The sun., 1889-12-06
GOV. FORAKER'S DEFENCE.
BIs EFFORT TO EICUIPITR HIMSELF
IN THE FORGERY CASE.

NE Pr,uts the Letters that Passed Ne
tween Him and ForEer Wood-An A.
mission that I1s Promised WOOD an
once 10 Put Evidence IN His Hands that
WouId Hurt His Political Enemies-The
SpectaeIe These Letters Make or the
. ,DistipEuished Governor OF Ohio.
CNcrSNAT1, Dec. 5.-The following Is an
extract OF Gov. Foraker's letter TO the Enquirer,
giving his side OF the ballot-box forVery. While
Z endeavorlng to put himself in the right light
he proves. as has always been charged. that
he promised an appointment to criminal for
q forged paper:
Tho article appearing In to-day's Enquirer
concerning the ballot box forgery is OF such a
character that deem myself justified In ask
ing you to now give to the public, In advance OF
the trial OF Wood. the following statement OF
the information have in regard to the mat
ter:
II have until now kept silent, except as to n
general statement but have not done So rs
a you are aware. from any unwilinRness to give
TO the public every item Of knowledge have
possessed In regard to this matter. but only be-
cause the interests OF public justice seemed to
REQUIRE that should say nothing until called
ns witness to testify.
I'm submitting the matter to the public
wish to add, In addition to what appears in the
regular statement. that have never made q
charge against any one in connection with the
, same at any time or place. except only in 30
far as l may have done 30 In my
speech at Marietta as to Mr. Campbell
nil the particulars OF which have been
time and again set forth. / never assumed
any responsibility whatever with respect to the
=. paper except only to let you have 1t after had
!. explained to you how came by 1t. My fault
!. fherefore. IL fault It be, was confined solely to
being imposed upon. That have always re-
i gretted. but have never in any way sought to
eVade.
2 '.I submit however. that the fact that was
told there was such a paper months before
this forgery was committed. and the fact that
the paper produced by Wood seemed
to at the case precisely except as to
certain OF the names and partially in that
respect, coupled with the fact that Woods
statements were from time to time corrooo-
rated, 1t is no wonder that should have ac-
cepted the paper as genuine. as you and others
did who saw 1t. without questioning its char
scter
-On June 27 or June 28 I first heard OF the
matter. was told that ]. E. Campbell intro
duced the bill In Congress. and that there was
written evidence that he was interested flnan-
cially In the result with John r. Mclean and
others. So far as 1 can now recall heard
nothing further until Aug. 6, when the follow
ing telegram came to the Governors office
from R. G.. Wood, Cincinnati:
., "'CNc1NNATI. Aug 6. 1889.
".Fome Hon. Co.. Foraker:
"Will you help me2 am an applicant for
Smoke Inspector.
re. Woop. Hall Safe COMPANY,
see him after returned frSm New York where where
Iwent that night OF the 10 follo wing day While
In New York received the following:
HrNf q
80 Car. you iadorse me for smoke inspector
nnder Mayor Mosbyf Place is sitl q yaSHn5; %6nn,
"I answered that he could see me on my re-
turn to Columbus, have no copy OF that tele;
my present recollection. on Aug IL. and found
'A' i''''"' HAI1's SAFE AND LOCK Co.,
"'c L Kwts, Private Secretary oJ Con Foraker,
reply viii say that i viii be in Columbus next
Ss as peceved the Pc
y ~! 70 fo Gov. Foraker-I leave on O'clock train
for E9Esr GSumSHs eSs day or the aornS
Once ono D. Where % he he called in which he confirmed
ae' tHer thas a the sen old @ Contact % he called nut IT,
had expired by Limitation, and that q 2
hsS been WITH and was sPa no% being ssnsa
He said that they desired to have Gen. Alger's
signature; DC. He promised on on his return t9
= send it to me. promised. on receipt OF the
same. to recommend him for smoke Inspector
Wood In his Interview with me told me about
gun contract, and what he called the Modoc or
papes ter wsrs eey ~ on ecep
OF that wrote to Wood as follows:
DEAR S1R.-Answering your letter Of the 10th
inst. you will get 2 letter OF RECOMMENDATION
before. Very truly yours &C..
II heard nothing from Wood and did not see
him again, IN. 50 far as can recall, until was
ProsdsnR e on 6e and @ &Re
at my room In the Gibson 80 w1ra HGdse gTan on AaG H.
WSeh tRe following Is aopg In
'. CISOINNATI. Sept ii. 1889.
DEAR SIR: have several valuable papers
: Ike to see you about fifteen ppinptes y % alone
sent Sm Word that he could see ms and
thereppon he came to my room and showed
from W. nj. Langdon OF Detroit. In which the
latter says to come to milwaukee, to got Gen.
waGted the Old as he eRed it,
the one signed by ]. L. Campbell. and which he
told me had been used IN S6 SGnnestSn nS With hs
but that 10 could get /. ior me by willing for @
Washington for that contract and send IL to
= me when he got II. / heard nothing further
from him until received from him on the
morning OF Sept. 2 the following:
: =. GIBSON HOUSE, CINCINNATI Sept l. 1889.
: 80 Cor EOruksr.
"'DEAR sIR: A telegram saying old contract
is at Baltimore and tor me to meet PARTY at
WashinGson next Tuesday II possible. received
to-day. VIII you be kind enough to have
, mailed to me, Ebbitt House. Washington. a
letter Of Introduction to President Harrison.
like the one, you gave me, to hand to
GOV. Luce OF Michigan. This will give us time
enough to get the exact documents you want.
bellev know for the first time exactly what
you do want, would suggest that you write
his Honor. the Mayor. saying that In a week
you can give him your recommendations. &c.
Yours respectfully, IL. q. WooD.'"
!, ION receipt OF that letter wrote for Wood,
the following letter OF introduction to the Pres
''Rn EScellercy The Ir,sd,n. Washington, n c:
DEAR SIR: Allow me to introduce the
bearer of this letter. Mr.. II. q, Wood OF Cincin-
natl. Ohio. Mr.. Wood Is an old soldier. a good
oitizsn. and hard working man. He has ex-
hibited considerable genius as an inventor
? ~ do not know that he wants. any favor
other than an opportunity to pay his respects.
but however that may be. take pleasure In
commending him to your favor, Very truly
HourS "' j, ID. EOKAHEN'