Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-08
SPICY CoRREspoNpENcn.
Mr.. Creighton Pays His Compliments
to Mr.. Woudmau-an Inter-
eSting Confession.


has allowed himself to he interviewed by
reporters of the local press, and has de
livered himself of statements rcilecting
on myself and others, not directly, it is
true, but by inucndo, and otherwise in
tmating darkly that if his statements
are called in question he is in possession
of u whole magazine of ammunition
which he is prepared to explode at the
proper time, and in manner that will
annihilate those with whom ho has served
on the board together with other parties
engaged (as he intimatcs), in an alleged
conspiracy to dcfraud the city and its
people out of something mysterious and
intangible, | deem it but proper that
this truly good man should be presented
to this community in full glare of
light, which may be she'd on his real
character mot by me- but by himself in
an open confession III his own handwr-
ting and over his own signature. ] de-
sire to present below Il letter written by
Mr.. Woodman in 1876 to j. w. Gannctt
then auditor of the Union Pacific railroad
company, and / desire to state that [
came into possession of this letter not
through Mr.. Gannctt or through any of
ficcr, cmployc or eX-ollicCr of the Union
Pacific railway company, but in II legiti-
mate manner, and through the voluntary
surrender OF it by the party to whom 1t
WAS entrusted for safe keeping. My pur-
pose and motive in presenting this letter
at this time is to induce Mr. Woodman to
make n full and square revelation of any
information which he may have or claim
to have, or the publication by him OF any
~ ,.ti ii,
wise, or that he may have procured from
any contractor either democratic
or republican relating to or involv-
ing any corrupt act or omission
either official or unofficial, public or pri-
vatc, OF myself or anyone in alleged col
lusion with me or with anyone mentioned
in his many interviews, be they Grant,
Barber, Squires, or the democratic con
tractor. or any other contractor, or any
member of the board ofpublic works, or
any cX-member thereof, believing that
an open, full fair and thoroughly COM
plete and exhaustive revelation of NIL the
facts or tictons in his possession, or in
the possession of anyone else, will be for
the public good, and viii inurc to the
benefit of both tho dead and the living,
and of those who may live after us.
Mr. Woodman, in Il communication to
your paper, said that he agreed with mo
in my opinions, when | had one, and
| know, therefore, that he will agree with
me now in my well grounded opinion
that the letter below is his and
that in it he has "held the mirror
up to nasdrc," " and has pictured himself
with a rare art and with a true conccp.
ton of his subject, and with complete
with all tho foiblcs, follies
and idfosyncracis of the notified charac. |
ter which is handled ike one OF the old |
masters If his picture of himself shall |
ever fall under the eyes OF his former |
employees in Chicago, they will no doubt |
feel Il parlonable pride ut the polish and |
finish OF the education which they took |
so much pains to give him.
The fol owing is the letter or valentine
or confession or whatever you may name |
it after careful porusal
JAMES CREIGHTON.
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 1S7G.-Mr. j. w
Auditor u. p. r. r., Omaha
Dear Sir. About three years ago the old !
your purchasing agent, Mr.. Clark five
or moro barrels. .linseed oil. The oil was
slightly over boiled, which rendered it q
little dark for white paint, but il was all
the better for dark paint. told Mr..
Clark Just how it was, and told him that
if he could use it he might have it for
three cents less than the regular price.
MT CltlEk TtllUtStt'l Dli W Schl Out Jul-
rel to the shops for trial, which did. 1t
gave satisfaction, and he subsequently |
ordered the rest sent down, tive or more
barrels. After the oil was delivered |
made out n bill of it and handed it to
NJ Clark in Mr.. Sieklc's office. AS |
turned to leave Mr.. Clark said: Did
you make the deduction OF three
cents, PEI, gallon from your price,"
| replied had done so. ] do not now
Just what Mr.. Clark said but
] imagined that there was something in
his manner, and presume now it was
all imagination on my part that led me
to think that perhaps he expected the
three cents as II commission. When |
handed Mr. Clark tho bill, | only gave
him one bill. Mr.. Clark requested me to
send him duplicate through the postof-
bill or on separate sheet OF paper tho
note that you have seen. do not re-
member what L did writo, but think it
was to the effect that if the bill was not
if ho would return it would
make out new one ut full price and
refund the three cents per gallon to him.
The note You saw, and charged me with
trying to corrupt your purchasing agent.
| did not try to excuse 1t, as you know,
any further than to say that | believed 1t
had been II custom by yearly every one
who had sold TO tho u. L. purchasing
agents to give them "a commission. Now
! wish to say a word in regard to myself,
and Will frankly and honestly say that |
i viii say nothing but what | would
freely say If they were the
last words | would ever write
Up to the time mentioned above and for
over year afterwards, had led reck-
less and wicked life. When quite young |
| entered the employment OF IA very |
wealthy Chicago firm who were specula- |
tors, grain dealers, etc. This firm would |
do almost anything TO make money. 1 |
grew up under this influence and | sup |
pose | was affected by it, i know | had |
one very bad habit, mean profanity
and up to sixteen months ago | presume
was tho most profane man in Nebraska, |
but TO the credit of the Rev. j. III. Pres
son and also TO Rev r. b. Lemon, have
changed. Two years ago MIR. PressOn |
was pastor of the Second M. Il. church, |
now the Eighteenth street M. Il. church. |
Mr.. Presson and were boys together in
Illinois When he was sent here | had
not seen him for over twenty years. | |
never attended any church but went to |
hear him preach, called on him and be-
came a regular attendant of his church. |
a 4