Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-30
INDUSTRIOUS MURCHIsON.


He Set Traps for a Number of Others
Beside Lord Sackville.
A dispatch to the New York Herald dated Los
Angeles, Cal, October %, says:
The mystery surrounding the identity of
Charles F. Murchison bids fair to remain unex-
posed until after the election. Lord Sackvilles
gay deceiver was not resident of Pomona
The scheme was concocted and fostered by the
republican leaders here Who now that it has
done Its work, won't let the cat jump for fear
1t viii leave its claw marks on their party. Had
the matter not been lifted into national noto-
riety, no qualm of conscience would have inter-
fered to keep the writer unknown.
Lord Sackville was not the only expected
bird In the net set by the mysterious Murchi-
son. Letters similar to the one sent him crossed
the sea to Joseph Chamberlain, while Canada
was invaded by missiye to Statesman Upper.
These gentlemen did not bite at the bait At
the same time the Industrious scribbler sent
letters to the presiding elders of the Presbyte-
rian Church in Missouri, saying that, being a
Southern democrat who believed in temper
ance, he wished to know whether he should
vote for Fisk or Cleveland. He said California
was very close state, and that the democratic
party did not believe in abstinence. Many
answers were received to the letters, and all go
to show that they we're sent for the same pur-
pose as the MurchlsOn letter.
SAMPLE HYPOCRISY.
The following is a sample of the letter sent
out from Pomona and just made public here.
1t was sent to presiding elder in Missouri
The close similarity of its literary style to that
Of the Murchison letter is plain:
Pomona CAL, Sept %, 1888.
DEAR SIR-An old resident of Missouri,
have need Of some information before casting
my vote, and know no other better qualified
than yourself to give it. as your position in the
church gives you powers OF observation supe-
rior to those of lay members. The duties OF
Southern mana democrat heretofore and still,
and also an advocate of temperance-place
those OF us who are far removed from old assO-
Citations and memories We on the Pacific
slope are, in some doubt as to whom we should
support.
1.-THE state is q very close one, Grant having
carried it once by less than 800, and Hancock at
another time by only ITO; therefore it looks as
though vote cast for Fisk by temperance
democrat is one less for Cleveland and a cor
responding gain for the republicans. Fisk cam
not of course, carry a single town in the state,
yet he represents a good principle. 1t is there
fore best to ascertain what the brethren South
intend to do. If you thing they will vote for
Cleveland then it will be best for US to do like
wise, for in union there is strength
1.-The information you are abb to give and
your own opinion in reS.sd to it VIII, CT course,
enable me to vote lnteiilgc: lily and in accord
with my old State, and will be gratefully
received. Further, it will enable me to inform
other brethren not posted on the course they
should pursue on election day. An early reply
would greatly oblige and be appreciated.
A CANDID ANSWER.
To this, which was signed V. Debruner, there
were 'three answers received-from J. H. Led
better, of Fayette, NO.; r. H. Cooper, of st.
Joseph, NO., and from W. W. McMurray of
Shelbina, Mo. The latter answer is given here
with as a sample:
SHELBINA, Mo-, Sept. 26, 1888.
''MR. Y. DEBRUNER:
DEAR SIR-Your letter came to hand to-day,
being remailed to me here. This is my post
Office. Your letter seems to come from a can
did man, though have never received such a
letter from one unknown to me personally
But I take it you are sincere and will answer
gladly and sincerely. A good many of our
brethren will vote for Fisk and Brooks, though
hardly majority of the preachers, l think.
ITO me it seems very desirable to defeat the
republicans once more, as they present war
issues only and war men, thus perpetuating
sectional issues only. II they are defeated
again the better element OF them will certainly
turn to the better things of temperance. and
then large element of temperance men among
the democrats can afford to work with them in
30 good cause. But while they still ignore
temperance and every issue but some relic of
the terrible war it seems to me folly for men in
doubtful states to hope for relief now by voting
for Fisk. 1t will only leave them hopelessly in
the chains of sectionalism and whisky, for the
republican party is welded to both.
I'm our Missouri it is different. 1t will go
for Cleveland by 10000 or 60, 900, and many can
show their temperance principles by voting for
Fisk witeout aiding directly the republicans.
Hoping that this Is clear and satisfactory,
close with the hope that the Pacific States will
help re-elect so good and grand a man as
Cleveland, and thus save the country from a
revival Of the horrors of sectionalism and
bloody shirtism. Would be glad to hear from
you again. Direct To Shelbina, Mo.
yours truly, w. W. McMURRAY"
Debruner, who is addressed in this letter, is
a grocer in Pomona, naturalized citizen, born
in Switzerland. and described as fanatical re-
publican, who evidently permitted himself to
be used as cats paw at Pomona by the origi-
majors Of the whole scheme. Being a business
man, his correspondence did not attract par
ticular notice.
STILL LOOKING FOR MURCHIsoN.
A dispatch foom Pomona, Cal, Oct. 20, says
The excitement is still as great as ever here
over the Murchison and West letters. Four
detectives have been here during the past few
days searching for clues to the identity of the
author OF the Murchison letter. Gen. Barnum
has sent word from the national democratic
committee to Pomona to spare no expense in
the efforts to find Mr.. Murchison, and especi-
ally to ascertain if Patrick Egan had ANYTHING
to do with the authorship of the letter.
Chairman Quay, in New York, has received
telegram from W. 7. Fitzgerald, Of the repub-
ican state committee of California, DENYING
that he, Henry T. Gage, or Harrison g. Otis,
of the Los Angeles Times, were responsible for
the authorship of the Sackville-West letter or
that they or their associates, so far as can be
learned, knew anything of its conception or
had any knowledge Of the correspondence
until after its publication.
1t is denied at Pomona that Lawyer Bell, of
that place, is the author of the letter.
Some Strange Bets.