New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-13
THE MORkY FORGERY.
,,or ,Ny,oYrs FOR INVESTIGATION.

BARNUM's PLANS
Ereouent reports have been circulated recently,
.ome of which have found publication in vague
sorm. 70 the general effect that tue Democrats IN
Congress intended to order an investigation
NJ the forgery of the Morey letter and tho cir
cumsfsnces of it's use as campaign docunent
nth the view OF justfyng the Democratic National
Committee and leaders in their indorsenent and CIR
cu)ation of it. But there has been great delay IN
the matter to say the least of it, and now there are
reasops for believing that the purpose has been
abandoned for fear that investigation might revea
TOO much of the inside history OF the organization
ond the contentious which distracted IT, rev
facts obtained by TRIBUNE reporters NAV serve TO
Indicate why the Democrats do not des re to stir the
matter any further.
shortly after the close of the campaign, but
while the excitement over the use Oh
the forged letter was still very great, the
chairmanof the Democratic National Committee
William H. Barnum. nndug that the odlum OF the
aff,r had been cast upon him individuality took
stems to "set himself right before the public" az ne
termed it, He engaged counsel and s0n@ht ADVICE
as 10 how to proceed He claimed that he was not
iustly held responsible for the Endorsement OF the
forgery, either Mt the time ii was siown TO op'"kF
Randall and Mr.. Hewitt, or subsequently, "p'h
dispatches over his name assured the country '"''
the letter was genuine. To counsel ne made the as
in The verbal Endorsement of the grDnineness oi the
letter nor did he ludorte, write or dictate OF
even see until they were published. any one
of the several dispatches pnrporting 10 he ms I"
had reference to the Morey letter. All fheS" as
patches he claimed. were written bv H. NJ D'N"-
son who was connected with the Na'lonai Coin'h'-
tee beadouarters as sort of secretary, and were
bv him signed with the name OF M. harhum us
chairman He denied all responsibility for the
itu Of tne lac
smile handbils scattered throughout doubtful
States or for supplying the plates OF the letter 10
various Democratic papers IN several >ta'c"
Dickinson did it all, he claimed
1T will be remembered that q certain Colonel
Henry H. Hadley had been sent 10 Cunherliid M"'
to procure the attendance here OF witness named
Robert Lindsay who, it said, vas ready q" swear
that he knew Morey, the mythical I"cioeht OF 'he
forged letter from General Garfeid-'he same
fellow who was brought on by Rch'ri H. W 'de' OIL
the Louisiana Lottery Company. Cor til publishers
nj the PAPER in Which, the letter was published
MIR Barpum repuiiates responsibility for having
sent Hadey and SAYS that ID ckius0n s"lt nm at Il
moments notice and against Hai"ts Wti'' Inc
same man Hadley sent subsequently :" iYhh'
Mass where it is alleged under IN assumed hom'
he procured an affidavit from Mrs. Clara l.. Mercy
that Henry L. Morey was her son. lhat a'n'aVr'
- she subsequently, swore had been altered by III"
for that of another of her c"hid'
rem. Hadley also brought back the register of
hotel in winch the naIue of Morey had been falsely
entered whether before after ii came INTO HAD
leys hands the counsel for the prosecution say they
cannot yet determine. though thcy know 1t was
false registration. Mr.. Barnum denied absolutely
being in any way responsible for these expeditions
ar acts of Mir. Hadey, and insisted that Dickinson
was the responsible person. To hear Mr. Barnum
S4I,. Il In fIn mn IN
pocent and ignorant man about his own headqnar-
tar. At any rate on Mr. Dickinson the blame was
to be placed.
The books of the committee the originals of the
dispatches, and other documentary evidence appear
to have been relied upon as proof thar
the acts referred to not those of Mr. BarnuIn;
but it was found necessary to communicate Will
Hadley TO what be would testify Ia regard 10 The
employment of himself Hadlev was then IN hldlng
And was unwilling to put himself in the clutches OF
Messrs Bliss and Davenport, who were anxious to
confront him with Mis-. MOEey, in the expectation
that she would identify him as the man who had
taken her affidavit and also with the porJured wit
ness John l.. Morey, who. it was thought, fiadiey
had induced to come to New-York to testify that he
had brother named Henry l.. Morey. Had
iev,s presence as an untrammeIled witness WAS
necessary 20 Mr. Barnum. but III 'dley would not
Dome back without assurances Of protection Neeo-
f;ations were opened between the counsel OF the
Htate and Mr. Barnums counsel, with the purpose OF
bripqinQ about such an arrangement ~ would enable
Hsdley to become O witness for Barnum III ease OF
m investigation. But the prosecution WAS unwiii-
kns to consent to Hadey's return unless he would
tell all he knew about the forged letter. Immunity
was offered on this condition. Subsequently pro-
uosal WA made to have Hadey meet and he ex-
ahmed an to what he knew about the forgery by
one of the lawyers for the State, but whether or
mt such meeting took place Is
not vet known. At any rate Hadley shortly
sftsrwsrd returned to the city, and for several days
has been here quiste at his and unmolrsted.
The prosecution has not called ham for any state
mont, and his counsel says be has nothing to tell
sbout the Morcy letter not already made public. In
conversation with &former attache OF the Demo-
crst,c headquarters in this city. Hadley on Tuesday
Last expressed sentiments favorable to MIR. Barnum
and gonistc to others of the cOshmtIee who had
nisused him nevertheless. Mr.. Barnum has sud-
6ouiy discovered that he does not want bin as
witness and the proposed investigation has been
virtually abandoned, The reasons for This said
10 nave been suggested by MIR. Tlden lest it should
reveal the general neficiency Of the National and
etsts Committees. and the fact that both man
Ard IN the interest of Mr. Tden rather than in the
interest Of General Hancock. The extent to which
Mr. Tilden and his friends controlled those two COM
nittees has not been generally suspected by the
public But there seems to be now no probability
that any Congressional investigation Of the Morey
forgery matter will be asked for by the Demo-
crate