The evening world., 1894-10-12
is IT GILOERSLEEvE
Parkhurst's Latest Letter Revives
the Vandewater Story.
Mr.. Golf Says That Affair Was Very
Creditable to the Judge.
But All Attempts to Connect the Two
Stories Are Unavaiiing.

The letter read by DR.. Parkhurst last
evening at the City Vigilance League
meeting in the Lexington Avenue Baptist
Church, apparently duplicating promi-
nent criminal Judge of this city In cor
rupt bargaining, was the subject OF
general comment in political circles this
morning.
This is the letter:
r My Dear Sir: was formerly a nuttendant In
New York srimiaa, court; was appointed Slm by
compelled to pay $40 OF my salary to a relative
Of the Judge The bargain was made by the
Judge hmself-was made In my house and before
witnesses | am willing to testify before the
Lexow Committee. as you so desire
DR.. Parkhurst said he had referred
this communication to Mr.. Con- and
that the matter would probably bc
thoroughly investigated by the Lexow
Committee. He refused last night to
give the name of the writer of the let
ter.
The incident, however, recalled story
which was circulated during the cam
paign of 1882 when Judge Henry A.
Gildersleeve was running as the can
didate of Tammany Hall for the city
Judgeship against Judge Fitzgerald. the
present incumbent, who was nominated
on the anti-Tammany ticket. 1t was
familiar to all politicians, and was taken
up by the newspapers at the time.
So far as 1t affected the integrity OF
Judge Gildersleeve, however, II was
failure, and the explanation made by the
Judge himself knocked the story into "A
cooked hat.
1t was to the effect that eighteen years
ago, when Judge Gildersleeve first went
he ia
cured the appointment as one Of the
court attendants of Andrew Wheeler
Vande@ater, the husband of one of his
nieces,. and that as return for this
favor he exacted a promise from Van
dewater that should pay $40 a month out
of his salary to Elmer ID. Gildersleeve,
Poughkeepsie.
This money Vandewater claimed that
he had paid regularly for long time
able to perform his duties. he stopped
the payments and was removed.
The similarity Of this story, which
was widely exploited In the NEWSPAPERS
letter received by DIR. Parkhurst. led
TO the general belief this morning that
II was the same Identical case, and that
Vandewater was the writer of the let
A reporter of THE Evening World"
called upon DR.. Parkhurst this morning
and showed him some newspaper clip
pings printed in November, 1889, and re,
ferring to the Vandewater case and the
charges which he made against Glider
sleeve.
DR.. Parkhurst seemed very much sur
prised to hear of the case and read the
slips carefully. When he had finished
he said:
is referred to in the letter received by
me yesterday, and l cannot say anything
about the matter have simply re
invest ,ss letter to Mr. ao and he viii
was, i signed by vandewater?" he
was asked.
questions about It," said the Doctor, "far
/ must absolutely refuse to talk. I am
very busy this morning, and hope thai
Further efforts to induce DR.. Park
hurst to name the writer of the. letter
was unsuccessful. He had sent II. he
said, TO Mr.. Con-, and the matter was In
the hands Of the counsel for the LeXow
Mr.. Goff arrived at his office at II
o'clock this morning, and the story about
brought to his attention, and he was
asked as to its possible connection with
the letter received from Dr. Parkhurst's
mysterious correspondent.
Il have received the letter from DR..
Perkhurst," he said. together within
other papers but 1 must decline to say
anything In regard to the writer"
II will say this, however, and | say it
very emphatically, that so far as Judge
Gildersleeve's connection with this Van
dewater matter is concerned, 1t reflects
the highest credit upon him as a man
and only shows his goodness of heart
~ investigated that story at the time.
when was In the District Attorneys
office, and the facts are simply these:
Judge Gildersleeve secured the position
as a court officer or attendant for Van
dewaterY who was married to a relative
who. properly provided for his wife and
family, and knowing his habits the
Judge insisted that he should set apart
$50 a month from his salary for the
support of his family, and that he should
brother:
"vandewater was compelled to do this,
and when he would no longer stand to
his agreement he was removed. OF
Course, he kicked about 1t, and tried TO
make 1t appear that Judge Gildersleeve
ment, but l can assure you that the
story was absolutely without founda-
ton. Judge Gildersleeve is an honora-
1T is true that ] opposed him when he
ran for reelection, but II was only be
cause my sympathies We're enlisted on
the other. side in favor of Judge Fitz-
gerald, who was one of my oldest and
most valued friends, and besides that
our political affiliations were the same
II may say. too, that when this Van
oeWater story came up,and II was sug-
sested that campaign capital be made OF
u, l opposed II with all my strength,
hhoWihs itS talslty, ana being unwilling
that any underhand or mean tricks
should be resorted to in the canvass As
result, the whole thing was dropped
and nothring was ever heard OF IL after
wards"
You do not care to say whether OF
not the letter just received by DR.
Parkhurst emanaten from Vande.
water?"
No. l will not speak of the matter
at ALL"
Ameer of Afghanistan Is Better,
By Associated Press)
bIMLA, Oct l2.-Advices received from
Cabul to-day state TINT tho Ave.. -.