Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-29
A STARTLING CONSPIRACY.

tray the MINIMUM VI N"hihhViNft
In its suit before the Interstete
Commerce Commission against the
Union Pacific Railroad Company. The
facts are simple, the Inference sought
10 be drawn from them IL ut prchont
rather strained.
The facts are these: Much to the
surprise OF people interested In the
case, an effort was made 10 have tue
examination removed from this city to
Washington, ID. c. Tnis was on
dorsed by number Of business houses
ia this city. II was not astonishing
that the railroad company desired this,
but Il was that firms here should want
the investigation conducted there.
This movement, however, seemed
TO be on the point OF failure, when
another application was made, asking
for postpone nent Of the investiga-
ton and signed by the principal ship
pers In this city. The Chamber Of
Commerce consented TO delay for sixty
daye. This also accustomed surprise
and many queries ~ TO the cause. II
now comes out that theee shippers con-
sidored they might be able to adjust
their difficulty with the railroad com
pany and avoid litigation, aud also
that the suit was not In proper hands
for prosecution.
The cause for reaching the latter in
clusion was some information placed
before them by the railroad company,
IN the shape ofcorrespondence between
MIR. s. w. Eccles, general freight
agent, and 8. W. Sears, Jr., son OF the
Secretary Of the Chamber OF Com
merce. In connection with this was n
mystical parsonage named as "E. T..
Edwards" Who figured Ms the chief
actor In the affair.
On tho 2Gth OF July letter was sent
to MFR. Eccles, signed by l.. Il. Ed
wards, box 2sa, city, containing a
proposition 10 turn over 10 the railroad
company. for consideration, a copy
OF the speech which Secretary Sears
was to make before the Commission,
sundry aflldsvits bearing on the case
and other documents, whlch would put
the company In possession OF the
points which the Chamber Of Com.
merce expected to make In the suit
against the company. He claimed to
have worked through Mr.. Sears clerk
and to have a key TO his Office.
Mr.. Ecclee, II appears, conferred with
Mr.. +. l.. Williams, the attorney foi
the company and by his advice an
swered the letter. The correspond
ence continued and Mr.. Eccles end.a
vored to obtain al interview with thii
Edwards, but he interposed s. w
Sears, Jr., as q better person to tall
with, claiming that they roomed to
gether out West, that Edwards had {
hold upon young Sears through som,
indiscretion that the latter desired 4
keep from his mother, and that II wa
to the great advantage Of the railroat
to enter into this negotiation.
An intimation from Mr. Ecclcs tina
no would prefer to Zee Edwards wa,
followed by another communication
enclosing one from young Sears hin
solf,showing his willingness to cngag,
In the affair, followed by others frou
s. w. Sears, IT,, TO Mr.. Eccles direct
the last named gentleman havinl
kept up the correspondence hl
advice Of the Goneral Freigh
Agent at Omaha ana tn,
general attorney for tho company
Aitor several Intellectual efforts TO We
hold of Edwards, IN appointment wa
made for 5. W. Sears, Jr. and he an
Mir. Eccles met at the Knutsior
Pharmacy and went to Mr.. Eccles
Office. The propo,ition was to turi
over, for sum that does not yet az
pear In figures, the following docu
ments.
Speech, eighteen pages, type.wrii
ten. Two RilldRvits certified by Sec
rotary OF Interior. List OF names {
be subpmnaed. Men who have agree
to testify. Statement showing iii
elimination against the Territory
Statement showing cost Of movement
OF freight on various lines. Proof tina
rebates have been given.
At another interview, Edwards wa
represented by young Sears rs havin
lett town and two letter. purpoIting {
have been received from him weI
produced. But meanwhile speci,
agents OF the railroad company were
work Us detectives and they claim |
have obtained from waste pap,
basket, In the Office Of Secretary Sean
the pencil originals Of which the,
Letters from Edwards are copies wit
but triiling verbal alterations.
The detectives also learned that no
2s3 had been rented by s. w. Sears !
that he received letters for himself au
Il. Il. Edwards; that he had taken
least two letters addressed to Edwar,
and placed them, unopened, on del
In one of the rooms in the OIL,
OF his father, the Secretary; that u
purported Edwards letters had bee
written on the same kind OF paper
that Issued In the Chamber OF Cor
merce rooms; and that these lette