New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-22
THE FORGED CHINESE LETTER.

DELAY IN PRESENTING INDICTMENTs-THE FoRG-
ERY NOT AN IMITATION OF GENERAL GARFIHLD's
MISUNDERSTANDING CONNECTION WITH TIE
CAsF-PAID BY MR.. BARNUM FOR his WORK.
There are several curious matters connected with
the forged Chinese letter which yet worthy
of notice and which have not been printed before.
There will probably be a further delay IN bringing
the indictments. owing to the promised " con-
fession" of KeHward Philp, which Is announced to
be made to-day. They were being drawn on Satur-
day with great care and a consultation over them
was appointed for that afternoon 1t was postponed
on the announcement that Philp would confess his
puilt on Monday The counsel believe ne mas moth
ing new to confess, and that he can throw no adj
dtional light on the manufacture Of the letter. and
certainly little on the construction of the language
which il contained. They say that the airOt word
ING of the letter was something of which neither
Pbilp nor any one of his immediate associates was
capable. They were not sufficiently acquainted
with American politics TO have devised 1t. The
time chosen for the publication Of the forgery, and
the methods employed to distribute 1t, also indi-
Gated the hand of an old and slnl(ul politician.
When il was made p,bc the indications Of the
campaign pointed 10 the inevitable defeat of Han
cock largely on account of the auestiOn of prOtec-
tion 10 American manufactures and wOrklngmen.
The greatest detection from the Democratic ranks
was among business men and skilled laborers. The
letter was designed 10 show that the protective
principle of the Republican platform pre-
fence and that General Garfield committed TO
if only so far as promised protection TO the manu-
facturer at the expense of the worlingman. II has
besn found that many thousands of the handbils
on which the forged letter printed were dis
trbuted directly by servants in the houses of Repub
licans and that they were even posted in the
kitchens where the servant girls aud their visitors
discussed the letter meaning that Chinese were
to be put in their places house servants rs well
in the places of factory hands Every effort was
made to reach these classes of people, and hence the
original publication made In a penny paper.
If IA estimated by those active in the campaign in
distributing tariff cards that the publication
cost the Republican candidates IN this State alone
at least 90 600 votes, chiefly in the interior.
Investigation has shown that the forgery was not
of General Garfelds handwriting or signature. but
that of Mr.. Brown, his stenographer and amanu-
ensis When this idea first suggested, inquiry
wo, made in this city for original letters OF Gem
eraI Garfield and although scores of communi-
cations were found signed with his name, they
were almost without exception written and signed
hv Mr. Brown. For this reason Colonel Rock
we'll of Washington. was called as witness,
and letter of onhdential character
was used In the examination OF Philip The
forger or forgers had 10 get a letter from General
Gart,eld before they could do any work. 1t can be
shown SO the counsel state that such letter was
procured by II. II. Hadley, who wrote to General
Garfield letter intended 70 draw out personal
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