New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-09
MIR. WEEDS HALF DENIAL.
HE DID NOT WRITE THE LETTER TO RILEY.
REFUSING TO SAY THAT HE DID NOT DICTATE

REFUSING TO SAY THAT HE DID NOT DICTATE
OR INSPIRE 1T, HOWEVER.
"The New-York Herald printed yesterday under
Albany date letter alleged 10 have been written
by Smith NJ. Weed to John B. Riley, his "right hand
man. In Pattsburg. II genuine, II was written Just
ater HIPS election to the United States Senate and
before that graspng politician had let it be known that
ne meant to hold to tho Governorship as well as
the senatorshp. "The Herald's' dispatch accom-
panyng the letter says that copies OF 1t have been
circulating in Albany among tho politicians for several
days. II makes the disappointed Mr.. Weed talk 10
his bosom friend in PlattSburg thus
Dear Riley thank you for your faithful WORK in
my behalf You have labored hard and ON at loss ior
words express my appreciation Of your kindness we
have all labored hard and lost
readily why the Governor grabbed the plum
after put up much to carry the day. bus
why insists in the assertion that Tam
many support This statement OF the Gov
satisfactory evidence that II Is
false, from the very mouths OF some OF TAM
many's best men,
But mind, John, Will get back az them yet'
Our side will be a winner in the end
You remember David but few weeks more to put In
executive He must then give up the place to Jones.
friend and as he takes his seat
Hill be of the way, so to speak Then wen make
Rome howl.
want to give you good advice, john BE careful
for q you do Tell the rest OF the
boys do the You know there are positions thas
depend upon silence careful what you DO or say until
the time comes. Then say wnat you ike. Keep your
eyes the Clinton County boys Don't let them express
their feelings Tell them that know they have done their
duty John, again bid you be guarded In your own
remarks Yours sincerely,
SMITH NJ. WEED.
A reporter found Mr.. Weed in his roomy Office in
cortlandt-st Yesterday and after handing him the
paper containing the printed letter. asked him II ne
had written Ii.
Mr. Weed took the paper and read 1t carefully, with
the manner of a man who would impress spectator
with the idea that he perusing 1t for the hrst
time At intervals he proceeded, Mr. weed
made grimaces which he probably Intended for sar-
castle smiles, Indicative of supposed amusement which
he was suppressng with visible effort. He empha-
sized the grmaces with little, short pufs at cigar
| he was smoking When he had finished reading the
letter he took the Havana from his mouth and In
answer to the reporters question, which had to be
| repeated, said;
al never wrote that letter. 1t is a forgery
"wilI you make a statement in writing over your
signature that you neither wrote nor dictated that
letter, a letter similar to tnat, 10 Mr. hley y
Mr.. Weed was asked
The Plattsburg statesman revolved the question in
| his mind for several moments and then answered
bluntly, but with Of the grimaces still playing
| over his face,
"No, will NOT
| "Why?p
Because 1 do not think the matter Of SUFFICIENT
Importance. 1 care nothing about the letter nor the
people who got it up"
| Mr.. Weed added that he did not consider 1t worth
his while Ito pay any attention to the alleged letter
and that he would not be drawn into any controversy
| about It's genulneness. He admitted that he had
written many letters to Mr.. Riley, which might have
| been altered into the shape of the one under dis
cusson by changing all that was written between the
address and the signature
Mr.. Weeds attention was called TO the noenous
part of the letter, II forgery, where he was MADE
| to speak Of the Governors greediness I" after
| Weed had put up much money; but 1t faleo
| TO interest him. If he should sue all the papers
| that had lbeled him. he said, he would have notn
ing to do but to look after libel suits.
Mayor Grant was asked what truth there was In
the reference in the alleged letter that Governor Hill
had insisted on the assertion that Tammany had
refused to support Weed"
$50 far as my knowledge goes, Tammany never
refused to support Mr. Weed, any other candidate,
the Mayor replied 81 do not think that Tammany
| Hall took any action whatever on the subject"
There were all sorts of opinions expressed by pol
itlcian yesterday about the letter. Some tnnk ina
| n was concocted by a clever Hill man., with th'
intent to njure Weed and Lieutenant Jones
in his aspirations for the Governorshp Others thinf
| that the objective point was lesser game namely
MIR Riley, to whom the miSsive was addressed, VINO
Is candidate flor State Controller. Most people
however have faith In the genuineness of the letter
or one like It, in spite of Mr. Weeds shuffing DENIAL