St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-13
THE WOOD FORGERY.
The, House Committee Roast!
Messrs. Foraker and Halstead.

The, House Committee Roasts
Messrs. Foraker and Halstead.
CHICAGO, Jan. 12.-The report of the
house ballot box committee, which last
session made an extensive investigation
into Ohio political affairs in connection
with alleged subscriptions by members
of congress of stock in patent ballot
box. Was to-day presented to the house
by Mr.. Mason. of Illinois, the chairman
of the investigating committee of five.
The main report. which is signed by all
the members of the committee, says:
We find that Richard G. Wood, Frank ana
L. Milward and Frank S. Davis were the only
persons directly or indirectly aiding, abet-
ting, assisting or knowingly consenting to
the preparation of said forgery with knowl
edge of its character. That Milward aud
Davis were without evil intent in the part
they took in the transaction, and had no
other purpose than to accommodate X. g.
Wood, and at Woods request; that said Wood
uttered said forgery for the purpose of pro:
curing Gov Foraker's recommendation of
himself to the mayor of Cincinnati. o., for
appointment to an office of that city
Inspector We further find that
j. B. Foraker and Murat Halstead
aided in uttering said forgery, Mr. Foraker
by exhibiting the paper to several persons
and thereafter delivering it to Mr. Halstead.
and Mr. Halstead aided in utiering said
forgery by publishing the forged paper on
Oct A. 1889. in the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette; but we find that neither OF said
parties, Foraker aud Halstead in uttering
said paper, knew the same was forgery.
e find that no one of the persons whose
names appear on said alleged contract had
or has, either directly or indirectly, any I'M
lawful, corrupt or improper, or any other
connection with or interest in the ballot
hny ar Snhlpct q
said alleged contract; and that there never
was any other contract relating TO said bal
lot boxes, in which either of these persons,
alone or Jointly with others, was in any way
interested. William Z. Mason, William
Cogswell. l. S. Struble, Ii. G. Turner, Will
lam L. Wilson.
The supplementary report, signed by
all the members of the committee ex-
cept Chairman Mason, reports the fol-
lowing additional findings:
We think that the conduct of Wood during
the negotiations with Gov Foraker, and also
pending the execution of their agreement
disclosed his depravity. We also believe
that careful scrutiny of the face of the
forged paper must have shown its false char
acter The high stations attained in public
affairs and in public confidence by the per-
sons whose names were forged. should have
suggested verifcation of the corrupt paper
before 1t was uttered or published. lnforma-
ton as to its real character was near and
easy of access as disclosed by the report OF
the committee.
MI. Mason, in minority report, says
that he cannot agree with the additional
findings of his colleagues; first. be-
cause they are not within the inquiry
propeunded by the resolution under
which the committee was appointed.
Being deceived is the only offense of
Messrs Halstead and Foraker. They each
have. made reputation and character equal
to any of the gentlemen who were outraged
by the forgery. Since they found they were
deceived. they have done all in their power,
as honorable men, to make amends. TO ask
lieving, as do, that the evidence
does not warrant the censure in
obliged in by my associates on the committee
i'll their above additional findings, against
such additional findings most respectfully
but most earnestly protest.