The age-herald., 1902-04-04
lNVESTIGA TON
IS HUMOROUS
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to be the ringleader, feel 1t Is a duty to emphasize that, under no conditions, will have anything whatsoever to do with you or your gang. I expressly repudiate and cancel any and all engagements that I may ever have entered into with you. I shall not dwell on all the many details of the gigantic fraudulent scheme to which I have been subjected. Suffice 1t for me to mention only a few of the abominable features of the case that but for the wide-awakenGs or my attorney, Mir Fischer Hansen, Would have led me to everlasting ruin and despair. Thus, for example, you were introduced to me as a former United States Congressman.
 You stated to me that you were act ing for the administration and that II was in compliance with the wishes of President Mckinley and Secretary 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 islands. You told me further that you were one of the leading spirits in the Associated Press, and as the country demanded the islands you would permit your bureau to express that sentiment On the basis or all this you succeeded 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 to repudi- ate my contract with you, but to proceed against you criminally. I do the first now. or rather affirm my repudiation to you of last Saturday; the latter l am prevented from doing by reason Of the fact that I leave for Europe in the course of a few days"
 Had Lent Christmas $500.
 In reply to Mr. Hitt Hansen said he had never received anything from Christmas and had lent him $500 when he was hard LID, which had not been repaid. There was much laughter and the inquiry took A rather ludicrous aspect, as MT. Hansen told of Christmas promises to various persons On one occasion MT. Hansen said Christmas met c. w. Knox In dining room and told him he had some islands to sell. Mir Knox said he knew a man WHO knew Senator Hanna. As a result Christmas was to pay Knox $5O.- GOO Tn a semi humorous vein MT Han sen told of $50 being paid on this prom ise.
 On another occasion MT. Hansen relat- ed, Christmas met in saloon one Net kiny Walborg and told him he had some islands for sale"
 Hansen said Welborg replied That was
 
 Later Hansen said Christmas let Wal borg have small sums $$40, s$25 and s15. Mir Hansen said he did not know Wal borg and knew nothing of his connection with an international press association.
 Representative Hit asked if this was supposed to be the basis of charges af- fecting the American press.
 Mir Hansen said 1t was; that Christ mass 8 only connection with the press was with this Walborg.
 Mr. Hansen also told of a contract with Mir Rynert, by which the latter was to receive $10OO0 for services as counsel. He produced a recent letter from Christmas dated March ?. stating that he had offered to make public declaration that no one in Congress was interested In the sale and in general repudiating the grounds on which the inquiry was based
 Were to Help the Transfer Only.
 MT. Richardsons oross-questions sought to develop what services were to be per formed for the various contracts The witness explained that 1t was the service of explaining and assiting along the trans fer by every legitimate means. and he read from the contracts to show that this was the object He stated with emphasis in reply to Mi. Hit that from all his knowledge of the subject, he was pozitive that no Senator or Representative ever