Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-22

Charged With Burning the Documents
From Which His Famous Labor Report
Was Made Up--Held in Bail for Hear

From Which His Famous Labor Report
Was Made Up--Held in bail for "a Hear
ing.
ALBANY, N. Y, Sept 17.-Land Com
missioner Peck and his stenographer,
Egbert Rogers, appeared before Police
Justice Gutmann this morning and each
one was held in $1,000 bail and the
case adjourned until 10 a, m. September
10Th.
DETAILS OF THE CHARGE.
ALBANY, Sept. 17.--Labor Commits
siouer Peck and his strenographer,
Egbert Rogers, are under arrest. Hav-
ing failed in all their efforts to get the
original returns on which the commits
sioner's disputed tariff report was based,
the Anderson committee have made a
desperate move. They charge Mr.. Peck
and his secretary with burning the
papers which he has declined to let
them see. The action brought is for
destroying public records. The movers
in the matter are District Attorney Eaton
and Mr.. Anderson's counsel, Norton
Chase. The accused were allowed to go
on their own recognizance after the
warrants were served last night.
The opponents of Commissioner Peck
say that a private detective who was
hired by the Anderson committee TO
watch for just such an emergency saw
a bag of papers brought TO Mr.. Pccks
rooms from his office last Sunday and
burned in the furnace. They also say
they have procured portions OF un-
burned documents which prove to be
returns made by manufacturers for his
report. Those concerned in the prose-
cution are all prominent Cleveland men
and refuse TO talk about the affidavit on
which the warrant was granted. 1t is
learned, however, that it was made by
the janitor, whose name is w. j. Denni-
son. 1t is alleged that he burned the
papers Sunday night and was paid 81
for doing it. 1t is also claimed that the
charred fragments furnish all the evi.
dence that could be desired.
DENIED BY PECK.
The story has spread like wildfre and
is the sensation of the city. Commits.
sioner Peck takes it cody, but is ner-
vous at what he calls "the cuwardly at
tack Of these contemplate mugwump
Curs' He was seen last night just after
the warrants were served. lie denied
cmphatically the story about burning
the records.
This is the legitimate elimination
and continuation of the warfare against
me by this lot of damned boilers and
nugwumps," he said; they have failed
in their purpose thus far and they will
fail now. | serve notice on them that
shall do some fighting myself hereafter.
They are determined to have my papers
and am determined to kecpmy promise
10 the manufacturers who made those
returns. will rot in Jail before | will
make public one single document.
"rhere is politics III this continued
MIR, Peck holly. at is mn attack on me,
not as labor commissioner, but as Il
friend of senator Hill. This is an evi.
dencc Of tho treatment the Hill Demo.
Gratis may expect at the hands of Mr..
Cleveland friends if the coming cleo
ton puts them in power. have known
for several days what this Albany gang
was up to, but thought | would let
them go out to the end of their rope.
But | warn them Ito look ont for the day
Of reckoning. have said that this prose
cutionofmyself by the mugwump friends
| of Mr.. Cleveland would end IN trouble
and hoped Mr.. Whitney would see the
danger. | will be in court tomorrow
with my counsel, Mr.. Mecgan, and after
that those ours will hear from me again. -
The conference between the Anderson
committee aud Mr. Peck, which pre-
cedcd the warrant, was a hot preliminary
to the contest, The committee came
late and asked over so questions. Mr..
Peck answcredIn substance by referring
the committee to lis report Nelson
Smith, chairman of the general com
mittee of Iammany Hall; j. Schoon-
hotf and J, i. insolvency had TO do all
the talking, as Mr., Peck absolutely re.
| fused to have anything to do with Mr..
Anderson. During their frequent pass
ages at arms Mr.. Peck insinuatcl that
Mr.. Anderson was no gentleman and
openly reflected On his truthfulness.