National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-14
FARNHAM'S FACTS.
HE MAKES A FULL CONFESSION.
The Sewer Certificates Stolen by Himself Alone and
Placed Among Several Brokers, Whom He
Mentions BY Nsme-Careless Way
of Keeping Papers.

Last Saturday morning j. ". Farnnam
who was brought here from Sing Sing, n. Y, by
Detective McElfresh on suspicion of having alb
stracted the cancelled sewer certificates from the
board of audit rooms and put them upon the mar
ket, was taken to the District Commissioners
Office. Commissioner Dent, District Attorney A. G.
Riddle, Mr. Richie, of Akron, Ohio, the victim in
the transaction; his counsel, Hon. Jere NJ Wilson
and a stenographer only were present.
FARNHAM's STATEMENT.
The following is a verbatam report Of the state
ment that was made by Farnham, Mr.. Riddle haV-
ing asked him to state all that he knew in refer
ence to the disposition of the so-called sewer
bonds, what he had to do with it himself, and
whether any other person had any connection
with it:
Mr.. Farnham replied: confess that took them
myself from the board of audit.
Mr.. Riddle-You may state where they were
kept, and the facilities for getting them.
Mr.. Farnham-They were kept under the coun-
ter in the room of the secretary of the board OF
audit. There is counter running around the
room, and right under the counter at my feet,
where Stood they were bundled up in bundles.
At the time that took them out had no idea that
they had any value. just pulled out a package
and took out part of bundle; took them in my
hand and at that time 1 only intended to keep
them as a sort of curiosity. did not think that
tIASy nCiC hOLtA o LII Vic nOEiu <ao W ID os
that time drinking very heavily and spending a
great deal of money, foolishly. of course. and of
course q man under such circumstance wants
money, 1 conceived the idea oferasing thatcancel-
alton and disposing of the bonds to raise money to
get whisky, which did.
Mr.. Riddle-What was the cancellation?
Mr.. Farnham-The cancellation was simply q
stamp and in great many cases it was SO feint
that you could hardly see it, and it was the easiest
matter in the world to erase It. With piece of
soap you were able to do it. If had thought at
that time-ifI had been SO disposed-I could have
taken out 100 and disposed ofthem in the
same way, and there was nothing to prevent allthe
rest of the clerks from doing the same thing They
were perfectly open Just if they at the feet
ofthis gentlemen pointing to Commissioner Dents
feet. fl had thought at the time that I took
them of making any use of them-if had had any
idea of raising big lump of money on them-of
course would have taken more
Mr.. Riddle-How many did you take with you !?
Mr.. Farnham-I don't remember; think in the
neighborhood Of S11 900. Mr.. McElfresh has only
refreshed my memory, and Mr.. Donovan has dis
covered the loss ofs1l 900 of them.
Mr.. Riddle-Have you any knowledge that any
other person took any?
Mr.. Farnham-I have not.
Mr. Riddle-You may state how long you kept
them, what disposition was made of them, and to
whom?
Mr.. Farnham-I was drinking so heavily then
that cannot say. My mind was very cloudy, and
my memory is cloudy about the matter, but
think took them in February or March, 1876, and
1 do not think sold any until about the time of
the Centennial, about May.
Mr.. Ridden 1876?
Mr.. Farnham-Yes; wanted to get money to go
to the Centennial.
&lnG ct
disposition?
Mr.. Fsrnham-General Whitaker.
Mr. Riddle-How many did you sell him?
Mr.. Farmland am not positive. but think
sold him two $500 bonds.
Mr. Riddle-How much?
Mr. Farnham-I think got thirty five cents
that is, thirty-ive cents on the dollar; making
$3.50.
Mr.. Ridd1e-Did you make any statement to him
in regard to where you got them?
Mr.. Panhandle, sir; he was innocent about It,
Mr.. Riddle-Did any one know Of your taking
them?
self.
Mr.. Riddle-Go on and state the sale of the
others.
Mr.. Farmland think that it was to Mr.. Henry
S. Davis, who had an Office at the Metropolitan
Bank. don't remember, but it strikes me that
the first sale to him 81 800. 1 made two sales
to him, think, aflerward; sold him 5000; but
won't be sure about that, as my memory is q
little bad, L think.
Mr.. Riddle-At what price?
Mr.. Farmland think 1 only got thirty five
cents from him.
Mr.. Riddle-At what time were these sales
made?
Mr.. Farnham-1gue you've got me on that. 1
think 1t was after had been to the Centennial.
think it was the same time, perhaps In July;
still, L could not be positive about it. 1t might
have been August, or it might have been Sep
TENDER.
Mr.. Riddle-That makes $500 that you sold
When were the rest sold, and to whom?
Mr.. Farnham-Whether sold a second batch to
General Whitaker or not really don't know, but
it strikes me that did; but how many haven't
the slightest idea in the world.
Mr.. Riddle-Have you any impression as to the
rates?
Mr.. Farnham-About thirty-fi cents. Then l
afterward gave some II don't remember how
many to Mr. G. W. Larner, who was, believe, at
that time employed down here on Four and-a-
half street, where General Whittaker's office is
now. He ran sort of branch Office for Mr.. Peter
Campbell. gave them to Mr.. Larner, who took
them to Mr. Campbell.
Mr.. Riddle-To sell for you?
Mr.. Farnham-Yes sir.