The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-06-10
EARNEST SEYD.
Who Bribed the House and Senate.
Rocky Mountain News.

Who Bribed the House and Senate.
Rocky Mountain News.
Mr.. Frederick A. Kuckenback is a citizen
of Denver, and is we'll and favorably known
by many of Colorado's leading business men.
lie has been engaged for two years past in
introducing his pneumatic pulveriyer, and
has met with flattering success. 1t having
come TO the ears of Mr.. NJ. H. Slater. chair
man of the executive committee of the
State Silver League, that Mr.. Luckenback
possessed the startling information con-
tanned in the affidavit, that energetic
gentleman Immediately waited upon him
and induced him to put the whole story in
explicit form and give it 10 the public.
This Mr.. Luckenback did, and the result is
the affidavit published below.
STATE OF COLORADO, |
COUNTY oE ARAPAAoE
Frederick A. Luckenback, being first
duly sworn on oath, deposes and says:
I am sixty-two years of age, was born in
Bucks county, Pennsylvania. l removed to
Philadelphia in the year 1916, and contin-
ued to reside there until 1866, when re-
moved to the city of New York. In
Philadelphia l was in the furniture business.
In New York l branched into machinery
and inventions, and am the patentee Of
Luckenback's pneumatic pulverizer, which
machines are now In general use in the east.
ern part of the United States and Europe.
1 now reside in Denver, having removed
from New York two years ago. l am we'll
know in New York. have been MEM
Der Of the produce exchange and am we'll
acquainted with many members Of that
body. am we'll known by Mr.. E. Wyman.
In the year 1865, 1 visited London,
Eualand, for the purpose of placing there
Pennsy lyania oil properties IN which l was
interested. took with me letters of in
PRODUCTION to many gentlemen in London
among them one to Mr.. Ernest Seyd, from
Robert M. Foust, Ex-treasurer of Philadel-
phia. l became we'll acquainted with Mr..
Seyd and with his brother, Richard Seyd,
who, understand, is yet Lying. visited
London thereafter every year, and at each
visit renewed my acquaintance with Mr..
Seyd, and upon each 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 aAoat
Of parliamentary corruption, and expressed
establishment that such corruption should
exist. In reply to this he told me he could
relate facts about the corruption of the
American congress that would place it far
ahead of the English parlimentjn that line
So far the conversation was at the table
between us, His brother, Richard, and
others were there also. but this was the
table talk between Mr.. Ernest Seyd and
myself. After the dinner ended, he invited
me TO another room where he resumed the
conversation about legislative corruption.
He said: IF you will pledge me your word
of honor as gentleman not to divulge what
l am about TO tell you while live, will
convince you that what / said about the
corruption Of the American congress is true.'
L gave him the promise, and he then con-
tinued: i went 20 America in the winter
of 1928, authorized to secure, if could
the passage of bill demonetizing silver.
1t was to the interest of those l represented
the governors OF the Bank OF England
TO have 1t done. l took with me 100000
sterling, if that was not sufficient to accom-.
plish the object to draw for another 91OO,.
600, or as much more as was necessary
He told me German bankers were also
interested In having it accomplished. He
said he was the financial adyiser of the
bank. He said: Il saw the committees of
the house and senate and paid the money
and staid in America until knew the
measure was safe.' l asked if he wonld
give me the names of the members to whom
he paid the money, but this he declined to
do. He said i: Your people will not now
comprehend the far-reaching extent of that
measure-but they will in after years.
Whatever You may think of corruption in
the English parliment, assure you would
not have dared 10 make such an attempt
here, as did in your country / express
ed my shame to him, for my couutrymen in
our legislative bodies. The conversation
drifled into other subjects, and after that
though met him many times-the matter
was never again referred to-"
FREDERICK A. LUCKENBACH,
Subscribed and sworn to before me at
Denver, this 9th day of May, 1892.
[sIGNED] JAMES A. MILLER,
Clerk Supreme Court Colorado.
1SEAT1