New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
MURPHY SURE OF Copy"
but HE'S AFRAID THAT WASHINGTON
COUNTY LETTER HAS BEEN DE
STROYED-ODELL REITERATES
THAT IT Is A FORGERY

Ex-senator Edward Murphy, jr.. of Troy, now
undoubtedly wishes he hadn't picked up the hot
poker forgery exploited on Friday night by the
Democratic State Executive Committee. It
burned the fingers of every Democrat that had
anything to do with it yesterday, and the end
IS not yet. Benjamin B. Odell, jr.. chairman of
the Republican State Committee, followed up
mis- denunciation Of the corruption" letter with
q shot that made Mr.. Murphy and Mr.. Nc
CURE exceedingly uncomfortable. Mr.. odell re-
turned to this city as he said he would and
with reference to his alleged offer to a Wash
ington County Republican to pay the expense
involved IN converting" Independent Demo
Gratis. had this TO say:
I desire to reiterate my statement made over
rhe telephone from Newburg last night that no
such letter ever emanated from these headquar-
tiers. ! never authorized, dictated, wrote or
signed ii, and I that no one connected
with the State Headquarters with authority
from myself, Mr.. Barnes chairman of our EX-
ecBtive Committee. or Mr.. Fox secretary OF the
committee. any one else connected with state
Committee Headquarters, sent out such letter
The whole thing is le ana the a!leeea letter
IS a base and clumsy forgery If Mr.. Mcguire
or any in authority at Democratic state
HEADQUARTERS desires TO become sponsor for
this libel I will Immediately give him an
opportunity to prove the same. This is one OF
the many Democratic attempts which we nave
been looking for TO win votes by deceit ana
fraud
Ex-senator Murphy made a somewhat weak
kneed explanation OF how he considered himself
justified in exploiting a political document which
has all the appearances Of a clumsy forgery
Before starting for Troy yesterday he said:
You may say that the letter in question is
COPY of the original one and that il was made
by four reputable Democrats who saw the orig
snal in the hands Of the Republican to whom II
was addressed This Republican boosted Of his
pull" with the Republican State leaders and
Haunted the paper in the faces OF every one
near him I cannot at this time make public
the names Of the men who saw the letter and
copied H. bur / will produce them as witnesses
any time the Republicans want them to speak.
NY informant tells me that this letter was sent
TO each committeeman in the State We are
ready 10 meet Mr.. Odel on the issue, and be-
1eve the copy OF the letter to be correct one
There is doubt that the letter has been de-
sIroyed by this time. and that the man VINO
made IL public has been coerced into denying
St but bring three reputable citizens
here who win testify as to the letter think
that the signature chairman Of the Republican
State Committee in the letter may be a mis-
take, but / confident that the body of the
letter, in substance at least. is absolutely cor
rect Ny informant, who turned copy or the
letter over TO me, tells that a letter wSs
sent 10 the committeeman in each county Of the
state from the Republican State Committee
Headquarters asking that the names OF TOUR me-
long Republicans be given, four from each cleo
lion district. In response to this request the
1ames Of four stalwart Republicans were sent
5fon Greenwich The man who made the letter
public was one Of these whose name was sent in.
Before Executive Chairman Mcclure gave out
the questionable letter on Friday night he con-
suited With Richard Croker. and It was not until
after Mr.. Croker had given him authorization
that he released the document. Mr.. Croker was
sn Mr.. Murphy's room at the Hoffman House
yesterday when Mr. Murphy made his statement
70 the reporters. and when asked what he knew
about the letter. said:
i know nothing of the letter. II IS a matter
for the State Committee. 1t is in line, however.
with the new style Of business adopted by the
Republicans. I wouldn't be surprised at any
thing the Republicans attempted
Executive Chairman Mcclure said:
I have doubt that the letter is sub
stantiaIly correct. [ have telegraphed to the
ihree men in Greenwich TO prepare Immediately
sl-davits and to get if possible. possession Of
The letter"
Mr.. Murphy's suggestion that the letter has
undoubtedly been destroyed by this time shows
The small hole through which AIessrs. Croker,
Murphy and Mcclure are likely 10 crawl.