Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-03

| Salu he uluH I understand Wnat / meant
| by such action. So told him that he
knew could not do otherwise with the
Democrats all around me knowing what
did, and think Smith left mo with
the idea that everything was all right
for his scheme.
Last night "Wednesday Smith, /
think, went to see Mr.. Higgins NJ some
| place he was to speak. to find out bet
ter place for me, and / haven't seen
Smith since.
| SENATOR HIGGINS INTERVIEWED.
A reporter saw Senator Higgins at his
| residence, No. S3i Market street, on Satur-
day afternoon, and handed him copy of
the paper containing Registrar Wootten's
1 statement. After a careful peruSal of the
article he was asked if he had anything to
say. Senator Higgins started to give ont
q statement which he had prepared in
reply tothe charges Of Mr.. Woottcn, but
was INTERRUPTED hv the appearance Of Gen
eral James II. Wilson, who came into the
room and asked for brief interview. The
| two withdrew to the hallway where q
| whispered conversation was INDUCED in,
after which Senator Higgins reappeared in
the room and appointed meeting with
! his interviewer at 40 O'Clock in the even
ing. The reporter kept his appointment
and at the hour stated received the sena-
tors written reply which is given below.
At the conclusion Of the interview Mr.
Higgins stated that he had nothing more
to say and that his written statement EN-
bodied everything that he desired 10 say
| upon the subject; that the statement
touched upon all the charges as preferred
by Mr.. Woottcn and was final,
SENATOR HIGGINS STATEMENT. &c.,.
TN respect to the statements printed in
the EyCaing Jo,pRal and EVERY EVENING
of this city to-day, AS coming from one
Isaac J. Wootten of Laurel, Del, ! have
to say that about two weeks ago, while |
was at Laurel to consult party leaders there
about party matters, Wootten called on
me at the house Of George II. Smith, in
forming me that he desired to change his
political connections and to solicltan Office
under the government.
Having understood him to be Il man
of influence and good standing, told him
! thought an office could be had for him.
Nothing was said about what work he
should do for the Republican party. Moth
ing was said about his being registrars nor
voters assistant. Nor did know he was
registrar, nor even hear that he WAS until
the reporter of the EJcRiRg JourNtdL SO said
to ME to-day.
Nothing was said as to his doing, nor
did have any understanding that he was
to do, anything on behalf Of the Repubii-
or abuse of any official duty, whether rs
registrar, election officer, voters assistant
or otherwise. The absllrdity of the charge
becomes apparent from the fact that under
the statute the voters assistant is chosen
by his own party, and then not until
election morning Any statement that
was concerned in any attempt to intlu-
ence HIM i'll the discharge of Official duty
is false.
subsequently, Mr.. Smith wrote to me
to know ii Wootten could have Il place in
the land office held by one Gus Parsons,
and ] replied that | could find no such
person's name i'll the blue book, but only
one John A. Parsons"
The senator said that he had covered
everything in the letter; that he had
nothing more to say and that he would
take no further action in the matter.
lii order to get statement from Post
master Smith as to his connection Will
this alleged political bargain, TIE Star las
night sent u telcErlphic message to him al
Laurel Later 4 telegram was receivec
, from a gentleman of that place STATING
that Mr.. Smith had started for Whining
ton on the evening train. Dlligent seurcl
for two hours by reporter OF The Sta
failed to lind him.
WHERE WAS SMITH?
Every effort was made to reach Post
master Smith and get his story, but tele
grams to Laurel failed to bring any reply
from him during Saturday. 1t was re
ported that he was in Wilmington on Sat
urday night but reporters spent hour:
: looking Tor him in vain.
POSTMASTER SMITHS TELEGRAM.
The first statement received in this city
from Postmaster Smith, in regard to hi
share i'll the transaction, came in the shap
OF i telegram to the iSHndaH Star, received
ut the Western Union Telegraph office Il
LIS p. nj, Sunday afternoon-some tel
| hours after that paper had gone to press
This statement, evidently made befor,
Smith had learned how much Senate
Higgins had admitted was as follows:
: "Sur," VI Dti"gton, Det.--LAuREL, DEL, Oct
| 40 --Wootten's statement is without a word o
truth. defy him 10 produce tho letter said t,
be in the vault in Wilmington. (Woottel
offered to sell the secrets ot his party 10 fo
aposlioh) | mentioned the fact to liiggin
and he declined to have thing to do with tn,
matter and declared tho whole thing OIL with
Wootten on Tuesday night last He then be
came alarmed and unAds II lie ont of the whole
cloth with the help Of others In Wilmington AZ
a cut Mt an honorable senator.
, lSignedl d. L. SMITH.
, SMITH coNTEADECTS SMITH.
After sending the foregoing telegram
Postmaster Smith evidently learned the
contents OF Mr., Higgins reply and founC
himself, to his discontinue, sluurey con,
tradicted by his master. Nothing was left
for smith To do but to wrigge out of his
teiegraphed fabrication ana into as much
of an admission aS Senator Higgins had
made. How he succeeded in accomplish
ing this is shown in the following letter
printed III Mondays H9,@iaJ .N~S:
POSTMASTER sMrrn's LETTER
TO Mt E3itor Of nc .UorWiag NrvS.--SrR
/ have read the statement III the EvERN
: EvENlNG and EpcHiHg JotORdl rs made by
Isaac Nootten Of this place Wootten
while postmaster under Cleveland, had MT
to manage the oilice for him. About t
month ago he called several times ut my
: store i'll my absence, leaving word hi
wanted to see me. | did see him at his
, store He told me that he had bcfriendet
me in the post-oiiicc while he had il. AM
now he would like To have IN office tha
would take him away from LAUREL and of
fercd to support the Republican party, aut
; To furnish me with information as to how
the Democrats proposed to use money it
the election, anu whether they intended II
bulldoze US at the polls as they did TIVE
years ago.
| told him that would recommend him
to senator Higgins for an appointment
and attcrwarG, wien Mr. Higgins came
here to see Messrs. Marvel and Fooks
Wuotten called to see him at my house
/ No mention was made in that interview OF
amy service to be done by Wu0tten for the
Republican party. Woottcn expressed hi
: disposition to support that party, and Mr.
! Higgins said that he thoughta place might
be obtained for him. 1t is not true that
my wife said we wanted Wootten TO bt
voters assistant and that Senator Higgin;
I wiuked at her. did not tell Senator
Q Higgins OF amy arrangement had mad,
-. with WoOtten about getting information
D for us, but merely recommended his ap