The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-13
SHEPARD In HOT WATER
THE S0UTH-HITING BLITHER-
SKITE SHOUN UP 1T LAST.
"A Letter Produced i'm Court Showing that
He Furnished Money to Bri5e Ad-
vertising Commissioners.

NEW YORK. Dec. 12.-There was big
sensation this morning in the suit brought
by Frank s. Gray against Colonel Elliot
F. Shepard to recover some $4,000 for
breach of contract in the supreme court,
Judge Leach sitting.
Mr.. Gray was business manager OF the
Mail and Express. He had five ycars'
contract at $4,000 year, and was dis
charged on January 1880 about two years
before the contract was out Mr.. Gray
was on the stand this morning. He testi-
fed that the only reason the Colonel gave
him for his discharge was that he was
Incompatible.
Colonel Ingersoll, counsel for Gray, at
this point developed something of a SEN
sation. He led Mr.. Cray up to the point
where he said he had proven there was
no ground Of inconpatibility save one
and that when on one occasion Mr.. Gray
refused to do something the Colonel had
asked to do.
Mr.. Gray said that he received letter
on July 2S. 1883. from Colonel Shepard
who was then at Bar Harbor, enclosing
a check for $1,000 He produced the let
ter, but eX-Judge Noah Davis, counsel
for Colonel Shepard, objected to Il being
put In evidence. Colonel Ingersol said
that he wanted to show that the only
reason for the breaking the contract was
because Mr.. Gray refused TO attempt 10
bribe public officers at Colonel Shepards
request. The Judge overruled the objec-
tions, and Colonel Ingersoll read the let
ter, which, undated and unsigned was as
follows:
Commissions are not generally paid
fc pnllagfaI
cent. is the usual advertising commission.
In some rare cases higher rates may be
paid. Undoubtedly 25 per cent. considera-
tion would be very satisfactory. Do not
have any trip up. Do not use the check
until necessary. You may have $4,000
added to the bill Try them. They are
weak and yield easily"
Witness said the men he was to bribe
were Police Commissioners McClave and
Stephen b. French.
Witness then detailed a conversation
he had with Colonel Shepard on August
9th of the same year in reference 10 the
letter Colonel Shepard asked him, he
said, II he got the letter. When witness
said yes the Colonel asked him if he
burned It, and told him he should always
burn things of that kind and not tear
them up. According to the witness COL
onel Shepard said:
The commissioners are mere now. lou
can go ahead" Witness said that he
refused point blank. He had deposited
the 5000 check in the Park National
Bank TO his own credit, and he gave Col
onel Shepard his own check for the
amount. The check he testified was To
be used in bribing the commissioners to
give advertising to the Mail and Ex-
press
Colonel Shepard was called 10 the wilt
ness box, and denied that the 5000 check
sent Gray was to go TO either Commis-
sioner McClave or Commissioners French.
or any other commissioner. and In expla-
nation said. Before l went to Bar Har-
Dor | had a conference with Mr.. Gray
about business generally. j said to him:
Now the Mail and Express Is essentially
n Republican newspaper, the polnnB
pl lces for the county election must be
advertised in two papers. Can't we get
It? Mr.. Gray said he would undertake. TO
get the advertising, and afterward MT.
Gray told me that he had learned that a
certain firm Of solicitors controlled the
police advertising. He said that for SuOO
we could get the contract, end 1 sent
the s.. 900 from Bar Harbor. IL was TO be
used. Of course, in paying the commission
of the firm Of the solicitors as advertis-
ing agents. Afterwards, when j had oc-
casion TO speak 10 Gray about dere-
llcton of duty he said: have got let
ter of yours that will take care or me
and prevent you making any changes
He gave me TO understand that II was the
Bar Harbor letter. / told him that that
gave him no hold over me, and demanded
it's return as confidential eplste lie
said he had torn It up and thrown 1t
in the waste basket / said that was no
way to DESTROY papers. After Gray was
discharged his counsel, eX-Judge Often
hotter, Threatened me with the publication
Of the letter and offered TO give II to
me IL / would settle the threatened suit.
Gray has tried to blackmail me-"
The letter OF dismissal that he wrote
GRAY was read In It the Colonel inform
ed Gray that he had been a dismal fall
ure. that he was too hashy and fickle."
that "his father and his mother would be
glad to have him back with them again.
and that the climate in New York did
not agree with him.
At O'Clock the court adjourned till to-
morrow.