Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1892-06-16
THE CRIME OF 1873.
THE INFLUENCE ENGLISH GOLD HAD
UPON DEMONSTRATION.

The Bank of England Put Up d. 900. 600
for One Man to Use In Rnying the
American CONGRESSMAN Afhdavit That
Settles a Question Of Long Standing.
Mr.. Frederick A. Luckenbach is
citizen Of Denver, and is well and favor.
ably known by many of Colorado's lead.
ing business men. He has been engaged
for two years past in introducing his
pneumatic pulverizer, and has met with
fattering success. It having come to
the ears of Mr.. M. H. Slater, chairman
of the executive committee of the state
silver league, that Mr.. Luckenbach pos
sessed the startling information contain
ed in the affidavit, that energetic gen.
tleman Immediately waited upon him
and induced him to put the whole story
in explicit form and give it to the pub
lie. This Mr.. Luckenbach did, and the
result is the affidavit published below:
State of Colorado, county Of Arapahoe. S.:
Frederick A. Luckenbach, being first duly
sworn on oath, deposcs and says: am sixty
two years of age. was born In Bucks county,
Pa. removed to the city of Philadelphia In
the year 1916, and continued to reside there
until 1866. when removed to the city Of New
York. In Philadelphia was In the furniture
business. In New York ! branched into ma
chinery and inventions, and am the patented
of Luckenbach's pneumatic pulverizer, which
machines are now in use generally in the east
ern part of the United States and in Europe.
now reside in Denver, having removed from
New York two years ago. ! am well known In
New York. ] have been q member of the Pro.
duce exchange and am well acquainted with
many members of that body. am well known
by Mr.. Erastus Wiman.
In the year 1865 visited London, Eng, fol
the purpose of placing there Pennsylvania oil
properties in which ] was interested. took
with me letters of introduction to many gentle.
men in London-amOng them one to Mr.. En-
nest Seyd. from Robert NJ. F0ust, ex-treasurer
of Philadelphia. ! became well acquainted
with Mr. Seyd and with his brother, Richard
Seyd, who, ] understand, Is yet living.
visited London thereafter every year, and at
Seyd, and upon each occasion became his guest
one or more times-joining his family at din
ner or other meals.
In February, 1874, while on one of these visits
and while his guest for dinner, l among other
things alluded to rumors afoat of parliament
ary corruption and expressed astonishment
that such corruption should exist. In reply to
corruption of the American congress that
would place it far ahead of the English parlia-
ment in that line. So far the conversation
was at the dinner table between US. His BROTH
or Richard and others were there also. but
this was 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 honor as
gentleman not to divulge what am about to
tell you while live, will convince You that
what said about the corruption of the Ameri-
can congress is true" gave him the promise
and he then continues: II went to America in
the winter of 1928, authorized to secure II
could the passage Of bill demonetiZing silver
1t was to the interest of those ! represented
the governors Of the Bank of England-to have
it done. took with me 100000 sterling, with
instructions If that was not sufficient to ac-
complish the object to draw for another 9lOO-
600, or as much more as was necessary" He
told me German bankers were also interested
in having il accomplished. He said lie was the
financial adviser Of the bank. He said: II saw
the committee of the house and senate and
paid the money and stayed in America until
knew the measure was SAFE" ] asked If he
would give me the names Of the members to
whom he paid the money-but this he declined
to do. He said: Your people will not now
comprehend the far-reaching extent Of that
measure-but they will in after years. What
ever you may think Of corruption in the Eng
lish parliament, ! assure you would not have
dared TO make such an attempt here as did
in your country" J. expressed my shame to
him for my countrymen in our legislative
bodies. The conversation drifted into other
subjects, and after that, though ! met him
manv times. the matter was never again re-