The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-04
CHRISTMAS TOOEASY
HIS LAWYER TELLS HOW PRO-
MoTER WAS WORKED.
A PLUM FOR LOBBYISTS.
FISCHER HANSEN THROWS LIGHT
ON ALLEGED FRAUD.

OuEuHGEs GOl. DEOMh AhA
Lodge Testify That Their KnOwI-
edge of Christmas Was Only Incl
dental-AccOrding to MIR. Hansen's
story Christmas Was Badly Duped
by Men Whom He Supposed Had
Influences and He Introduces Let
tiers Showing That Christmas Him
self Was Aware of This Fact.
Washington, April S.-The investi-
CATION of charges in connection with
the Danish West Indies negotiations
was resumed day by the House spe-
cial committee having it in charge.
Abner Mckinley, brother of the late
President, was the first witness. He
testified that he had met Capt. Christ
mas once in the most casual way in
the lobby of the Manhattan Hotel,
| New York. He never held any confer
ence with him of any kind or charac-
ter, and there was no talk whatever of
the Danish West Indies.
| MIR. Mckinley said that he had
never mentioned the matter to the
President. He said that prior to the
casual meeting with Christmas, Fischer
Hansen had desired to retain him in
this matter. The witness said he told
Mr. Hansen he could have nothing to
do with it. Mr.. Mckinley said he had
never mad any conversation with the
Seligrnans on this transaction, nor
with anyone except Hansen.
Representative Gardner of New
| Jersey also disclaimed all knowledge
of Christmas except of the most casual
| character Mr.. Gardner said he had
| taken some interest in the acquisition
| of the Danish West Indies and had in
| troduced a bill on the subject. But this
was before Christmas had made a call
and that call was of the most casual
| character.
Mr. Gardner also disclaimed going
over the subject with a MIR. Evans.
He said he had been a stakeholder in
| the International Press Associa ton,
| which at one time represented several
| New Jersey newspapers
| Col. w. c. Brown testified that he
| met Capt Christmas only once and
! that was at the Manhattan Hotel in
| New York, and then no business re-
| lations were spoken of, Col. Brown
said he. had no contract with Capt.
| Christmas, or Hansen, or anyone in
connection with the Danish matter
Senator Lodge made a statement
| that he had always taken an interest
| in the acquisition of the islands. He
| said he told Christmas, however, that
there was no use of his staying here.
Senator Lodge. specifically denied lam
| guage the Christmas report said he
! used.
A witness Who Knew Something.
Fischer Hansen, when called, gave
| his business as an attorney at New
| York. Christmas told him, he said, in
| 1899, of the movement to sell the
Danish Islands and Denmarks will
ingness to pay literally in case of a
sale. Christmas desired him to act as
counsel. Mr.. Hansen said he asked
| Abner Mckinley if he would become
associate counsel. Mr.. Mckinley re-
piled that he would have nothing to
| do with 1t. Later, Col. Brown, at Han
| sens request, asked the President if
| there was any intention of buying the
| Danish Islands, and was referred to
| Secretary Hay. Later, Col. Brown 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 for Denmark later if the ne
| gotiations were successful. Mr.. Han
sen then told what Christmas had told
| him of coming to Washington, and
meeting President Mckinley, Secretary
| 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 a street meeting with one of
| the Seligmans, who had said Christ
mas was progressing well with the
negotiations. The witness said Christ
mas had told one of the Seligmans
that if anything came of the
negotiations they would be the bankers
Later, Mr.. Hansen said he refused
to stand sponsor for Christmas and
he learned from Col. Brown that the
President desired no further dealings
with Christmas.
Mr. Hansen told of learning later
that Christmas had been clothed with
authority by Denmark Christmas
wanted him to guarantee a contract
of $4,000 to Richard p. Evans, this
amount to come out of Christmas ex-
pected compensation. Hansen Endorsed
the contract, the expectation being
that Evans would act as counsel at
Washington, explaining any details
that might arise Later, Mr.. Hansen
said, Christmas wrote Evans the fol-
lowing letter, repudiating all connec-
ton with him:
Christmas Had Been Worked.
New York March 23.-Richard p.
Evans: Although it is hardly neces-
sary for me to add anything to what
l have already said to you in my con-
versation last Saturday in the pres
ence of my attorney, c. Fischer Han
sen, nevertheless, in view of the fact
that l am dealing with a bunch of
scarfps and swindlers. of which you
seem to be the ringleader, feel 1t my
duty to again emphasize that under
no condition will l have anything
whatsoever to do with you or your
gang, and / hereby expressly repudiate
and cancel any and all agreements
that I may every have entered into
with you. / shall not dwell upon all
the many details of the gigantic
fraudulent scheme to which / have
been subject. Suffice it for me to
mention only few of the abomlnable
features of the case that
but for the wide-awakeness
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 congressman, and. ss
such entitled to the title of Honorable
which / always took the pains to use.
You stated to me that you were
acting for the Administration and that
II was in the compliance Of the wishes
of President Mckinley and Secretary
Hay and for the benefit of my plans