The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-10
WHAT MIR. HEWITT SArs.
The Key the Late Pre.ident O-ton said he
Had to Certain Ctper Teiearsras.

The Hon Abram s. Hewitt. who was the
Chairman of the Democratic National ENeru-
tive Committee during the memorable I1lden
campaign. was visited last evening at his resi-
demo. 9 Lexington avenue.
What do YOU think; lie was ASKED. on We
cipher dispatches published in this mornings
Tribune. and throwing light ON the Democratic
campaign in FloridaY
" can say for mysclt that never know any
thing about these dcspatchcs. IL the IiibUe
translated them properly 1t will bc the
political ruin OF those persons who were
cognznnl Of them, or who intended to per-
net,r@,o fraud by them Ito s mot kn2T
them or u tram latiun ol one Of them before
their publication in the Ii!,me." ..o,
"Ono dav. in Washington, during the pro-
gress cf tho count. prominent Republican
possession OF Democratic cipher dispatches
Of n damaging character. and that IL
The DEMOCRATIC S,n ar,y pndMfr'o3k to in
to question his right to tho prcsdrn-
tal CHAIR. these dispatches would be pub
rate. of keeping Mr.. Tiden out of the Presi-
dental offirc; II T. my opinion that the other
nshed these dispatches to tho Tribune, pro.
cured them through the man who mentioned
:" hint Of such dispatches came TO mo from
another source About the end Of December
or the beginning Of January. when Will
ern Union Telegraph Company. was charged
with contempt for refusing 10 produce de-
spnt'hoS relating 10 the cUnNIsB pi the vote IN tho
Southern Stntcs. he camcto my house and dincd
with me. Tho object Of his visit was to persuade
me that would be wiso the Democrats not TO
compel him to deliver up the dispatches. and he
assured me that they would lead to revelations
of acts unknown TO myself and other Demo rats
which would be- very damaging to the Demo
| cratic purity | told him that | had no knowledge
| OF such dispatches. and was surprised TO llni
| Democratic party. In fact. | rather thought
| that his purpose WAS To- Keep from US
d.spaiches proving Republican ipiqlttyi
should show you ono Of those dispatches
| that have In my pockHbookr ! told him
| | did not want to SEQ the dee patch. and that
| should say no was violating his trust in
showing II or in having II so in hlt
| Union before him. and never touched or read
| despatch except when the mere transnc-
ton Of business made il necessary. Wei. |
| will read you this despatch he said. producing
| the cipher and the translation. and Il you do
not say that | came properly ~ l.. WI, 60
| Union, and you may move for my dismissal.
| " The dcs patch he read 70 me- had reference 10
negotiations for the Dcmocratic pure hase OF an
| the Tribune is going to publish dispatches on
| that subject II this particular ono IS among
| them shall recognize IL. After reading the de-
| spatch Mr.. Orun oNplai ned how i came into his
| possession. Ono evening, shortly before mid
night u prominent Democratic politician re-
| ccivrd % cipher despatch from South Carolina at
| the telegraph ofiice in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
H. sat down at one Of the tables pull our his
| Key. and nude n translation 81 the cipher
| \ few minutes after midnight M tho oflea
few pqpnrs on tho table and wont out lis
| translation IT the ciuhrr happrncd 10 dlrou on
the floor. tn" operator picked IL IN. read II. 0nd
instantly started for MIR. Ortgn house, -'.!a va
cipher Dies pat III ana ~ tran .tog. and rang M
the President u the W'e'arn Union. Mr.. Or0i
took the rspcrs and told the operator 10 =,
neing i'm roforrnce a. tho Incident. Ilc said thai
my eyes were IN" first 10 SOC the despatch after
Md you spcik 10 Mr Iildon or any Of youi
associatc- Of what YOU had seen and heard p