The Evening critic., 1882-10-09
ATTEMPT TO BRIBE
An Official I'm the Bureau Of Engrav-
ing and Printing.

Ing ana Printing.
on Saturday night last william L. Salter,
furniture dealer, and wilmot II. Ward were
arrested and lodged in jail charged with an
attempt to brlbo n Treasury ofIlcial In the
carly part OF August Colonel Irish, Chief OF tho
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing, reported
to the Secretary OF tho Treasury that persons
on the outside were tampering with tho om-
ployes Of the Bureau, and endoavoring to OBJ
tain paper on which banknotes, bonds and
revenue stamps arc printed. Tho Secretary
Immediately instructed tho chief OF tho detec-
tives OF the Department as to tho matter, and
tho strict watch which was at once insti.
tuted resulted In establishing tho guilt OF
the two m en- nbove named, but the proofs were
not all completed until Saturday, when the
arrests were at once made. II has been asccr-
tained that certain of the employees of the
Bureau were approached and offered tempting
bribes II they would purloin tho paper and
hand 1t over to Saltor and Ward, tho last
named OF whom was at one time watchman
In the Bureau. At tho time that Colonel Irish
communicated his suspicious to the Secretary
OF tho Treasury ho also discovered that box
containing private letters and papers Of
his own had been abstracted from his
desk. Among tho letters was ono written by
him at the White House on tho day that
President Garfield was shot, and addressed to
his daughter, who was then at Oakland, Nd.
week or two after Colonel Irish heard whis-
pered around that he had in this letter 10 his
daughter denounced vico-Presidont Arthur ms
an accompllcc OF Guiteau. A short time sub
sequently he received intlmations In mystic
rious way that tho letter would bo returned 10
him for $500, otherwise II would bo sent 70
President Arthur. Colonel Irish declined posi-
lively TO enter Into any secret negotiations
and challenged tho production OF tho letter.
II IS believed mat saiter and ward are impll.
to Colonel Irish. ono theory at tho Treasury
Is that the real object OF the conspirators was
to cause tho ignominlous dismissal of Colonel
Irish and securc the position for a prominent
politician. man named Felcker, who some
time ago became In possession OF n counterfeit
plato OF one OF the plates used In the Bureau,
m IN nj ar
eral partly printed notes, stamps and bands,
which had been obtained from the Bureau,
and that at tho proper time he would present
them to tho Secretary. 1t is thought that the
distractions which Salter and Ward were on
deavorlrg TO have made are In some way con-
nected with Felckors threat.
Mr. suIIivan's Statement.
Mr.. Thomas Sullivan, assistant chief of the
Bureau, mado tho following statement last
night; light. ,,o,. ,,,on., ,,,.. p..,
ably three weeks ago somo parties camo 10
Colonel Irish and told him that certain per-
sons In this city, ". Il. Salter being one Of
them, had letters written by Irish at the time
Garfield was assassinated, charging tho assas-
sinatlon upon tho stalwarts, and that they
were going to use these letters to influence
President Arthur to remove him.
"Colonel Irish, knowing that no had never
written any such letters, paid no attention 70
the matter. Aweek later a man came to tho
Bureau about o'clock in the evening, Just as
Colonel Irish was preparing to leave for home,
and asked to see Colonel Irish, saying that he
Important business with him. Colonel Irish
had the man shown 10 his oillce, and talked to
him standing at the door. The man said no
knew OF plot to abstract banknote sheets
from the Bureau, to be taken TO tho President,
through the Attorney.Ge as evidence OF
the loose manner In which things were cared
for under Colonel Irish5 charge, tho design
being TO have him removed from the position
OF Chief Of tho Bureau.
"Colonel Irish paid very littlo attention to
what the man said, thinking he might bo some
unreliable person who wished 70, use this
means to ingratato himself in tho chiefs
favor and get q position.
"But when he spoke OF salter, Colonel Irish
remembered that II was tho namo of tho pcr-
son alleged to have tho letters before men-
toned, and became more attentive, thinking
there might be something In the matter.
"on inquirlng the next day he learned that
the man had sister who was employed In tho
Bureau, and he became convinced that there
was some foundation for the mans story. So
he sent for the woman and questioned her con-
cerning the matter, and learned from her that
two men, W. +. Salter and W. II. Ward, the
latter formerly an employe OF the Bureau had
tried to induce her to secure for them
some partially printed sheets, saying
damages, and, II they succeeded In having
Irish removed, they would give her perma-
nent position at 70 OF " day but sho n,.i haa
"Colonel Irish Immediately informed socrc
tary Folger of the case and the Secretary sent
| for the lady and had hor statement taken
| down at his oflce. He then sent for Chief
| Brooks, OF the secret service, and told him to
| do all In his power TO arrest the conspirators.
The Accused waive Examination.
| The hearing took place before Judge Bundy
| at O'Clock, Mr.. Randolph Coylo appearing
| for the Government Mr. Sweet for W. II. Ward
| and Mr.. Williamson for Mr.. William +. Salter
Both attorneys stated that they understood the
bail required would be $1,000 for each de-
| fendant. They would wa1ve an examination,
| but could not gIvo bail this afternoon, and OK
pected TO do so In the morning.
| Mr.. Sweet took occasion 10 denounco the
| manner in which the parties had been ar
| rested ON last Saturday, and believed that the
| time had been fixed, 30 that they could moi
| furnish bail, and put upon them the indignlty
| OF confinement In the jail.
| Judge Bundy made out the commitment II
| default of bail and placed It in the Marshal:
| hands, remarking that he could exercise wha
| leniency he chose, but that he should dis
charge his duty in the promises He pre-
| sumed that II bail could BIO offered today tht
| opportunity would be given the defendants t
| secure their liberty.