The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-29

safe of George W. Hobbs, of Uxbridge, docu-
ment that would send T. l.. Moen to the CRATES. !"
Mr.. Hobbs is a lawyer in Uxbridge and formerly
attended to Wilson's legal business. To the
World correspondent yesterday Mr.. Hobbs said
that if Wilson had ever made such remark it
was entirely without foundation. He had never
had any such paper in his possession and was
very sure that Wilson never had Mr.. Hobbs
was inclined to smile at the notion that this sup
posititious document was a marriage certificate
entertained by those who believe Wilson to be
Moens legitimate son.
What's your idea of the secret9' Mr.. Hobbs
was asked.
why. the secret is very simple one' he re-
piled. ''Mr. Moen says that Wilson claimed to
him to have been a witness to an unclean act
committed by somebody other than Mr. Moen.
In letter written just before the first trial,
year ago, replying to statement by Moen that
money, Wilso said: Tf Mr.. Moen don't know,
let him ask young Phil Put those two things
together and you have the secret"
Mr.. Alfred D. Warren is a business n an of Wor-
cester, distant relative of Philip IL. Moen, and
Is popularity credited with knowing more about
the mystery than most people. The World cor.
respondent called upon Mr.. Warren and talked
with him. He makes an interesting statement,
in which it is shown that Mr.. Moen has not al
ways adhered to one version of what the trouble
was He said in response to questions:
'Mr. Moen came to Worcester when young
man, made the acquaintance of my cousin and
married her. We looked upon him for a long
time as being the salt Of the earth, but many Of
us who have had business relations with Mr..
Moen have found that he is not reliable man.
There are good many witnesses to that in the
city OF Worcester Mr.. Mems brother married
niece OF mine, and they are now living on
Fifty second street. New York. Up to 1882
never had seen Levi Wilson, but was very much
prejudiced against him because of the way had
heard he had extorted money from Mr.. Moen.
Naturally, l felt very much incensed to-
ward him, and l went to Mr.. Moen as
would to brother or friend, and said to him.
Now, Mr.. Moen don't you think it would be
we'll for you to come with some statement and
settle forever these stories that are being printed
nearly every dayP After argument
succeeded in persuading him to do this, and he
came to my Office for that purpose. 1t was I'M
derstood that / was to make the statement as
coming from him and 1t was to be published in
the Boston Globe. A reporter for the Globe was
at my Office five minutes before Mr.. Moen came
there, and before Mr.. Moen left promised to
send him copy of the paper containing the
statement Mr.. Moen made a statement TO me
that would be credited by ninety nine people
out of one hundred. He told me that the stories
that asserted his payments to Wilson to- be on
account of any thing improper that had occurred
were entirely false; that their dealings were
strictly of business nature He said: will
tell you the nature of the business, but that I
would like to have you withhold. The business
that have had with Wilson has been in connec-
ton with patent which believed to very
valpable-a patent for the bleaching Of cotton
in its staple. You know he said, If 1t had
been what we thought it was there would
have been millions in it. | am now through
with Mr.. Wilson entirely, and he with me. What
ever money have paid, if it has been fooljstly
paid is nooody's business but my own. That
article appeared in the Globe, and settled the
matter with our Worcester people Henry r.
Marsh. cashier of our bank, came to me and said
he was delighted, because it had forever put
these stories to rest That was published on the
10Th of August, 1882
about ten days or a fortnight afterward Mr.
Moen came to my house. l was not IN, but he
saw my wife and left word with her that he
would like me to see his counsel, w: W. Rice
That night saw Mr. Rice, and he said that they
wanted to contradict that statement that ap-
peared iE the Globe, and wanted to do it in such
a way that would not be offended. was very
much surprised, and asked why. He said that
was not for me to know, bat it must be done. /
said 1t was very much against my wish that any
contradictions should be made, yet if they in
sisted upon doing it, and my name was not men
toned, as was friendly to Mr. Moen, I would
not stand in the way. The next day. however.
after thinking it over. wrote TO Mr.. Moen, say
ing: Don't do as Rice advises you. Stand by
what you have stated, even though it be a false
hood But very soon thereafter appeared in the
Worcester Spy a card stating that Mr.. Moen had
never authorized any statement as coming from
him. If he ever thought that an explanation of
his private affairs was needful he would make it
over his own signature
1T was shortly after this that Levi Wilson
called upon me and introduced himself He said
to me that. after seeing that statement in the
Globe, he had gone to Mr.. Moen and asked for
an explanation, and that Mr.. Moen told him he
knew nothing about it: that it was put in with
out his authority by miserable, low-lived
puppy. | turned upon Mr.. Wilson, and said
You must prove that before you leave this of
fice.' was very indignant and Wilson said he
would get Mr.. Moen to come to my Office
called Mr. Moen to the telephone, recognized his
voice and then Wilson had this conversation
with him. Of course, could not hear what Mr.,
Moen said
This is Levi Wilson. I am at Mr. Warren's
private Office on Central street I have been
talking to him in relation to what you told me
the other day, and want you to come to his Of
fice.' Moen replied, and Wilson said Yes, you
will and after a further response by Moen, Will
son added: We'll, tell you. you will Then
Wilson took team and went to see Moen. He
came back in an hour, and said: L can't get
Moon to come here
after having seen Wilson and heard his state
mont of course watched very closely to find
some contradiction or inconsistency, but found
none. may say that nearly all of our Worces-
ter people are of the opinion that Wilson has
never been black-mailer. You will find this
opinion to be generally entertained by our law
yers, our ministers, our manufacturers, our pro
fessors in the School of Technology
Il may add that when Moen spoke to me about
Wilson he spoke of him rs though he was one of
his best friends. One remark particularly will
show this We have in Worcester a body called
the Worcester Continentals. 1t is high toned,
play-day military company, but it takes in the
best of our people. Moeu spoke of the fact that
Wilson had joined the Continentas. and said he
was very sorry, because getting in with a lot of
lively young follows might do him harm. He
spoke of Wilson as a man would speak of a
partner whom he respected. or as father might
speak of his son who was joining an organiza-
tion where there was wine-drinking and hail-fel-
lowship.
''At another time, however, while this trouble
was in progress, and Mr. Moen and | We're talk
ing about it, he made similar remark to me.
Alfred, he said, Wilson doesn't dare bring suit
against me- and Congressman Rice, Mr.. Moen's
brother-in-law and counsel, remarked to me once
that if Wilson ever did bring suit either Levi
Wilson or Philip L. Moen would be placed be-
hind the bars
As this singular case stands at tho present