The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-31
Ci1KCHTsIvo WHIrELlW REID.
How he Came by the Cipher Dispatches and
who Translated Them.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9o.-Tho Potter Com

WASHINGTON, Jan. 90.-The Potter Com
mittcc was called to order at 11AA.M
Mr. Whitclaw Reid Of the Nec York Tribune
was sworn and examined with reference to the
kilograms appearing in that journal under the
caption Of Cipher Dispatches" He received
package numbered to "a from Mr. William
T. Chandler. and numbers 1 to If from Mr..
lliscock OF the Potter Committee. He displayed
two scrap books with the remark. " Here arc
two volumes Of dispatches received by me-"
lLrughtcrl Tho first volume contains copies
Of Florida dispatches. with an appendix OF mis-
cellancous Volume No 2 embraces kilograms
referring to South Carolina and Oregon.
In reply TO the Chairman. Mr. Reid said that
before the kilograms were dcciphcred he pub
lishcd editorials on the subject with n view to
inducing some one to come forward with key
to the cipher: but that failing. the copies were
attacked seriously. Mcssrs Hassard and Gros-
vrnor did the entire work Of translation. Prof..
Holden. however. aided in some imnnterial way.
Mr.. II scock inquired II there had ever been
any complaint from parties to whom the tcle-
In reply Mr., Rod stated that with ono cxcep-
ton. that Of Mr.. Marble. there had been no d.
rect complaints. and in that case Mr.. Marble
WIS perfectly justified; he was not the author
OF the telegram attributed to him in the publ
Mr.. Rcd said the first Of the Oregon do,
spaches wcro not dcclphercd and published
in the Tribune. hut in some Other paper An
Associated Press despatch drew attention To- the
Tact that the cipher used was IN old mining
cipher. and was lnkcn from the household die,
tiuunrv. The Tribune experts then procured
this dictionary, and the cipher wgs PLAN.
During his examination Mr. Whit law Reid
testified that he had received two packages ol
dispatches anonymously. and M they seemed
to refer TO the same matter. they had been ar
ranged Ia chronological order. so that he was
now unable to recognize which " them were
received from Gen. Brady. lie never know
Mr.; Brady or Mr.. Eugene Hale in connection
q
The Chairman asked ms n matter Of courtesy.
whether out ~ the exports employed In the m
b,u,e TRANSACTIONS Mr.. Ilassard really deserved
tho greatest credit.
Mr. Reid replied that he had no wish to say
so. Both Mr.. Hassard and Col. Grosvcnor did
exceedingly good work. hut MIR. Hnssnrd was
the first TO take NJ the dociphcrinE, and accom-
men rcccvr1 little aid from Prof. Holden Of
the Naval Observatory, but no single transla-
ton had been forwarded hy him until the same
despatch had been translated by the others.
Mr.. Holden tclegraphcd tho name OF the die
tionary IN which the key would be found. but
the other experts had already arrived AT the
same conclusion. In all cases he gave very little
material aid beyond the fact that his having
made the sumo Interpretation ~ certain de.
spatchcs rs the other experts was an additional
proof that they were on Che right track Mr..
Holden was particularly anxious that his name
should not be- brought forward In connection
with tho deciphering, and this arrangement
was strictly carried out. MIR, Reid met Gov:
Tilden about the time when the publication oi
| the dispatches was commenced and told him
| they were bothered by these ciphprs. and he
in the Same locunr way. and subsequently. in
an interview at Saratoga. said he did not know
anything about the ciphcrs AMI did not believe
| any had been delivered at his house. Mr.. R'id
read the kilograms that were then being pub
lshcd IN the Tribune