The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-08
Byrnes' Plan the Wiser One.

as good as it used to be, or there is grow
| ing disregard for truth. Three sensational
cases have occurred recently in New York
city in which the verscity of well-known
persons is involved. The most conspicuous
one is that in which ex-Presideat Cleveland
aud Reporter Crawford is concerned. Mr..
| Crawford interviewed Mr. Cleveland
with respect to a publication in
the New York Sun. IN which
the statement was made that Mr.. Cleveland
was taking on fat at the rate of twenty-five
| pounds a month, and that he was so
alarmed about his physical condition that
he had placed himself under the treatment
of fat-reducing doctor. Mr.. Crawford's
report was printed in the New York World
1t contained bitter attack upon the editor
of the Sun. Mr.. Cleveland declared that
with the exception of a few innoc-
uous lines which he himself had written and
given to Mr.. Crawford, the interview was
bogus one Mr. Crawford has published
a statement over his own signature in
which he says that the interview was COR
rect in every respect; that. in fact, he did
not put into it all the harsh things which
Mr. Cleveland said of the editor of the Sun
The public is left to form its own opinion
whether Mr.. Cleveland's memory is bad or
Mr.. Crawford's moral nature is so blunted
that he does not know the difference be-
tween truth and falsehood.
A second case is that TO which Patrick
Mccain and Mr.. Grant, the mayor of New
York, are parties. Mr.. Mccain testified
before the investigating committee of the
legislature that SlS0,0OO was raised by
Richard Croker to make Mr. Grant COM
missioner of public works in 1884, and, also.
that Mr.. Grant, when sheriff, gave Richard
Croker's little daughter So, 900.
The effect of the latter charge was to create
the impression that Mr.. Grant divided the
fees of the sheriff's office with Mr. Croker.
Mr.. Grant went on the witness stand and
denied the statements of Mr.. McCann. Mr..
Mccain now invites Mr.. Grant to have him
indicted for perjury. He wants the oppor-
tunity to show that his testimony was true.
| Again the public must decide whether Mr..
Grant or Mr.. McCann told the truth, as
there is not much probability that Mccain
will be either indicted for perjury or sued
| for libel.
|
well-known chief of detectives of New York.
Some time ago an article appeared il the
public prints with Mr. Byrnes' name at
tached to it in which some severe things were
said of Mrs. Martin, who at one time was
known to fame as Victoria Woodruff Mrs.
Martin has now good social position in
London, and after the article in question
was reprinted in the London papers she
aud her husband came to this coun-
try, for the purpose, it is alleged
of compelling Mr.. Byrnes to deny
that there was any truth in the statements
made in it. Mrs. Martin aud friend
called on Mr.. Byrnes, and the following
day there appeared in the public prints an
| interview with Mrs. Martin, in which she
was reported to have said that Mr.. Byrnes
declared that he did not write the offensive
article, and knew nothing of the matters
with which it dealt; that articles were often
publ shed over his name without his consent
or knowledge. Mrs. Martin was reported
| further to have said that Mr.. Byrnes made
| her a most ample and humble apology
for anything that he might have said that
was not complimentary to her. When this
interview appeared Mr.. Byrnes at once as
serted that he had made no apology and had
not denied the authorship of the article.
On the contrary, he had admitted that he
wrote it and invited Mrs Martin to sue him
for libel.
In this case it seems the public is not to
be left to judge for itself whether Mrs.
Martin or Mr.. Byrnes told the truth re-
lative to what was said at their interview.
Mr.. Byrnes took the precaution, he says, to
have two detectives ia the room in which the
interview took place. They were hidden
from view, however, and therefore
Mrs. Martin was not aware of their pres
ence. Mr.. Byrnes' precaution was wise
one In this question of veracity which has
been raised he has two witnesses to sustain
him, and although there might be sus-
picion that the detectives wo uld stand by
their chief, even if the facts were against
him, yet he has the weight of ties imony on
his side, and therefore it is clear that his plan
Of having listeners within earshot in cases in
which there may be raised subsequently u
question of veracity is a wise one
Notwithstanding the fact that Senator In.
gals had his picture printed in the New