The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-27
IT WAS NEVER TOLD.
THE ALLEGED PLOT AGAINST THE
LIFE OF PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
An Illinois Clergyman Creates n sonsa-
ton go Tho Investigation The ohicial
Correspondence--Tho Final Result.
From tie 81. Louis ReD,5,ic.

Washington were plunged into a panic
by story Of an alleged plot to ere
move" the President.elect Plots Of this
character are bristling in the brain of
every crank, but this particular story
was vouched for by Presbyterian min
ister-one, j. G. White of Stanford
Mclean County, III. The matter was
never made public, and The Republic is
the first paper to give the official investi-
CATION as far as it progressed.
Rev. Mr.. White was man who dwelt
in an atmosphere of assassination. He
saw on every side linen in buckrum"
with bloody designs. lie was powder
train, cyclone, fire alarm. In jan
uary, 1885, he discovered the plot and he
came to St. Louis, and, after satisfying
himself that he was right, sent President
Arthur the following letter, the names
being here suppressed for obvious
reasons
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Jan. 90, 1885.
Mr. arthur, President Of the United States:
BY mistake = sent me a conhden.
tal paper that fastens the original
conspiracy on himself Of WILDLY
Of Bellevlle, Ill. The latter is q manufac-
turer OF internal machines. Our President
elect has been threatened. am Republican,
but we cannot afford to assassinate our Presi
dent. know there is plot TO kill him II
you wish further facts address me at Slam
ington. Respectfully. j. G. WHITE.
DEAD SURE OF IT NOW.
Next day he reached home and the hor-
rors accumulated. He could not stand the
pressure and sent the President the fol-
lowing:
STANFORD, ILL, Jan. 20, 1885,
President arthur:
Private
From st. Louis yesterday l dropped
you q hasty note. / am Presbyterian
minister, not meddling with mere party
strife. detected the conspiracy within three
months of its organization. Its atrocity is un-
paralleled In history. Prompt action and Wig
lance is requisite at once Your detective
forces are needed and should be true Protest
ants. larger fire than that OF Chicago is
threatenened. Hand-grenades and internal
machines are to be used by male and female.
Indiscriminate destruction of life ana prop
erty is contemplated. l have confidential
papers with details of the plot. The affected
horrors of leaders is misleading. You cannot
| trust them under oath. The Legislature of
4
vented drills of independent companies, but
| did not disarm. Please do not regard this as
the result of visionary imagination or pro-
| duction of crank. A spirit of anarchy exists
here and at this time of business depression
! the danger TO life and property was never SO
great. Excuse this seeming obtrusion, but as
u loyal American | can do nothing less than
drop note Of warning.
Respectfully,
| j. G. WHITE.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR INVESTIGATES.
President Arthur referred the matter
to the Secretary of State. who decided
He took this course:
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| sN-t WASHINGTON, Feb 12, 1885.
CONFIDENTIAL.
To Hon. Benz. Bre,cster, attorney General:
SIR; have the honor to transmit herewith,
for your information and such action as you
may deem proper, copies Of the communica-
| tions of the 2Sth and both of January last from
j. G. White Of Stamford, ILL.,, to the President,
respecting an alleged conspiracy 1 have the
| honor to be sir, your obedient servant
| FREDERICK L. FRELINGHUYsEN.
THE ATToRNEY-GENERAL ALSO.
The Attorney General, desiring to pre-
vent heinous crime, sent the following
to st. Louis:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
| WASHINGTON, February Ia, 1885.
W. u. Bliss, esq, United States attorney, 81.
Louis, No.:
SIR: enclose herewith copies Of two com
municatons, one dated st. Louis, January 2S,
1885, and one dated Stamford ILL.,, January
20, 1SS5-both addressed to the President by
| one j. G. White--and also copy of the letter
of the 18th instant, from the Secretary Of
| State-all being sent to me by him. | direct
you to give the subject your immediate atten-
ton and examine and learn If there is any truth
in what is said in these communications, and
use every means In your power to protect the
| Presldent-eect and public interest Very re-
| spectfully, BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER,
Attorney-General.
W. II. BLISS INVESTIGATES.
The st. Louis Hawkshaw went to
work and soon became convinced that
there was something in the case, and
that something was an appropriation
but that later on.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. TO- 1885.
George r. Dick, Esq, Postmaster, Blooming
ton, Ill.,;
SIR: l beg to acknowledge and thank you
| for your telegram of this afternoon In reply
to my request Of to-day for certain informa-
tion concerning Rev. j. g. White of SIAM
ford, ILL., / am very anxious to learn OF the
standing, character and intelligence of Rev.
| Mr.. White in order to pursue certain investi-
cations intrusted TO me by the Department
Of Justice, VIII you please make the neces-
sary inquiries and advise me in the matter II
possible by return mail. Respectfully,
W. IL. BLISS,
United States Attorney.
A RELIGIOUS CRANK.
The Postmaster took after the alarm
with this result.
BLOOMINGTON, H., Feb 25, 1888.
w. II. Bliss Esq, United States attorney;
SIR--l have been out TO see some OF our peo-
Pile to find out what they know about Rev.
j. G.. White. do not get anything that ID
very favorable Of him. They all say that he
is crank on the Catholic Church. Truly
yours, GEORGE II. DICK, 7. NJ.
SECRETARY BAYARD SATISFIED.
The Hawkshaws needed money and
were not slow in asking for it, but--they
were fooled;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1885.
To Hon A. q. Garland, attorney General:
Acknowledging the receipt OF your letter OF
the nth, In which you enclose telegram Of
the 10th from w. II Bliss United States At
torney at St. Louis, requesting authority of the
Department Of Justice TO pursue the investiga,
ton respecting the alleged conspiracy reported
by Mr.. j. G, White of Stamford, H., and in
quiring whether the Department OF State
would defray the necessary expenses OF such
~. l. a.. =.