The New York herald., 1878-10-31
Further Light Upon Those Mys-
terious Florida kilograms.
AN AGENT OF HEWITT AND COOPER.
Alexander Thain's Dealings with the
Democratic Committee.
HARD WORDS AGAINST HEWITT.

the mystery hitherto surrounding the cipher dss-
patches which performed SUCH an important part Of
the Presidential Florida seems NJ last 70 bs
bssaKing away. The interview given below - USE
iu instament Of facts bearing Immediately on the
ltsputsd question, and IS given by one OF The
Hswits-coopsr agents. whose business is was TO
dsai with information sent along the wires
In cipher messages. Mr. Alexander Than. as
viii be seen. tells the whole story Of his
bonneetsn the Florida business In doing 80
explains how Il was that Mr.. Hewitt became postod
from tns state OF affairs In Flor
Ida ~ tho critical hour OF tho campaign. The follow
ing 10 the conversation In which tho fncts de-
vsiopsd:-
ALEXANDER TRAINS STATEMENT.
HERALD DRgPRgsExrArIvE-lt has beon said since
she begana Mr. Thain. grow warm. that you
arc less responsible or what we may call the
ftlden cipher difncuiy What TRUTH II any, IL IN tho
staiementS
Ar. THAM-Such . statement, have heard has
bseu made by Mr. Hewitt. and In order that the pub
lie may Judge 10 whore the responsibility rests for
shsss clpnsr dispatches willing that all the facts
wishin my knowledge may be mado known. am
surprised, however, that man likc Mr.. Hewitt,
whom l had looked upon heretofore q reputable
gentleman, should SO grossly misstate facts with
view 10 protecting himself from the affects Of pre-
uious Measurements made by him connection with
cipher dispatches Of the suggestions contained
therein.
HERALD REPREsExrArIvE-IfI l am informsd I'd rightly
your relations with tho dispatches only psrlain the
Florida cascf N9ff
Mr. raAIx-That is so.
HERALD RxPnEsENrArIvr--Hsw did you become
connected with this matter At ailf
now WENT FLORIDA
Mr.. THArs-Ever since she close Of tho war have
bsen familiar with Florida politics and knew great
deal oi affairs IN that STATE On the day following
Tho election Of 1876 . telegram came 70 new
York IRON Senator Conover, OF Florida. 70 tho effect
that Florida had gone democratic and this with other
Information indicated tho election Of Mr. Tidsn.
On the Thursday, the second DAY after the election,
vas crossing the City Hail park with gentleman,
when new bulletin was being put up ON the Tribune
building TO the effect that the dispatches Of Tho
previous day was erroneous and that the State had
gene republican. Ny friend observed tnat there
muss bs something wrong In this, whersupon said,
VI think can got al the bottom facts" ~ urged
ne By all means, II had any knowledge Of the
matter, 70 communicate At with the head
quarters OF the democratic party and had known
Ar. Hewitt, Chairman OF the National COMMITTEES,
Tor number Of years, ana had participated
more or less with him In his own
campaigns for Congress In the district In which
I've, wrote him . note substantially the eject
that hought tho true facts In regard TO the Florida
slsction could be ascsrtained- Ansrward and the
same day received . verbal message from Mr..
Hewitt asking me 10 go 10 the headquarters that day
u four O'Clock, as he desired 10 me. wont
there, A. requested. but Mr. Hewitt did not arrive
until i've o'occk. Hc asked ms to step with him
into one Of sne inner rooms Of tho committee and
then Questioned 10 ihs means / had
Of ssinng tho knowledge referred to and gave him
she necessary explanation. He thon stepped into
timer room where he remained probably Ave ten
minutes Then he came out to where he had LETT
and ssd Could you 10 to Florida oy the six o'clock
train tonight 2" l told him l had had no idea OF
going TO Florida; that had lett my ONCE with the
intention OF returning to u next day; that Il would
take me more tnan the time he gave mo - 90 TO my
homo and then reach the train, and suggs that
could got tho information l desired probably by
ssiegrsphing. He said: No; It m important that you
20 to Florida and start At once. BY taking hack
you VIII probably be abio TO ges to the train in nms."
told him would make tho attempt
ooYLB
He then tsok me with him into tho inner room
and Introduced me TO Mr. John y. Coyie, whom I
thsrs met tor tho nrst time. He told M Csyls that
I would 60 with him TO Florida. lie then said 70
me:-s.You 90 to Tallahassee; sec what these people
gong 10 do, ana communioate here The time 10
too short Tor 10 arrange q cipher. Nj. Coyls has
. cipher which Mr. Cooper gave him. by means OF
which he is TO isats here. aud whatever In
formation you get make It known TO Mr.. Coyie, VINO
vtil transmit Il. You both travel togshsr until
you get pretty well down Florida and then bo
lille possible tsgoIhsE" With these Instructions
started for my homo, and found utterly impossible
" reach the six o'clock train, but learned that hers
was train going South as about nine o'clock. which
intsnded 70 takc. On my way met an ultimate por.
soual TREND whom desired 70 accompany me 10 the
Depot as had business OF Importance here In New
York which desired to explain 10 him. On rsacning
tho station found that the nine O'Clock train went
further South than Washington, and that no train
1es the south would leave beiors the next evening as
six o'cieck.
AN rxREcoGSIzKD YRIESD.
Thinking might ovsriake Sir. Coyis at Washington
started; but, tearing that Ia missing him had lost
all means Of communication with headquarters, ar
rangsd with my friend that In tho OF my failure
70 reach Mr.. Coyis no should call Mr. Hewitt and
advise him Of my position and arrange ior some
means Of communication. l did not overtaEs Ar.
Csyis At Washington. and my friend called Mr..
Hewitt and made tho facts known 10 him; but IS
Mr. Hewitt was unacquainsed with my friend no
seemed d,sinclinod TO say anything NY friends
oali Mr. Hewitt Ior this purpose
only Shortly before ! took the train I tsis-
grsphed 10 Florida TO the effect that was
on my way. .rocevcd the reply, M nearly as can
recoiect, 'Coms qu.cky, with plenty OF money"
won't say that the word 'monsy" usod, but that
Idea clearly conveyed. proceeded on my jour
ney, and, looking out Of tho car window, at wot
don, ". u, think u was, saw Mr.. Coyis taking
with Mr.. smith N. Weed. After Mr.. Weed lsis Mr..
Coyis ! stepped up TO the latter. renewed The &c
qus,nsanco 4 mad made with hin through Mr.. Hewitt
IN the committee rooms, made known 10 HIM Tho In
formation had hcn obtained and proceeded on our
tourney together until wo arrived nj Live Oak. rA.
Mr. Coy,s proceeding thence eastsriy 20 Jasksonvi,
sad In pursuance Of my Instructions gong westerly
70 Tallahassee.
BENDING OK rnx NEWS.
In . few days Mr. Coye came TO Tallahassee
communicated TO him irem time 10 time the iniorma
ton received regard the probable action Of ,ne
Returning Board a.a ail other suggestions mado 10
mo by what considsrcd compsscnt authority ON the
subject Of the result OF the election. What Mr. Coyle
Int I a