The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-05-20
STATE OF COLORADO,

| COUNTY OF ARAPAHoE. o.
| Frederick A. Luckenback, being first duly
/ sworn on oath, depOses and says: l am go
| years Of age. I was born in Bucks county,
| Pennsylvania. l removed to the city of
| Philadelphia in the year 1916. and continued
to reside there until 1886, when l removed
| to the city Of New York. In Philadelphia
i | was in the furniture business. In New
York, branched into machinery and in
ventions, and am the patentee of Lucken-
bachs pneumatic pulverizer, which ma
chimes are row in use generally in the east
ern part Of the United States and in Europe
| now reside in Denver, having removed
| from New York two years ago. am well
known in New York. l have been mem
Der of the produce exchange and am well
acquainted with many members of that
| body. | am well known by Mr. Eratus
Wyman.
In the year 1865 / visited London, Eng,
for the purpose Of placing there, Pennsyl-
vania oil properties, in which was inter-
ested. took with me letters of Introduce
ion to many gentlemen in Lon on-among
them one to Mr.. Ernest Seyd from Robert
NJ. Foust, eX-treasurer of Philadelphia. /
became well acquainted with Mr.. Seyd, and
his brother, Richard Seyd, who, under
stand, Is yet living ! visited London there
after every year, and each visit renewed my
acquaintance WIN MI Dtlu9 anu upon tuCIl
occasion became his guest one or more
times joining his family at dinner or other
meals.
In February 1874. while on one Of these
visits, and while his guest for dinner, /,
among other things, alluded to rumOrs
aflOat, of parliamentary corruption, and ex-
pressed establishment that such corruption
should exist. In reply to this, he said he could
relate facts about the corruption of theAmer-
lean congress that would place 1t far ahead
of the English pariment in that line. So
far, the conversation was ut the dinner table
between us. His brother, Richard, and
others were there also, but this was table
talk between Mr.. Ernest Seyd and myself.
After the dinner ended, he invited me to
another room where we resumed the con.
VersatiOn about legislative corruption. He
said "If you will pledge me your honor as
gentleman not to divulge what am about
to tell you while live, | will convince you
that what | said about the corruption of the
American congress Is true" | gave him
the promise, and then he continued: ~
went to America In the winter of 1929,
authorized to secure, If could, the passage
of bill demonetlzing silver. 1t was to the
interest Of those | representative goyen-
0rs OF the Bank of Engand-to have It done.
| took with me 100000 sterling, with in
structiOns IL that was not sufficient to &C
complish the object to draw ElO0,OOO more
or as much more as was necessary" "He
told me, German bankers were also interest
ed in having it accomplished. Hesaid be was
financial adviser of the bank. He said: 81
saw the committees Of the house and senate
and paid the money and stayed in America
until | knew the measure was safe"
asked II he would give me the names OF the
members to whom he paid the money-but
this he declined to do. He said ''YOur
people will not comprehend the far-reach-
ing extent Of that measure-but they will in
after years. Whatever you may think Of
corruption in the English parliament, [
assure you, l would not have dared to make
such an attempt here, as / did In your
country" | expressed my shame to him,
for my countrymen in our legislative bodies.
The conversation drifted into other subjects
and after that-though / met him many
times-the matter was never again referred
to.
(Signed.) FREDERICK A. LUCKENBACH.
Sub scribed and sworn to before me at
Denver, this ninth day Of May, A. d., 1892.
(Signed) JAMES A. MILLER.
Clerk Supreme Court, State Of Colorado
[sEAL.I