The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-09-06
The Era,,s-Hartra,ft Steal.
How tho War-CIaims Ring Bagged Marcer and
/ Yerkes and How 1t Tried to Sacrifice Geo.
u. Evans Highly Important and
Interesting Chapter.
from the Philadelphia Evening star.l

o. Evans Highly Important and
Interesting Chapter.
from the Philadelphia Evening Star.l
Coming up on the Atlantic City train
this morning, special reporter of the Star
fell in with a gentleman well known in
this city, who has been prominent in State
politics, and who is familiar with all the
details of the Evans case. The gentleman
talked unreservedly upon the subject, and
there can be no breach of confidence in
printing what he said, especially as We
withhold his name. His statement was in
substance as follows
Just after Yerkcs' conviction, and before
he was sentenced, party of twenty-five
gentlemen met at the house of certain
politician on South Sixteenth street to fix
up the State finances. There were present
at that meeting Governor Geary, two other
State officials, a railway president, lead
ing editor Of this city, and others. was
one of the party myself.
There was great anxiety for the tate Oh
1erkcs, because he had had intimate rela-
tions with some of them, and knew more
than was safe. He had invested vJo O0O
in coal lands for Hartranft, and $4,000 III
the same way for Mackey, and had made
very heavy investments in Pennsylvania
Railroad bonds on the authority Of Evans
At that time Yerlles had the Ring COM
pletely III his power. He could have help
ed to lessen harcer's implication md
largely cleared himself by turning State 6
evidence. The Ring feared he would do
that, and to stop his mouth they deluded
him with false promises of pardon. The
Governor himself wrote Gerkes a line,
giving him a pledge that he would pardon
him as soon as he was sentenced. The
written pledge l saw. In similar way,
by specious promises, they kept Marcer
quiet until the cell doors closed on both Of
them, and then it was too late for them to
tell their story.
The night before he got his sentence
1erkes stayed at Eighteenth and Wallace
streets, with an officer of the court. l saw
him early next morning, before he was
taken to the court house, and he asked me
whether / thought he could put conf
dence in the Governors pledge. l an
swered
''Mr. 1erlHes, you are in the hands of
highwaymen. Those men are desperate,
and viii go to any length to silence you
and shield themselves
Nevertheless, lie had hopes that he
would be only imprisoned for few hours.
Afterwards he told me that when he was
taken to the Penitentiary that afternoon.
and the iron door was closed upon him, he
suffered worse than death. He waited hour
after hour for the pardon, and it did not
come, and it never will SO long as Cover
nor Geary remains in office
He dare not release the man who could
turn and sting him as an adder, ard who
could send the whole Ring, who got a
"dlvy' out of the war claims, to the Peni-
tentiary. There will be no pardon, though
fund, it rs said, las been raised TO defray
the necessary travelling expenses to Har-
rlsburg, &c, and although even the pow
erfGl influence Of District Attorney Mann
has been exerted to that end.
But the Ring was not quito so success
full IN drawing a bag over George O..
Evans head as it was in bagging Marcer
and Gerkes. When Evans was in New
York, the Ring, fearing that he might .sgo
back ON them" arrested him on the charge
! of being defaulter. 1t was published in
a city paper, and telegraphod Ovor the
! country by the Associated Press that he
! had robbed the Government, and the very
same day, before he could see the news
| paper charges against him, warrant was
sworn out for him, and requisition issued
/ on the Governor of New York.
But Evans prote stcd. and fought them
for week and Judge Pearson when he
heard the case, decided that the indict-
| mGnt was not sustained by the evidence
Ana yet he was arrested by the very Ring
which IN the first place had commissioned
him, and afterwards had feeced him.
But the Ring did not stop there. 1t had
/ /" Cut-anu-CIleu Legislative committee aD-
! pointed to Investigate the war claim busi-
! ness-that is to hoOdwink the public and
shield it Evans went to Harrisburg per
lectly willing to testify, but it did not suit
/ their purpose to hear him His friends
demanded hearing for him, but the reply
/ was that the committee were not ready
! yet 10 take his testimony. Meanwhile
! Evans was approached from all directions.
and with various influences, to get him
away from Harrisburg.
In the course OF a few days he was taken
( out OF his house almost by violence. and
hustled INTO carriage, and the next thing
/ heard he was in New York The most
! remarkable part Of the affair is that dur
ing his stay in Harrisburg. and from that
| day to this, Evans has been continually
under the surveillance Of an officer Of the
National Government wherever he goes
! he is watched by Col. LOOMS, Third Audi
/ bor OF the Treasury Department. It is also
| strange that although Evans was left pen
niiess by the Ring, he is now supplied with
ample means, and is, or recently was, liv-
ing in style at Harrisburg.
There are other strange dcvelopme nts
shortly coming in this pretty kettle of
fish, said our informant, as the train
halted at Cooper's Point, ':but it will be
best to say nothing about them now.''
a LARGE and enthusiastic convention of
I Al