr.. Flint was subjected to a long and
searching examination yesterday N Washing
ton by person authorized to speak for this
paper, and the interview resulted i'm Sc yeral
material notifications of his original STATE
ment Mr.. Flint now says that the sperson in
Office told him that another person had told
the person in Office that be, the other person,
sald tnat ne had seen the paper, and that HE
informant about the alleged con yersatiou in
the White House between the President and
an intimate friend said that the intim lte
friend had told another friend who had told
still another person, and that this fourth per-
Flint.
at will thus be seen that the chsracter of
these informants or MIR. Flint is OF but little
consequence, as they were not narrating what
came under their sofiiciar notice, but merely
what they had heard other people say 1t is
but fair TO Mr.. Flint to say that he claims 10
have had firm con viction of the truthfulness
accuracy and good faith OF his Informants, and
That he still claims to hold the same convic-
"Thus far we have spoken Of these alleged
informants in office as though they have real
existence, and as IL Mr.. Flint had acted in
good faith, but we now come 10 a feature of
foundation.
"Mr. Flint admits that having no more pre-
else information than the general and rounda-
bout reports, and that rot hav wing a single note
OF the alleged questions in writing tnat he
deliberately sat down at his table and framed
in has otcn 'cords what he supposed to be the
quesuons-professing to give the text literally,
with accompanying references TO articles and
sections OF the Constitution-and sent this off
Tor publication as the specific language of in
quiriss submitted to the Attorney General bv
the President on one of the most serious topics
that II Is just now possible to raise. II is dim
CUT 10 nno proper language by which TO char
acterize and condemn SO unscrupulous a
transaction. and we leave it to ali tn ose who
read II to apply terms such as they deem most
fitting to such @ subject
SIN view of these admissions by the man 70
wnom the story OF the question is thus ulu-
mately traced, we confess to having serious
doubts as TO how far his statements about hsy
ing any informants at all can be credited and
as 10 whether he must not be considered ss hay-
ing man ufactured the whole story from he
ginning TO end. He has been informed, indeed
that this will probably be the verdict OF the
public, unless he gives the names Of the rnyste-
concealed.
'In finally dIsposing of Mr.. Flint we have
TO say, that If we had known the dispatch con.
tanning the questions came from him, thew
would never have appeared in the Ledoer. but
coming through a correspondent who mas been
connected with the paper for upwards OF TWEEN
ty years, we gave II tnat credit we thought it
entitled TO from his general accuracy"