The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-20
MUCH EXPLAINED.
The Alleged Despatch from Crapo
to His Followers
NO DESPATCH AND NO FORGERY BUT
MANY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-An item was re-
ce1ved late last night from Baston saying that
private despatch from Washington received
there indicated that forgery had been COM
mitted that resulted in the election of Senator
Hoar. The Republican prints the following
this morning:
On receipt of the above despatch at $50
o'clock Republican reporter hurried to
Wormley's hotel and having caused Hon. W.
w. Grape to be awakened, communicated to
him its substance and asked if he had sent such
a despatch
81 did not know that there was to be any
meeting of my friends,' was the reply. 'I
have not seen any Boston papers and do not
know the nature OF the despatch alluded to.
sent several dispatches"
But" said the reporter, did you send
Hoar?"
''No, 1 sent no much despatch"
MIR. Crapo was late in reaching the Capitol
this morning. Pending his arrival diligent
enquiry was made among his friends by the
Associated Press reporters, as to what founda-
ton existed for the charge of the forgery of
the telegram from Mr. Or po advising his
friends to vote for Mr. Hoar ior Senator Ev-
ryone secuted the theory that it was a forgery.
"Atm most" said one member, sit will be moth
Ing more serious than misinterpretation Of
language
Ex-Governor Rice said, ST was talking
with Crapo and he was just telling me that he
strength for Hoar, when some one came up
and announced Hoar's election. I went di-
rectly over to the Senate and congratulated
Hoar, telling him what Crapo had said to me
about the telegram and he replied, Say to
Grape that am very grateful, Governor
Rice added, "But for this circumstance nigh
have remembered the language OF the de-
spatcb. There is not word of truth, howev
or, in the rumor of forged despatch
Mr.. Norsross said, II cannot give the exact
language of the despatch. Crapo read it to
me before sending it and l said to him That
will elect Hoar.' II was not in terms OF die
tation, as he would not feel that he had right
to use such terms, but implieo that he would
not in the least feel aggrieved If those who had
been supporting him should deem it advisab .
to transfer their votes to Hoar. In fact" SAID
Mr.. Norcoss, "the despatch night be lnterpre-
ted pretty plaiuly that Crapo deemed such
course the most advisable one"
When Mr.. Grape was found later, he HIM
self promptly denied the allegation OF forgery.
He had just informed Mr.. Hoar that he sent
the dispatches which Influenced his friends to
transfer their votes to Hoar.
An intimate friend of the Senator stated ear
ly this morning that if it should transpire that
Mr.. Hoar's election was secured through
forged despatch, he would resign.
Mr.. Grape through his friends, has author
lied the following statement:
'Mr Crapo sent ho telegram to Boston giving in
structions to his friends in the legislation. His
sonal friends in New Bedford knowing his prefer
ence may have telegraphed to Boston. In response
to numerous kilograms he has indicated his prefer
ences more than once.r
The Star this evening publishes the follow
ing:
BOSTON, jan 19.-The Crapo despatch was sent
by ExsCollector Grinnen Of New Bedford to Repre-
sentaAve Randall. read it. (sig9edp9 pnoors
BosroN, Jan. 19.-Further investigation of
tho oil nf tho dQenQfnh from NJ
w. -Crapo, announcing his withdrawal from
the senatorial contest in this State, shows
actual telegram was shown, hence, there was
no forgery as stated in last nights dispatches.
There is no question however that statement
was circulated that such a communication had
been received and it was generally credited
A representative OF the journal call upon
Hon. Il. j. Boardman, who presided at the
conference of Mr.. Crapo's friends. Boardman
said in effect: called the conference to as
certain the purpose of the gentlemen who vo-
ted for Mr.. Grape. 1t having been represen-
ted to by the leading friends OF Mr.. Crapo
in New Bedford that they were confident that
his friends in his own city, under the circum-
stances, preferred the election of Hoar
remarked that it was scarcely worth while for
his supporters e1sewhereito vote for him longer.
The question OF voting for him at another
ballot was discussed and all but two or three
voted il was iuadvisable. Another vote indica-
ted that the larger part of them preferred
Hoar. No telegram was read from Mr.. Crapo
nor to my knowledge was any statement made
that such message had been received. / do
not believe that any rumor OF that character
had any influence upon the result of the con-
ference.
LATEa.]
BosToN, Jan. ia critical investigation
demonstrates the fasity of the report that a
forged dispatch caused a transfer OF Crapo
votes TO Senator Hoar in the Senatorial conven-
tion Thursday. The whole story seems TO
have originated from a dispatch received by
Senator Randall of New Bedford from
Lawrence Grinnell, friend of Crapo, which
reads as follows:
NEW BEDFORD. Jan. IT.
To Cherries r. Randall, Hotel Vendome:
Vote ior Hoar and get Crapo men to do SO.
LAWRENCE GRINNELL.
Mr. Randall received it at the hotel and
when he reached the State House Thursday
morning most of the other Grape men were in
conference and he could not lind them He
showed the dispatch on the floor of the joint
convention to two or three Crapo men and 10
Senator Loring of Fitchburg who sat beside
him. The report that dispatch had been re-
ceiyed advising Grape men to vote for Hoar
was hastily whispered about and soon became
known to nearly every member. The origin
OF the story that Crapo had sent the dispatch
was probably q Misunderstanding naturally
arising from these whispered and fragementary
communications and the report seemed to be
confirmed when Boardman of Boston, the first
Grape man on the alphabetical roll call, voted
for Hosr. AS the names of other Crapo men
wera called and they too voted for Hoar, those
who had surmsed the story of the dispatch
from Crapo felt nothing more was needed to
demonstrate its truth. The statement that
Grape had withdrawn was Immediately pub
lished as settled fact by a reliable evening
paper, and this was made the basis of the news
dispatch which coming to the notice of Crapo
called for the denial of its authenticity and his
repudiation which reached this city when the
published report had become widespread and
was generally believed furnished strong found
alton for allegation that forgery had been COM
rnitfAd