The morning call., 1890-10-31
II is A FRAUD.
That cold Pard" Letter Declared
to Be a Forgery.
Colonel Markham Did Not Write It-"Discov.
cred" by DR.. Cougar, His Bitterest Ea-
emy-Expsrts' Views

The last and most desperate effort OF the
Buckley Democrats to save themselves from
overwhelming defeat has proved frutless,
for the ''Old Pard" letter, attributed to Col
onel ii. Ii. Markham, Republican nominee
for Cover nor, has been declared forgery, q
fabrication and fraud. History repeats it
self in most singular manner. for the SIM
ulated correspondence has for its burden an
unpopular expression of opinion on the Chi
nese question, the same subject that was EN-
ployed ten years ago in the Morey letter
which was intended to injure General Gar
field, and which actually cost him the cleo
t0ral vote of California.
When the Democratic State Central Com
mittee issued what purported to be fac
smile of letter written by Colonel Mark
ham, that gentleman repudated the whole
thing as spurious, and Mr.. Stump, Chair
man OF the Republican State Central Com
mittee, offered $1,000 reward for the produc-
tion of genuine letter written by Colonel
Markham containing any such sentiments as
those set forth in the forgery.
After more than two weeks delay the let
ter was placed in the hands of Mr.. Stump
for examination. He gave the matter care
full consideration, and yesterday sent his
reply to the Democratic State Central Com
mittee. 1t is but fair to these gentlemen to
say that in this matter they have relied on
the assertions of DR.. o. ii. Cougar of Pasa-
dena, one of Colonel Markham's bitteres:
and most relentless enemies. They are not,
however, the first to be victims of his duplic-
lty as the records OF the court in Los Ange-
les will attest.
Mr.. Stump's reply is as follows:
TO the Hon. Russell J. Wilson, Chairman, and
other members Of the Democratic State Central
Comnaittee-GENTLEMEN That may not be
misunderstood or mlsquo; ed in my answer
which desire to accompany the return OF the
letter which you left with Inc yesterday l have
placed the same In wrillug, and have the pleasure
OF handing II 10 you, together with the aforesaid
letter.
On October oath I concluded a letter to the
Hon. Mr.. Wilson with the following words, TO
wit: las Chairman OF the Republican state
Central Committee | will pay you $1,000 for a
genuine letter Of Hon. H. Fl. Markham of the
character you have published as being III your
possession"
have very carefully examined the letter in
question, which was furnished me as being the
one referred 10 by you, and decline to pay you
$1,000 for the reason tDat the same does not
fnlnll the requirements made III my letter OF the
24th inst, 10 wit: That required genuine
letter.
1 will briefly as possible state my reasons for
the conclusion al which | have arrived but 1
first desire TO dispose OF two propositions which
You were SO obging as to make on yesterday
but which decned.
1he first was that as Mr.. Markham would not
De IN Shil Tie PIeCtlOu, that
you ana myself or i representative OF each
should visit MIR. Markham 10 lay before him the
letter in questloG. that he might pass upon its
authenticity. There Is no necessity for this, as
Mr.. Markham has already said that If the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee had 10 It's posses
sion letter over his signature OF the character
as published by you it was not genuine. / do not
think this offer, made at this time, can be con-
slrued IN any oiher light than that OF a subter-
fuge. MIR. Markham has been III this city twice
since you have had the letter in your possession,
and fairness in politics would have dictated that
lie should have been shown the letter then IL
there was any desire whatever on the part OF
your committee that lie should see it, or II the
offer was made with any other idea IN view ex-
cept 10 deceive tie People and injuie MIR. Marx.
ham.
1he second offer was 10 permit me to interro-
gate DIR. o. II. COngar. have as thoroughly as
possible gone over he testimony In The case, and
have read ibe findings OF the Court, and do not
desire to ask the gentleman any questions, for
the reason that the Court has placed upon DR..
, Cougar the unenvabe notoriety OF having an
"eyasive memory" While OH the witnesS-stand.
III such Il Judgment was formed OF DIR. Cougar in
court OF Justice, his statements TO me would
be wholly unworthy OF belief l also ind this
same DR.. Cougar TO be the source from which
this letter was obtained by you.
Upon The Il ial of this case by Judge OMel-
veny, copy of this letter was put in evidence,
and It's Authenticity was only shown through
Cougar. No one at the trial saw the original
letter, but copy which Cougar said he had COM
pared with the original. but which he did not
Certify even 10 be copy, was filed.
Mr.. Wilson stated yesterday, answer to a
question, that the attention OF Mr.. Markham
was not at any time called 10 this letter. When
you produce tie letter in question: it comes
through The hands Of This same man Cougar, be-
tween whom aud ualock tie Court bell we'd
there was conspiracy, and who in his findings
said that they evaded the truth upon the wit
ness-sland. aud showed an evasive lack OF men-
ofy, ana that they had know edge OF facts which
they had denied. To emphasize this point the
Court found these facts from the evidence and
correspondence of Cougar and HallOck them
selves. The Court also found that all trouble
growing out Of this particular mining transaction
was caused by this same Cougar, who induced
MIR. Markham and others 10 buy an interest in
the mine on his repre- SentatiOns dS all expert,
when he had no such knowledge, and the Court
finds that he ml,ed all OF his associates.
The entire record OF the case shows that DR..
Cougar was subtle, seheming, dishonest, Gun
ming man; that he duped his neghbors into buy
ing the mine; that lie mismanaged The property
and sold out his interest at a profit, formed
conspiracy with Mr. Hauck and others TO fleece
MIR. Markham. and when lie failed tbtoug the
courts aud could not prostitute them TO the base
purpose lie publicly falsihed Court findings and
published malicious falsehoods to injure Mr..
Markham.
Ali these things show such devilish cunning
and such an anmoslly toward Mr. Markham,
which, taken together with the Court findings,
warrant me in discredlting the authenticity of
any letter >aid 10 have been written by Mr..
Markham which comes 10 me TIL ough this chan
mel. His agent and messenger In the case Is one
Lang OF Los Angeles, an attorney, who was not
long since on Trial on motion 10 dIsbar him
from practice before the Court, on Ihe ground
that he had been engaged in procuring straw bail
bonds foI Chinanen. under an Indictment for
violation OF law.
l have called o my assistance TWO OF the best
eXperts IN willing ON this Coast, and " ho
in addition TO their reputation of being unsur-
passed as experts eujO the enviable reputation
oil being absolutely honest men whose opinions
cannot be bought or sold. l have furnished
these gentlemen with admittedly genuine writ
ings OF mir. Markham and the copies which you
on yesterday said were facsimlles. George &.
HlckoX says that Il comparison "Shows material
devlations, impeifections and Inconsistencies
~ sf fr IN n n N
is not geJnine" HenIy Z. Hyde says: lit GER
taiuy contains large number Of resemblances
to similar forms In the genuine. and altogel her
Is plausible imitation OF Tie genuine hand
writing, yet Notwithstanding this suggestion of
an Intimate knowledge of the genuine, 1t is full
OF evidences Of the haltIug, uncertain move
ments of writer initiating Ihe letter forms Of
hand not his OWE, resting IN unusual places,
joining Incomplete strokes and varying the angle
OF slope, stamping the entire production as a
labOred effort quite out OF harmony with its ap.
parently opeu, free and flowing style. These
qualities, with the very noticeable feature of the
uniformity 0f pressure III ascending and descend
Ing strokes, arc wholly at Variance with lhe
genuine writing of Colonel Markham. While
fully aware of the erroneous appearances often
presented by grossly executed reproduct ion of
writlDg, find iu tins paper sufficient evidence
to Justify !, strong doubt OF the genuineness Of
thorough examination OF the same has con-
vinced me That there has been manufactured
letter cievery initiating The handwriting OF Mr..
Markham and containing clause which It was
hoped would arouse Tile preJudices OF certain
nationality.
do moi claim that the committee before me
has been guilty OF such base conduct. but firmly
believe that they have circulated immense num-
brrs OF letter Which they claim 10 be a fac.
sime, which am convinced Is a base fabrica-
ton.
II was said by Lincoln, If recoect correctly
that you can fool some OF the people all OF tile
time aud all OF The peope some OF the time, but
thai you cannot fool all the people all tile time,
and therefore dismiss this case without further
comment, eXceLt that l do not believe that The
people OF this State VIII be " fooled into for
getting measures, national and STATE and the
man representing them. aud decide an important
Congressional, state ana legislative election on
another Morey' letter. thus re enacting the
farce OF ten years ago. l am, gentlemen, very
respectfully yours.
IRWIN C. STUMP, Chairman.
CHARITY AND PLEASURE.
How the Ladies' Epjny Themselves at
the Cathedral Razanr.