The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-20

Broker slIsby Tells How the Ransom spec
ulntion story Leaked Out.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. June ia new
feature was injected into the sugar IN
vestigation to-day through George W.
SiIsby, Of the hrm OF Silsby & CO.. bank
ers and brokers. 1t was in Mr.. silsby >
Office that George Ransom, son Of Sena-
tor Ransom, and Captain Barnes. sena-
tor Ransoms messenger, made the small
speculations that caused the rumor that
the North Carolina Senator was dabbling
in sugar stock. Correspondent How
land OF the New York Press, told Sena-
tor Ransom that he had Photographic
copies of a stock sheet In his possession
containing the name or kansom, and
yesterday Mr.. Rowland testified before
the committee that the sheet bore the
name Of Silsby a Co.
The first witness before the commit
tee this morning was Mr.. Silsby, and
he fully confirmed the testimony of Sem
ator Ransom that he had not speculated
IN sugar stock through the firm, and also
stated that George Ransom had small
specuiatiOns Mr.. Silsby was asked II
any senator's had speculated in sugar
stock through his Office, but he said he
was unwilling TO answer on that point
before he could consult his attorney,
Major Ben ButterwOrth. Mr. Slsby told
the committee that there was another
matter involved in the case which also
deferred him from answering at this
time. He said he meant a criminal
prosecution and this new feature in
terested the committee exceedingly. Mr.
Slsby explained that the stock sheet Of
which the New York Press had photo
graphs had been stolen from one OF his
branch offices. together with orders for
stock signed by some OF his customers
This was a criminal offence, he said
involving as 1t did the theft OF private
papers; and he had secured the SER
vices Of James A. McDevitt, the chief
Of a private detective agency, to as
sist him In following up clue which
he had discovered. Mr. McDevitt ac-
companied Mr. Silsby 70 the Capitol this
morning. but did not appear before the
committee. Many questions were asked
by the investigators about the alleged
theft of the stock sheet and orders. and
Mr.. Slsby explained what the sheet
was like. II contained, he said. the
names Of buyers, and each purchase
was backed by an order signed by the
purchaser, directing the firm as to what
stocks Il should buy. The criminal fea-
ture was so interesting % the COM
mittee that most Of Mr.. Silsby's eXami-
nation was taken up in answering qres-
tiOns about IL.
]. NJ. Mccartney. OF the firm of Corson
ID Mccartney the Washington CORE
spOndents Of Moore & Schey. stock
brokers, followed Mr. Slbley, and
acting under the advice Of his attor-
neys. refused 10 give any information
III answer " lll4tllIlf, NitlLtI any
senators had bought sugar stock
through Moore e. Schley and 10 produce
his stock books and sheets. He said
that Moore & Schley were not in
possession of the four hundred amend
ments to the tariff bill before they were
reported and that the information in
possession OF the firm about the tariff
bin was no more than any observing
man could secure Mr.. Macartney's re-
fusal TO answer questions will be re-
certihcation TO the grand jury. as was
done In the cases Of Messrs. Hayemeyer,
Searles. Chapman, Shriver and Edwards
Senator Allen tried by various means
to secure some sort OF explanatory an
swer from the witness, but he was un-
successful.
you would refuse even II no senator
had ever bought or sold sugar STOCK
through you?" asked Senator Gray
81 would refuse 10 answer SAID MI
Mccartney. III
wards i'm the Philadelphia Press that
copy OF the present amendments 70 ue
tariff bill had been placed IN tne nahus
of the Washington agent OF NlooIS .S
Schley before they had been repor.s,u -, ~
the Senate was denied by Mr NaTtai ~ ,,,e ,,,,
who said the first knowledge OF the hltt-
ter he had was when II was gwen 10 tie ui.
press. and he knew Of no employe OF ms
office who had received the dhleilumiiiSS III 30 .
I'VE heard a great deal OIL , lu ,r-
said. but we had no real acculaSe uss,.e,n, ~
formation In regard 10 the amehumen'
until everybody had it, .,-..,ess
In answer 10 Senator Allen the witness
said he preferred to take the ordinary
consequences OF Indictment and puh,sh,, ,
ment for refusing to answer. ne ,th nav
quite a spicy little passage at arms WIN
Senator Allen. 1900, The
trrth in refusing TO answer ..
Mr.. Macatney: L refuse to answer as 70
who are or who are not customers OF
my firm. o,, raf,sa ~ sav
,ho.her von do or do not Secrete the
truth by your refusal TO answer!
Mr. Mccartney: l do not think mat Is
a fair question; ., 90 a,s,.- a.
MIR. Allen: / desire you 70 answer the