The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-11-14
ANOTHER DISCO ;'. -.
e. PELroN, THE IAN wao CARRIED
THE MONEY TO sMlTR WEED.
From the New York Tribune.

THE MONEY TO SMITH WEED.
From the New York Tribune.
Who went to Baltimore TO carry Smith
Weed the money for the purchase OF the
South Carolina Returning Board? On the
18th Of November, 1876, Weed telegranhed
from Columbia to Henry Havemeyer-otiler-
wise Col. VIM. T. Pelton
Majority of Board have been secured
Cost is $4,000, to be sent as follows: One
parcel of $50 900, one of $1,000 and one of
$1,000; all to be five hundred or one thous-
and dollar bills; notes to be deposited as
parties accept, and given upon the vote of
South Carolina being given to Tilden's
friends. The three packs should be sent
without inscription and Tonight, unless you
receive telegram from me countermanding.
For Gods sake let it CO. Have cash ready
to reach Baltimore Sunday night.
Later on the same day he telegraphed =
''Shall leave tonight for Baltimore. Meet
me yourself If pru ent.'' And lastly, just
before starting, having apparently received
u favorable reply to his request that a ''safe
man" should s'bring stuff to Baltimore, he
wired this message:
Looks well row. You must have the Co.
penhagen at Barnum's, in Baltimore, early
on Monday morning. go at 10 tonight.
The Tribune has already shown how Smith
NJ. Weed, leaving Columbia on Saturday
night, November IS, did arrive at Barnum's
Hotel, in Baltimore, early Monday morning,
registering there by his true name. 1t was
also shown. at the time of the publication of
the dispatches, that there was every reason
to believe that the ''sase man" met him with
1.-THE stuff" according to appointment, and
that the failure of the scheme was attribute.
ble to other causes than the neglect of the
New York parties to put up the Money.
We have taken pains to verify certain in
formation which reach us two weeks ago
respecting this ''safe man, The chain of
evidence is now complete. The register of
the Mount Vernon Hotel, a small and quiet
house in Baltimore, where a person OF re-
firing disposition might he safe from curious
eyes, shows among the arrivals early on
Monday morning, November 20, Vim. II.
Pelton, of New York. AT 10 O'Clock Mr..
Pelton, with a friend who had accompanied
him from this city, took carriage. Early
in the day the friend was seen with Mr..
Smith Weed at Barnum's Hotel. 1t was
probably after this interview-to which it
would not be rash to assume that Mr.. Pei
ton was also party-.hat Smith Weed sent
his first cipher dispatch to Columbia:
BALTIMORE, November 20.
General ]. B. Gordon, Columbia;
Matters arranged by Returning Board
Agent. Inform Haskell and telegraph
news. W.
What occurred during the day to disturb
the arrangement is not known; but in an
other despatch to Gen, raj Gordon, Weed
asked that the Supreme Court might ''iold
on to the electoral votes" because there
might be "a little delay = aud then at night
Pelton and his friend and Weed al returned
to New York.
The fact that it was Col. Pelton who made
that journey to Baltimore at such a critical
time, in compliance with Weeds request
Chat he would ''bring the stuff himself ii
prudent" is a most important discovery
Pelton assuredly would not have gone rheta
just to tell Weed that his demand could nos
ne granted. Ii Pslton was the safe '.iaI
who met Weed at Barnllm's Hotel, FELTON,
took wi h iiu $780, 000 to boy the South Car
DINA Returning Board That is morally
certain. Where did ne ssa Ia? dcce is the
act OF bribery brought urCte. Ilt 70 secret
agents, and clerks, s-lfi :eere5~ti,; and ania-
lsar regotiators, bag ce so.Ae parscu, Of
some organization III she Democratic party
high enough to command a great suta o.
| money, and to assume tremendous IespcI-
| sibiily.
Democrats have tried to meet the disgrace
| OF the cipher disclosures by saying ''Oh,
marble was toOl THROW nln OVefO0aiU.-
| Coyle and Wolley and Wesd were poll
| ticians of low grade; whose transactions
were not approved by their employers,
throw them overheard. Pelton was u pre-
Stunning and scneming rascal; throw him
overheard, too.' But for this new develop
ment of the plot there must be different
sort of answer. They cannot throw over
board man with $4,000 in his pocket
Who supplied him with that big purse?
Who sent him to Baltimore to deliver it to
the bribe-brokerp Whose hand invsibly
moved this weak and Insignificant young
man, and despatched him with three par
Gels, one Of $65. 900, Que Of $40, 900, and one
Of s5,00a," 10 buy the Presidency of the
United States? Until serious attempt to
| find the answer to these questions is made by
The party for whose benefit the crime was
attempted, it is upon the whole party that
The crushing weight of shame must rest.