Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-13
CHARGES AGAINST COL. SHEPARD.
His Discharged Business Manager Allcge
That He Attempted Bribery.

His Discharged Business Manager Alleges
That He Attempted Bribery.
There was a big sensation yesterday in New
Y ork in the suit brought by Frank S. Gray
against Col. Elliot F. Shepard to recover some
$40, 600 for breach of contract.
Mr.. Gray had been business manager of the
Mail and Express. He had five years con-
tract at $40, 900 year and was discharged on
January 4, 1880, about two years before the
contract was up.
Mr.. Gray testified that the only reason the
colonel gave him for his discharge was that he
was incompatible. There was something about
incompatibility in the contract, but witness was
not allowed to tell what the colonel said he
meant by incompatibility.
Col. Ingersoll. counsel for Mr.. Gray. devel-
oped at this point something of sensation. He
led Mr.. Gray up to n point where he said he had
proven that there was no ground of incompati-
bility save one, and that when on one occasion
Mr.. Gray refused to do something the colonel
had asked him to do.
Mr.. Gray said that he received q letter on
July 2s, 1888, from Col. Shepard, who was then
at Bar Harbor. inclosing a check for $4,000.
He produced the letter. but eX-Judge Noah
Davis, counsel for Col. Shepard, objected to it
being put in evidence.
Col. Ingerson said that he wanted to
the contract was because Mr.. Gray refused to
attempt TO bride public officials at Col. Shep-
ard request.
The judge overruled the objections and Col
Ingersoll read the letter, which, undated and
unsigned. was as follows:
Commissions are not generally paid until
the bill is collected. Fifteen per cent is the
usual advertising commission. In some rare
occasions higher rates may be paid. Undoubt-
eddy 20 per cent consideration would be very
satisfactory. Do not have any trip-up. Do
not use the check until necessary. You may
have 100000 added to the bill. Try them.
They are weak and yield easily"
Witness said the men he was to bride were
Police Commissioners McClave and Stephen B.
French.
Col. Shepard was called to the witness box
after recess.
Col. Shepard was asked if the $1,000 check
| sent Gray was to go to either Commissioner
McClave or Commissioner French.
mo. sir, replied the colonel, land the state
ment that it is is a positive fasehood."
Was it to go to any police commissioner"
mo, quite the contrary"
The colonel was asked to explain the matter.
Before l went to Bar Harbor,' he said, II
had conference with Mr.. Gray about business
generally. / said to him: Now, the Mail and
Express is essentially republican newspaper;
the polling places for the county election must
be advertised in two papers. Can't we get it?
Mr.. Gray said he would undertake to get the adj
vertising, and afterward Mr.. Gray told me that
he had learned that certain firm of solicitors
controlled the police advertising. He said
that for $1,000 we could get the contract
and sent the S5, 900 from Bar Harbor. 1t was to
be used, of course, in paying the commission of
this firm of solicitors as advertising agents.
Afterward, when had occasion to speak to
Gray about dereliction of duty, he said: I've
got a letter Of yours that will take care of me
and prevent you making any changes He
gave me to understand thati was the Bar Har-
Dor letter. told him that that gave him no
hold over me, and demanded its return as
confidential epistle. He said he had torn it up
| and thrown it in the waste basket. said tina,
discharged his counsel, ex-Judge Dittenhoffer
threatened me with the publication of the lette,
and offered TO give 1t to me if would settle the
threatened suit Gray himself tried to black
| mail me-