The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31
THE MYSTERIOUS TELEGRAMs.
THE PUBLISHER OF THE CIPHER DISPATCHES
EXPLAINS HOW THEY CAME INTO HIS POSSES
sIoN-wHAr NE. TILDEN SAID CONCERNING


EXPLAINS HOW THEY CAME INTO HIS POSSES
sIoN-wHAr NE. TILDEN SAID CONCERNING
THEM.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90. 1879.
When the Potter Committee called to order to-
day. at quarter before twelve A. NJ, Mr.. Whiteaw
Reid. of the New York Tribune. sworn and exam
ined with reference to the kilograms appearing in
that journal under the caption of "Cipher De-
spatches." He received package numbered to IA
from Mr.. William T. Chandler and Nos. to II from
Mr.. Hscock of the Potter Committee. He displayed
two scrap books, with the remark. 'Iere are two
volumes OF dispatches received by me-" Naughter.)
The first volume contains copies of Florida de-
spatches, with appendix of miscellaneous; volume
No. embcdies kilograms referring to South Carolina
and Oregon.
In reply to the chairman Mr.. Reid said that before
the kilograms deciphered he published edito-
rails the subject with view to inducing some
one to come forward with key to the cipher, but
that failing the copies were attacked seriously.
translation. Professor Holden. however. aided in
some inmaterial way.
Mr.. Hiscock inquired If there had ever been any
complaint from the parties to whom the kilograms
attributed
In reply Mr. Reid stated that with exception.
that of Mr.. Marble there had been direct COM
plants, and in that Mr. Marble perfectly
justified, he was not the author of the telegram at
tributea to him IN the pnbllcation. Continuing, Mr:
decphered and published in the Tribune but in some
other paper. An Associated Press despatch drew at.
tenton to the fact that the cipher used was an old
mining cipher, and taken from the Household
Dictionary. The Tribune experts then procured this
dictionary and the cipher was plain.
then taken until two o'clock.
During his examination Mr.. Whiteaw Reid testified
that he had received two packages OF dispatches
anonymously. and they seemed to refer to the
same matter they had been arranged in chronological
order, SO that he YVES now unable to recognize which
of them received from General Brady; he never
knew Mr.. Brady Mr.. Eugene Hale IN connection
THE CREDIT OF TRANSMITTING.
The Chairman asked matter Of curiosity
whether out of the experts employed in the Tribune
TRANSACTIONS Mr. Hassard really deserved the greatest
credit.
Mr.. Reid replied that he had no wish to say so.
Both Mr.. Hassard and Colonel Grosvenor did exceed
take up the decpherng and accomplished the greater
part of it, Those gentlemen received little aid from
Professor Holden. of the Naval observatory, but no
single translation had been forwarded by him until
the despatch had been translated by the others.
Mr. Holden autographed the of the dictionary in
which the key would be found, but the other ex-
all cases he very little material aid beyond the
fact that his having made the Interpretation of
certain dispatches the other experts add
tional proof that they were on the right track.
Mr.. Holden was particularly anxious that his name
the deciphering, and this arrangement was strictly
carried out.
WHAT MR. rIIpEN SAID.
Mr.. Reid met Governor Tilden about the time when
the publication of the dispatches was commenced,
and told him they were bothered by these ciphcrs,
and he ought to give them tho key. Mr.. Tilden re-
piled in some jocuar way. and subsequently, in an
interview at Saratoga said he did not know anything
about the ciphers and did not believe any had been
delivered at his house. Mr.. Reid understood him to
mean that he did not even read the kilograms that
were then being published in the Tribune.
TOO MANY SPECTATORS.
In the recess the committee had conversation
with respect to the crowded state of the committee
room and to guard against it in future it deter
mined to weed out the crowd of reporters and only
allow seats to those who had their names entered
upon the reporters book in the gallery. 1t de-
termined to hold executive session in the after
noon, but struggle in the House to the order of
business took the members attention and Mr. Potter
was unable to obtain quorum. The committee adj
journed until tomorrow, when Judge Southwood
will be called.