Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-11-23
The Star-ROute Scandal.
FALLS STATEMENT.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-A statement
said to have been voluntarily made by
Frank Il. Fall, under oath, Oct. 10, is
made public to-day. It begins by as
sertlng that he obtained an impression
from an interview with Brewster Cam
eron, June IA, that the government de-
sired to obtain evidence of the mis-
conduct OF the star-route jury, past or
future, and he was engaged at SO per
diem to ascertain if any members of
the jury were corruptible. He report
ed to Cameron every night. June "A
he talked with Thomas A. Foote, q
colored juror, in the circuit court.
From information obtained from Rich
ard t. Laws he concluded that Brown,
the star-route juror, was approachable,
and told FoOte so. Afterward he
negotiated with Payne and Foote, look
ing to securing the control of Browns
vote. A contract was drawn contem-
plating the paying of $4,000 and pre-
sented to Brown by Payne, but the
former refused to sign the paper, say
ing 1t was a detective job. Brown,
however, said ne would do as wanted
If paid So 800, and would control Juror
Martin. Fall refused to pay the money
without the contract being signed.
Seeing by the newspapers of Sept. %
that Brown had made an affidavit
charging Payne with attempting to
brlbe him, Fall sought an interview
with the latter. Payne declared
Browns statement q lie; that Blown
OEFERED To CETr 11rc x,orr,
to whosoever wanted it for $1,000.
Payne pleaded poverty and asked for
the loan, which Fall refused unless he
would make sworn statement. Payne
promised, but did not appear. All
efforts to find him failed until Oct. 3,
when he was encountered in the Baiti-
more and Potomac depot. He then
reported that the failure to keep the
engagement was due to overtures
made by Charles Jones and Mr.. Mall
for meeting between him (Payne)
Detective Miller, Major Richards and
Brown, looking to getting a statement
from Foote, who, meantime, had gone
to Newark. Richards gave him 500
IN response to a demand. Richards
and Payne started for Newark. Rich
ards paid all bills. They saw Foote
and got an affidavit. Foete wanted
two thousand dollars for the affidavit
and wanted it left In Payne's hands
until he got his money. Foote finally
wrote letter, which Payne brought to
Washington, addressed to Brady, Dor
sey q Co., demanding $1,000 before
the affidavit should be delivered.
Richards threatened to get Payne to
make an affidavit which should agree
with what Foote had said in his.
Payne said he wanted $1,000 for his
affidavit, and he denied the making of
1t until that time. Payne wanted the
advice of lawyer before he would
make an affidavit. They wanted him
to go to Col. Cook and make an affi-
davit in his Office. Payne wanted to
ADVISE WITH COL. INGERSOLL.
Richards telegraphed for Col. Ingersoll,
and Richards and Miller took Payne
to Col. Ingersoll's house Sunday, Oct.
l, and then Col. Ingersoll read the affi-
davit, and said the affidavits were
wanted for the purpose of downing"
the attorney general, Brewster Cam
OAOh ouu OOlhllllJ dill VI WuOHl WOulO
have to go when congress met and be-
gan investigating the star-route busi-
ness. 1t was agreed that Foote should
make his affidavit and give it to Payne,
and that Payne should hold the affi-
davit until he made his own, or till they
got 81 600 which Foote demanded for
his, but Major Richards got possession
of the affidavit in Newark, and refused
to give it up. He was discharged
from the department of justice July II,
while acting for the government. Fall
says he spread the impression that he
was working in the interest of the de-
fense, and authorized Skivington to say
SO. The result was that John G. Cox
approached him repeatedly and said
he had two jurors for sale, aad when
ever Fall had the money Cox engaged
to bring in the men. Richard 7. Laws
claimed that through Brown he
brought about the disagreement of the
jury. Laws says he was employed by
defense to influence Brown, and did SO,
being neighbors and on terms Of
brotherly love, while q man named
Ludington also claimed to control a
vote, and offered to deliver it any time
the money was forthcoming.