The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-11-03
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER.
PLOT TO AssAssINA1E JERRY SIMPSON
BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
A Rather Peculiar Tale About Getting From
Drunken Man Letters Proving That
the Scheme was Perfected
to Kill Simpson.

WICHITA, Kans., Oct. 26.-Jerry
Simpson has been warned that con-
spiracy to kill him has been uneartned
and from now until he has completed
tour of his district he will be as'
companied by a body guard OF Demo
Gratis and Populists. The congress slona
committee of the Seventh district is
thoroughly disconnected at the story
which Intercepted letters tell, and al
a consultation today decided to make
all the correspondence public. Briefly
told the story is this: some one Writ
ing at different times over
the signature of "F. A. p" from
Mcpherson, Emporia and Troy,
to one Robert Swivel at Harper, Kan,
after carefully unfolding a scheme to
"plugn Simpson, entered into negotia-
tions with Swivel to do the job for
$4,000. Swivel is supposed to DO an
assumed name, but mail to TINS al
dress has been regularly called for at
Harper for the past six weeks. Inc
letters were brought to Chairman
Breidenthal of the Populist state COM
mittee, by S. E. Cole of Harper, chair
man of the Populists central commit
tee of Harper county, Tuesday morn
ing.
Cole received them from G. H. Coul-
sen of Anthony, representative OF
Harper county, who had a remarka-
BILE story to relate. He said Sunday
afternoon friend came to him and
stated that he had information in re-
gard to conspiracy to kill one OF his
best friends. After q pledge that I'M
derno circumstances would thelnforlN-
ants name be revealed the friend
handed Coulsen three letters which
he had gotten from the informer while
he was intoxicated. He claimed to
have met au unknown man on the
street and the two proceeded to a de-
serted house near town where there
was some whisky. The revealer OF
the alleged plot became beastly intoX-
icated, and while attempting to tell OF
q deep, dark mystery the letters fell
from his pocket. Coulsen's friend
picked them up and was terrified. 1t
was midnight Saturday when the de-
bauch ended, and Sunday afternoon
the letters were delivered to Coulsen.
The following day Coulsen drove to
Harper and handed them to S. E.
Cole, who at once started with them
to Wichita. After the chairman OF
the Populist congressional committee
read them Mr.. Cole started for To-
peka and this morning returned with
John w. Briedenthal, chairman OF
the Populist state central committee.
The letters are all written by the
same person. The first is postmarksd
Canton, Sept. 10. 1t states that ave
want another Objectionable plugged.
Will you serve us?" The second lei
Ter is postmarked Marion, Sept. %.
offers Swivel $4,000 to dis
pose of Congressman Jerry Simpson
)r have il done and concludes by
Swivel to work carefully.
The third letter was mailed at Nc.
Pherson, Oct. 8. The writer begins
by saying: "No, we cannot pay you
ourselves until the work is
lone. II you really must have some
money with which to prosecute your
plans, why of course let us know and
We will do the best we can.
As to your plan L have no doubt at
Ill, but it would work; at least trust
n your ability to make it a success"
The letter ends by saying: Jake,
F. A. Prs partner will be down by
he 18th ito fix things up "