Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-24
WEEKLY HERALD.
DAvkMPoRT's BOOMERANG.
He Ge.s on an Ola Story About the
Morey Forgery Letter.

He Ge.s on an Ola Story About the
Morey Forgery Letter.
Mr.. H. H. Hadley, upon whom John
l. Davenport charges the forgery of the
Morey letter, was found in his office
yesterday by World reporter, who
asked him:
"Have you anything to say in reply
to Mr.. Davenports allegations?"
IL have not read them, replied Mr..
Hadley, "but if Mr.. Davenport or any
one else says that have ever forged.
altered or initiated any letter written or
purporting to have been written by
Jam Is A. Garfield or any one else, he
says that which is absolutely and un-
qualiHcdly false. | never saw or heard
Of the Morey letter until saw it in a
public print. That made some inves-
legations in reference to it is true, and
did so at the request Of the Democratic
National Committee, but nothing ever
came to my knowledge that would im-
plicate any member Of that COMMITTEES
in the least in connection with the let
ter, or any one in their office or en-
ploy.'
"Why can you not go through DAveu-
ports story now and answer it.'
"In 1881, at the time there was such
an excitement about the letter, l was re-
quested-by prominent Democrats and
Republicans both-to offer a reward of
$25, 600 for the discovery OF its writer.
did so, and after the fullest invesiiga-
ton was capable Of, made memo
randuin Of tile entire matter, as it was
then fresh in my memory, many of the
details Of which l have now forgotten.
i gave that to an intimate friend to pub
lish in case Of my death, II he thought
necessary. / will think the matter
over, and if, after consultation with iny
friends, it is thought best to publish it,
l will give 1t to the public. let il hit
whom it may. 1t is complete and accu-
rate, backed up by unquestionable doc
umentary evidence OF the highest char
acter, and covers much ground that my
memory would not enable me to do
now.
Davenport says you confessed the
forgery
II never have done SO, for had moth
ing to confess, and repudiate the very
thought OF confession. His statement Is
merely a Sensational fabrication, and
saying that have confessed is lie.
The reporter read aloud Mr.. Daven-
ports statement about Gen, Estee's draft
Of bogus interview, made with Had
lcy's aid, having been changed to letter.
form in the rooms Of the Democratic
National Committee. Mr.. Hadley heard
it through and responded:
THAT is all sheer fabrication. There
Ia nothing In 1t whatever. He fatters
my ability in saying am capable of
making the draft of such q letter. And.
as for the effort to connect Senator
Barnum's name with the matter, Mr..
Barnum said at TIE time that he had
nothing to hide and there was no
document or paper relating to the Morey
letter that he was not perfectly willing
should be published, and that affirma-
ton l belevs-indeed, knows
strictly true. In due time shall speak
for myself, and when do SO it will be
effective"
The effort OF United States Com
missioner John 1. Davenport, in which
he tries to fix the forgery upon Henry
II. Hadley, was freely commented upon
in political circles. There is no doubt
that Davenport could have made his
report many months ago had he not
preferred to throw his disclosures upon
the country as campaign document.
As all the facts contained In the report
have been heretofore published, its
effect upon voters will not, it is ex-
pected, amount to great DEAL
In the report the well-known lawyer,
Mr.. John d. Townsend, was said to
have been the person to whom money
was paid by the Democratic National
Committee to be handed over to Hadley
for the loss he might suffer in his pro-
fession while he was away from the city
during the excited times which followed
the publication of the famous epistle.
Mr.. Townsend said yesterday, and
backed up his assertions by mass OF
letters, that neither he nor the Demo-
cratic National Committee ever acted in
any other way than as honorable men.
When, be said, suit was begun against
lIadley he was retained as his counsel.
Mr.. Hadley gave to him every document
he had on the subject and he was con-
vinced that be was defending an limo.
cent man. When the scandal was first
current the National Committee sent
Mr.. Hadley to the East and South to
investigate 1t. He was engaged in an
official capacity and was paid for his
services.
While the suit was in progress Mr..
Davenport came into his private parlor
and asked him II he was going to defend
Hadley II he knew Hadlcy was guilty.
Mr.. Townsend said he certainly would
not. Thereupon Mr.. Davenport said
that Hadley had made certain admis-
sions 10 him and showed letters which
cast doubt upon his innocence. The
next day Mr.. Townsend wrote to Mr..
HadIey aud withdrew from the suit.
Hadley still declared he was innocent,
and Mr.. Townsend said that might be,
but he preferred to withdraw from the
suit. Mr.. Townsend said that his con-
nection with the matter and the Nation
al Committee was pure. He still be-
lieves Hadley innocent.
Chairman Barnum, Mr.. b. B. Smalley
and other members OF the National
Democratic Committee who are charged
by John |. Davenport with knowing
that the Morey Chinese letter OF 1880
was forgery are disposed to treat the
calnmny with silent contempt. Mr..
Barnum was at the National Headauar.
tiers. at No. III Vest Twenty.fourth
street, during the forenoon. He read
the alleged exposures in two newspapers
and turning to Mr.. Smalley he said;
why, this is all bosh. What is the
use OF our paying any attention to III 1t
IL rehash of old campaign lies which
have been revived parcel BY parcel ever
since the campaign Of 1880"
AS far as | am concerned" put in
Mr.. Smalley, II intend to pay no atten
tion to the lie. Some OF my friends
have advised me to issue manifesto
and in unequivoeal terms to deny the
imputations that had an indirect hand
In the forgery Of that letter. Why, read
the alleged exposure. Wh.re ia IL
shown that had any cogr Ance Of the
forgeryi 1t only deals in generalities
and cowardly, unmanly spleen and
threadbase hearsay evidence. / do not
intend to give the subject any more
Chairman Barnnm further said in the
presence of the World reporter; 81
have stated over and over again that
did not know in 1880 that the Morey
letter was forgery. l reiterate that
now, and | further deny all the alIega-
tons OF my connection with certain
people whom it is said prepared the
letter. have nothing more TO say.
II Is only an attempt Of the Republicans
to revive o defunct sensation.
The other members Of the Democratic
National Committee who had read the