Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-09-19
The History ofa Fraud.

1orced bargain with ltS credltorS.
The History of ~ Fraud.
Some of our sensational novel writers of
the Wilkie Collins class should tell us story
in telegraphic dispatches. 1t is picturesque
and admirable way of relating narrative, es-
pecially narrative that hinges on the COM
mission of great crime. In proof of this it
is only necessary to refer to the New York
Tribune's telegraphic account of Mr.. Tilden's
attempt to steal the Presidency of the United
States by bribing an Oregon elector. This
story has been appearing in a serial form for
some weeks back, and has attracted great
deal of attention. 1t has now been put to-
gether, and in the Tribune of Wednesday We
have it in the shape of as compact and
straightforward tale of rascality as could
have been expected from deliberate confes-
sion by the rascals themselves
In the order in which the dispatches afe
presented hardly word of explanation is ne
oessary. They speak clearly and to the point
in almost every instance. There is first the
dispatches from Governor Grover sent two
days after the election declaring that Oregon
had unquestionably gone Republican by a
clear majority of over 400. Then follow. the
kilograms sent to Grover by Mr.. Joseph Teal
from San Francisco, and by Dir. Abram Hew-
lit from New York, stating that Tilden's elec
ton depends upon Oregon. Up TO this point
everything is plain enough and honest enough.
Mr.. Joseph Teal and Mr.. Abrsm Hewitt in
form Governor Grover that Hlden's election
depends upon the vote of Oregon, and Cow
ernor Grover telegraphs that the State has
unquestionably gone for Hayes. AT this point
the intriguing begins. First there is an an
onymous dispatch sent from New York to
Hon. ]. A. Bryant, Mayor of San Francisco,
telling him to caution Governor Grover MOTTO
express any opinion as to the result of the
election in bis State. Then Governor Grover
becomes more discreet, so very discreet, in
fact, that he elected plaintive little hyster-
ical squeak from Senator Bogy, who tele
graphs to him from st. Louis, ..Do send
sofnnethihg deffhite irftneEiatefy..' CAfter this
follow5the ydispatehesz relative to Special
Agent PatrickS departure for the scene of ac-
toh EelliA d Miller, who was urged to go
himself but could not. When Patrick reach
ed Oregon business began in earnest. En-
eodlAgea E& GspatcR from New York tell.
.asg hinas 2'sseurelhis peiat 1t all hazards, y
he promptly replies with one of the famous
cipher dispatches. He must purchase Re.
lp6bQGahp hpvaeF9 9Rssays,0 We recognize and act
with Ia Democrat add, prevent trouble, and
the closes BY asking that $4,000 be placed
to. his credit. In,reply to this he receives the
'uiaersiaaables dispatch from Nephew Pelton :
''If you make Obligation dependeat in March
it can be done " Then there is haggling
b about 6 {he pEics, and Patrick tells Pelion that
q. setyyticeqbIe. IRepqbIiean, elector can be
bought fet S., 900, and MI, Miller, of Omaha,
comes 70 ibe front again in dispatch urging
Nephew Peltop TO F'tdo whatever our friend
asks promptly Nephew Pelton did what
our friend wanted, but he WAS not quite
prompt tsr errongh, He 'tiqposited eight for
counsel fees but when the t'eight for
coansals 4 fees mo was transferred by
telegrapho1i Patrick 4 WAS on. his way
To- San bHmeiseo, This created deal
Of confusion TO all concerned. for the money
oeuid not be dtawn untib Patrick was heard
FROM and Nephew Peltou suffered good
deal from anxiety, as is shown by the fre-
qnency and the tone of his dispatches. Then
follow the series of telegrams having reference
TO making1he s'eight for counsel fees availa'
able in Oregon, and there was deal of fumb.
ling in thistransaction, so much, in fact, that
the an Ifnpdrtant day when the electors met
came before il had been fully completed, or
SO soon after ward that the scheme that was
based upon it failed, and Pelton mournfully
says in q ,disprtch to Kelly at Salem, Oregon:
4 Telegraph Dimon to return the - to par
ty that left It," The game was up, Mt.
Tilden's sharp, agent, told him as soon as he
arrived on, the ground that with $4,000 he
could buy . Republican reIeetor and steal the
Presidency for him, 5Tilden approved of the
trade, but he wanted to make the terms sure.
HeWanted The bond good and strong AS he
stated in his dispatch announcing the deposit
Of the money, he wanted it understood that
i was was ttnes A II to be used unless they carry out
lhs arrangement, recognize the Democratic
eleoter, aRd duly forward his vote tothe Vice
President" He haggled over this too long,
and though be committed the crime it drought
him no return m5df lv'g % e2CgzD --I
: Nothing could u,ore beautifully complete
fhis picture of rascaiity than for the rascal
himself, yYhen bis schemes fol- through. to
pose as an innocent victim to the wiles of po-
iiticaf Sopapirat6 6fs, and this is precisely what
AI. Iilden has been doing. The .impudence
of the thing is unparalleled. Having attempt
eddy the blacklist Of frauds to steal the Pres
idency, he and his near friends, those very
persons who were cognizant of his crime and
lent their aid to !hsI accomplishment, have
disturbed the peace of the country and squan-
dersd thousands of dollars of public money
that perjurers and lunatics might swear that
this man had been robbed of his just dues by
fraud. We are not likely, however, to hear
80 much about fraud in the futurs as we have
in the past. and we shall doubtless hear even
less Of Mr.. Tilden as o candidate. n Cleveland
Herald. .s ~. ...f-s.. l.sr.r