The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-01-14
SWORN STATEMENT MADE BEFORE 4
U. S. DETECTIVE.
Brand Rlalr in the oonspIracy.
tFrom the Cincinnati Gazette, january, g.

[From the Cincinnati Gazette, january, G..
We were yesterday placed in possession of
the following details of on alleged scheme for
the reputation of the public debt. The plan,
as reported, is one of the vast proportions, and
is said to be participated in by persons in all
parts of the nation. 1t involves in its carry
ing out the possession of millions of money and
an, organization more complete than any that
has ever existed in this country. Men promi-
nent in political circles of the land, are said to
bo implicated in it. and it is stated that the So
cioty has S20,000,000 in specie in Its treasury,
to further its objects. 1t is a most astounding
scheme for the reputation Of the public debt,
and its revelation will command general, even
il incredulous, attention.
THE FIRST NEL1NGs.
About six months ago there was brought to
District Attorney Bateman and Unitod States
Marshall Hickenlooper, of this city, report of
the existence of a secret society, the object Of
which was said to be the reputation. of the
public debt Though the information was not
verv definite, these officers, we are told, con-
sidered it their duty to forward what they had
learned to the authorities at Washington
whether the government considered the infor-
nation too astounding to be believed, or
whether it waited, hoping to secure through
the aid of the secret service moro definite and
authentic knowledge we know not. We. be-
heve however, that no apparent attention was
paid TO the communication.
MORE LIGHT.
About four weeks ago, Colonel Bristow,
United States district attorney at Louisville,
heard the rumor that had, five months before
come to the ears of Mr.. Bateman, and General
Hickenlooper. Whether the rumor was ac-
companied by more substantial evidence OF
not, than when it had been first bruited about
we do not know. 1t is sufficient to say that
Colonel Bristow placed credence enough in it
to call to tho matter the attention of Colonel
A. Hoagland, a special detective in the employ
of the United States, and at the time engaged
in the prosecution Of some tobacco cases at
Covington.
ROOM NO. l40 BURNET HOUSE.
Colonel Hoagland was occupying room 40.
l49 at the Burnet House. On the evening of
the 14th of December Mr. Houston King ap-
peared before him, and of his own accord
made full statement of the great conspiracy.
HOUSTON KING.
is a man about thirty-five yeIrs of age, tall
slender, wearing chin whiskers. He dresses
quietly and in good taste. He is q Kentuckian
by birth, and during the war fought in the
Confederate service, gaining before peace
came the rank of colonel. Returning to Ken
lucky afterward, he settled down in Elliott,
county, and has lately been the clerk Of the
court of that county. His position he gave
up, he says that he might make the disclosure.
THE SWORN STATEMENT.
In the room of the Burnet House, on the
evening of the 18th of last month, were Colo
mel Hoagland, Mr.. Thomas Mayfeld of this city
young man who was acting as secretary Of
Colonel Hoagland, Mr.. Houston King and Mr.
Tyree, formerly United States Deputy Mar
shall of Kentucky, and another gentleman
whose name VIC have been unable to learn.
In the presence of these witnesses Mr. King
made statement that was taken down as he
dictated by Mr.. Aayfeld. This statement
was to the effect that in December, 1865, he
left New Orleans, by ocean steamer, for New
York In the course of this voyage he form
ed the acquaintance of one Harlow J. Phelps,
of New Orleans, who was also on his way to
Nork York. Phelps, learning that King had
served in the Confederate army, in which he
had himself FOUGHT and bled, became quite IN
innate with him, So close, indeed, was the
friendship that arose, that to King was impart-
ed the information that great reputation
party was in progress of formation. Northern
men and Southern men were equally interest
ed in the movement, it was stated, and Phelps
at last became so Conhding as to announce that
he was on his way to New York at that very
tnho AOA ilo P'u teSS u b0VuliiS IA0 Pl'l uuueI
way.
King was induced to Join him. Arriving in
New York the two attended Tammany
meeting, and afterward they We're indroduced
into side room where some two hundred
persons, already initiated into the movement,
were assembled. The great object to be secur-
ed was the reputation of the public debt. It
was proposed at first to commence the manu-
facture.of greenbacks onalarge scale, then food
the country, with them then purchase all the
gold and to thus withdraw all fine specie from
the banks, and to create such general financial
embarrassment as TO lead to popular insurrec-
tion and repudiation.
Plans were somewhat changed at last. It
was decided to try and buy the original plates
instead of attempting to manufacture new ones
This was accordingly done. The original
plates were bought-bought from parties in
IN the treasury. Mr. King duplicates in this
sale Mr. Cooper, appointed assistant secretary
Of the treasury by President Johnson. A price
high enough was paid for these plates. The
society could afford to do it, for Mr.. King
states that it has now IN its Golfers no less
than S20,O00,0OO.
As soon as the plates were bought, the work
of striking off bills began. These bills could
be detected in no way from the genuine issue,
for they were printed from the same plates.
Banks for their circulation have been establish
ed throughout the whole country Sixty
million dollars worth of them have already
been put upon the country. For four long
years this work, according to Mr.. Kings story,
has been going speedily forward. Day after
day the lying presses have been busy, and the.
conspirators have ceased not in their notorious
work
On the lst and I'd OF November, 1869, the
society, Mr.. King says, was reorganized and
General Frank ?. Blair was elected President
Its headquarters are still in New York, and it
Is from that city that all the bills are sent.
'swoRN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE NE"
The astonishing statement OF which the
foregoing is an abstract, was then taken to Mr.
James NJ. Blackburn, Clerk of the United
States district court at Covington, the custo-
mary oath was administered to Mr.. King, and
readily taken.
Ho! FOR WASHINGTON.
Information of this statement was at once
sent to Washington, and thithor, in q few
days, went Colonel Hoagland. A day or two
after his arrival Mr.. King, accompanied by
his attorney, Mr.. J. S. Filson, of Green
upsburg, KY, presented himself and had an
interview with the authorities.
FOR NEW YORK.
On the goth OF last month little partv went
to New York, where Mr.. King said were To-
Gated the headquarters of the conspirators.
The journey waE made at the instance of gov
eTnment officials for the purpose of affording
Mr.. King an opportunity to point out the ex-
act buildings in which the business was earri-
ed on
FAILURE.
The attempt to fix upon the precise where
abouts Of the buildings or rooms was a failure.
Perhaps Mr.. King could not do it; perhahs--
as the New York Herald Of Tuesday, in the
courss of an article that is, in some respects,
true, and in many more, inaccurate, suggests
he is simply q monomaniac But whatever
be the explanation, it is certain that this man
failed completely to identity any place The
result was that Colonel Whiteley, chief Of the
detective service, who had accompanied the
marty. WIS Illlina annnnh tn LET tha rna1. 90 70