The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-08
CONSUL HOGE DEFENDED.
His Brother il-LaW Talks About the
COlOnel'S Recall.

Col. Penn Knows Nothing About the
Check Signed in Mrs. Hoge's Name,
but Says Her Husband is Worth
S25, 900 and Owes Less Than So, 900.
The TaiIor's Bill Less Than 500.
Takes no Stock in the Story of a
Spree.
Roanoke, Va, Nov. THE Times will
print tomorrow a statement made public
by Col John E. Penn in defense of his
brother-in-law, Col. J. Hampton Hoge,
recently recalled from the consulship
at Annoy China, by dispatch from Pres
ident Cleveland Col Penn has been in
Washington and had a talk with the Sec
rotary of State in regard to the matter.
In reply to the statement made about the
check sent to the Baltimore attorneys to
settle balance due them, he said that he
knew nothing about the check he had
given but that he knew Col Hoge was
perfectly solvent. Col Penn continues
al have ascertained that the check given
by Col Hoge was signed by him in his
wife's name, dated on Oct. 10, 1893, for
1925, in favor of w. H. H Raleigh.
DON'T KNOW WHY HE GAVE 1T.
II don't know why Col. Hoge gave the
check in question. He left Roanoke City
on the night of Oct. 10. of the same date
as the check, for New York city, and
from there he went, as |
understand its by way of the Southern
Pacific railroad, to San Francisco. He
was very much pressed for time on that
day in closing up his pecuniary matters.
1t is true that his wife did
not have money in the bank upon
which the check was drawn, but
she had then, and has now, more than
that AMOUNT to her credit, subject to her
check, or her husbands check, in another
bank, and it may be that by inadvertence
he drew the check on the wrong bank;
but whether this be true or not, the
check was but an Acknowledgement of the
indebtedness, and could not be construed
under any law in Virginia as a criminal
act.
IHoGE's REAL ESTATE.
"Nr. Hoge's real estate in the county of
Montgomery and in this city, believe to
be worth at low estimate SOC, 900 and
his personal property not less than S.. 600
and so far as | am informed his indebted
ness would not reach one-fourth of that
amount, so that there could by no posi-
bllity have been purpose or design on
his part to wrong or defraud
any one. The charge of forgery, I
believe to be absolutely groundless
and gratuitous and made for sensational
purposes. If it had reference to the sign
ing of his wife's name to the check in
question, it could not be forgery, as she
has at all times recognized his right to
use her name when he saw proper, she
being the owner of valuable real estate
and personal property in her own right.
THE TAMOR's BILL.
''In reference to the tailor's bill, which
the reporters make merry over as a sweet
morsel for ridicule, l am informed by
Mrs. Hoge that her husband has not
bought from any tailor in Washington
any clothing upon credit within six
months prior to the time of his embarca-
ton. If he owes tailor bill in Washing
ton at all, it was one contracted without
any reference TO his appointment as con-
sui, and from inquiry l have ascertained
that the bill is less than 800.
NO DRUNKEN SPREE.
''The drunken spree, an account of
which has been telegraphed to the New
York World, believe to be grossly exag-
gerated, as Col. Hoge reached San Fran
cisco on Saturday, Oct IS, and on Sunday
. he wrote letter to his family, which,
(. from its penmanship and the minute ac-
count which 1t contained of his trip from
New Orleans to San Francisco, is
wholly inconsistent with the idea
that he had been on drunken
debauch. He has not yet had an
opportunity of being heard in his own be-
half, and therefore request that the con-
slderate public will suspend its Judgment
until the poor privilege is given him of
speaking in reference to these matters.
also request the newspapers that have
published statements in reference to him
TO publish this Statment.O