The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-09
KINGS LAME STATEMENT
He Attempts to Explain Hobson's
Charges of Bribery.
The Accused officer Snys He Acted as
denies the BlackmniI Accusa-
tiOns-tnnble to Furnish Bail So
Far and Is still in Custody.

MOBILE, Ala, Jan. S.-Not until late
| this afternoon did Construction Quarter
master Cyril w. King. under arrest here
| charged with accepting i brbe from Con-
/ tractor J. H. Hobson, deign to offer any
| explanation of his connection with the af-
| fair that lost him his liberty. Nor until
| today did he seem to think it necessary to
call in tine aid of attorneys. This morning,
| however, he retained three of the leading
| lawyers Of the city to defend him, and
made statement which, in the eyes of
| the public here, can do him but little good
Even when making the statement the ac-
cused officer appeared not to realize the
| seriousness of the predicament he is in,
and was as cool as when he walked the
streets yesterday morning.
There was nothing criminal in my
connection with Hobson," he said. II
may have been in error as to the privi-
leges of my office, nothing more. I had
an understanding with him that was to
receive a sum of money for superintend-
ing his work at the fort and was not
aware that my official position prohibited
me from receiving such money. | do
not deny that the money found on nv
person at tine time of my arrest was given
me by Hobson. do most positively
deny, however, that Hobson's allegations
that he paid me the money to have re-
Jected material used are true. Further
than this | have nothing to say. except
that feel confident that | will he vindi-
Gated when the case is tried"
III was learned TODAY aIso that uobcon
recently made an affidavit before Quarter
master General Ludington and George d.
MelKle1ohn. Assistant Secretary Of War
in which he alleged that King had tried
to ruin him, and had nearly done so. by
the unreasonable demands he made upon
nm to force him into the payment of the
So, eco.
Despite the fact that King has teIe-
eraphed friends in Chicago. st. Louis. and
MS old home, Dubuque, he is apparently
no nearer an arrangement of his bail bond
imam yesterday, when he was hanicuffed
and sent to his room under guard Uni SIS
bondsman appears soon he will be re-
moved from the hotel and placed in iail
as an ordinary prisoner
War Department officials are awaiting
a full report upon the case of Capt. Cyril
w King, the construction quartermaster
IN the army, who was arrested at Mobile.
Ala., Monday, charged with accepting a
pride from Contractor Joseph H. Hobson.
OF this city. before any action is taken
IN his case. The matte. is now in The
hands of the civil authorities of Alabama.
and as the case is an indictable one il
is considered probable that he may he
tried in the courts there
In case he is found guilty he will no
doubt. be dismissed from the army with
out honor. by order of the President The
department could, of course. order a
court-martial, If it saw fit upon receipt
OF the report of the case and the filing
OF formal charges. but as steps have
already been taken by the civil authorities
to punish the alleged offender, this course
Is not considered necessary.
Secretary Root stated yesterday that
Contractor Hobson had made complaint to
him several weeks ago that Captain King
had practically made an attempt to black |
mail him. This was after the contractor
had already paid the officer a sum of
money. The Secretary at once reported
the matter to the Secret Service Bureau /
and an agent was assigned TO the case |
Contractor Hobson assisted in setting the |
trap by which King was caught
General Ludington, in charge of the |
Quartermaster's Department. Will desig- |
nate some one from Fort Morgan 20 as |
sumo charge of Captain Kings duties fer
the present. Captain King is in the vol |
unteer service, and his commission OK
pires on June &c. 1901