Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-13
4 Ra0eeS1 Game.

AN ATTEMPr TO OBTAIN By FALSE PRE-
TENCEs COPIES OF THE TELkGRAPHIc
DIsPATCHEs OF PRESIDENT GRANT, TO
wAsHINGToy, AS TO THE KXCIrEMENr
IN LOUISIANA AND FLoRIDA-THE DEEP
LAID sCHINE FRUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. IL, 1876.
Late on Friday evening q well dressed per-
son called at the general office OF the ATTAIN
tic and Pacific telegraph company, northeast
corner OF Sd and Chestnut streets, aud in
CURED FOR the operator on duty, who stepped
up To the counter and was requested by the
caller to produce certain kilograms which
bad been transmitted TO Washington and
other points by the President and Secretary
OF War, during that and the previous day,
respecting the political excitement In Lou
from various localities to the scene of possi-
bic trouble, alleging that they were needed
a. once by the President for reference. Mr..
Taylor, The operator on duty, seems TO have
been well instructed in the matter OF the
sacredness OF telegraph dispatches, and Do
lltely declined 10 give up the dispatches ex-
cept upon the written order of the President.
TIE applicant esponded that he would soon
procure the necessary order, and Withdrew.
In about thirty minutes he returned and
handed the operator paper, reading as fol-
lows:
AT Mr.. CHILps', 10 p. M, Nov. 10, 1s76.-
Mr.. hdI,CeU, Manager Of Atlantic dHd PdcHc
Telegraph Compaay:-Please give the bearer
my dispatches 10 Washington TO day. I'm
pOrtant should have them this evening.
Very respectfully, u. s. GRANT.
The Handwriting of the above named paper
u.
and all the surrounding circumstances were
such as to induce the belief In its genuine
ness. But Mr.. Tsyl Tor was very cautious
operator, and, not liking TO take the respon-
sibility himself, finally referred the party
to the Manager, Mr.. Maxwell, who had gone
home. His address was soon procured, and,
as he lives long distance from the general
office of the company. Ii was one O'Clock in
the morning before he was placed In posses
sion OF the order. In the meantime, having
received from Mr.. Tay Tor advices that led hin
TO doubt Its authenticity, he rightly judged
that few hours would make no difference
at that time OF the night aud refused TO per.
nit the dispatches to be handed over to the
alleged representative OF the Pres ident,
stating that he would be at his Office at eight
O'Clock in the morning and would then com
ply, provided be was satisfied Ii was all
right. The disappointed seeker after inn
portant Information, foiled In his efforts,
left the office, vOwtng vengeance Oh the COM
paDy and its manager for regarding q
positive order OF the President. Upon reach
ing his Office this morning Mr.. Maxwell at
or &c sought out the various kilograms in
question, and proceeded with them to the
Continental Hotel and reported the facts to
Secretary Cameron, who disclaimed all
knowledge of the circumstances, but advised
him to go TO Mr. Childs' residence aud see
the President In person. To Mr.. Childs' ele-
CANT mansion Mr.. Maxwell then went, who
fortunately found the President alone, and
to him he stated briefly the facts above
recited, and showed the written order, which
the President at once pronounced TO be a
forgery, stating that he had neither written
IL nor directed IL to be writer. The Presi-
dent thanked Mr.. Maxwell for the course he
bad taken In the matter and directed him 70
furnish none of his dispatches TO any one
except upon his own order, properly idenu-
fed. Whatever may have been the motives
OF the bogus applicant 1t is fortunate that
the dispatches were In the custody of
discreet persons, like Manager Maxwell and
bis assistant, Mr.. Tay lor. IN Y. Herald,