Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-04-04
CAPT. CHRISTMAS
Continued from page ~

ton of buying the Danish islands. Col
Brown made the inquiry, the witness
said. and was referred by the President
to Sec. Hay. When Col. Brown returned
to New York he told Mr.. Hansen that
the United States did intend to buy the
islands. Mr.. Hansen then accepted
Christmas proposition, telling him,
however, he desired no compensation.
except to be appointed attorney of Den
mark later if the negotiations were sue
cessful
Mr. Hansen related what Christmas
had told him of coming to Washington
and meeting President Mckinley, Sec.
Hay and Admiral Bradford. and later
of going to Copenhagen with Mr.. White,
the United States secretary of embassy
at London. Mr.. Hansen also related
street meeting with one of the Selig-
mans, who had said Christmas was
progressing well with the negotiations.
The witness said Christmas had met
one of the Seligmans on an ocean
steamer and said that if anything came
of the negotiations they would be the
bankers. Later Mr.. Hansen said he re-
fused to stand sponsor for Christmas,
and witness learned from Col. Brown
tina. the President desired no further
dealings with Christmas.
Mr.. Hansen yielded temporarily to
Senator Lodge, who specifically denied
him, according to the Christmas re-
port.
Resuming his testimony, Mr. Hansen
toll - l.ae l,fn hat brte
had been clothed with authority by
Denmark. Christmas wanted him to
guarantee a contract of $4,000 to a
Mr.. Evans, this amount to come out
of Christmas expected compensation.
Hansen endorsed the contract, the eX-
pectation being that Evans would act
as counsel at Washington, explaining
any details that might arise.
Later Mr.. Hansen said Christmas
wrote Evans the following letter re-
pudiating all connection with him:
New York, March %.
Richard p. Evans:-Dear Sir-Al-
though it is hardly necessary for me
to add anything to what 1 already have
said to you, in my conversation, last
Saturday, in the presence of my at
in view of the fact that 1 am dealing
with bunch of scamps and swindlers,
of which you seem to be the ringleader,
feel it my duty to again emphasize
that under no conditions will l have
anything whatsoever to do with you
or your gang, and / hereby expressly
repudiate and cancel any and all
agreements that | may have entered
into with you.
Il shall not dwell upon all the many
details of the gigantic fraudulent scheme
to which l have been subjected. Suf-
flee it for me to mention only n few
of the abominable features of the case
that but for the wideawakeness of my
attorney. Fischer Hansen, would have
led me to everlasting ruin and despair.
Thus, for example, you were introduced
to me as a former United States con-
gressman and as such entitled to the
title of Honorable" which I always
took the pains to use.
you stated to me that you were
acting for the administration and that
it was in compliance with the wishes
of President Mckinley and Sec. Hay
| and for the benefit of my plans that a
certain bill was introduced in Congress
| by Congressman Gardner looking to
| the purchase of the West Indian is
lands.
You told me further that you were
| one of the leading spirits in The Asso-
! ciated Press and that as the country
demanded the islands you would per-
| init your bureau to express that senti-
ment. On the basis of all this you sue
| ceeded in extorting from me contract.
| not to speak of moneys that your CO.
| conspirators have gotten away from
| me at various times.
| "Of course my plain duty would be
not only repudiate my contract with
you, but to proceed against you crimi-
nally. / do the first now, or rather af-
| firm my reputation to you of last Sat
urday: the latter am prevented from
doing by reason of the fact that leave
| for Europe in the course of a few
| days.
| Mr.. Hansen said the copy of this letter
which he placed in evidence was in Cap
| tain Christmas handwriting.
In reply to Mr.. Hit. Hansen said he
| had never received anything from Christ
mas and had loaned him $500 when he
/! There was much laughter and the inuuir;
| took rather ludicrous aspect Mr.
| Hansen told Of Christmas promises Il
various persons. ON one occasion. Mr.
Hansen said, Christmas met G. w. Knox