The Washington times., 1902-04-08
No Evidence of Bribery or
That He Was Author
lied to Act.
SECRETARY HAYS LETTER
States That Dane Was Not Received in
Official Capacity-Senators Depew and
Bacon on the Stsnd-C. w. Knox a
Witness.

The result of the investigation into the
question of the alleged bribery in con-
hection with the purchase of the Danish
West Indies has thus far revealed the
fact that there was a financial transaction
of s5 in the deal
This amount was, however, not paid tc
anyone by Captain Christmas. but was
paid to him because he had the blues
by Mr.. C. W. Knox. who was one of the
witnesses before the special committee
yesterday.
1t is tie only instance thus far shown
where there was any money exchanged
by reason of the presence OF Captain
Christmas in Washington as the "unofi-
cial representative of Denmark TO nego-
tiate sale of the islands,
Investigation a Farce.
The investigation has developed into a
farce, which has failed to show that
Captain Christmas ever paid any money
to anyone to advance the sale. or that he
had any authorization to act from the
Danish Government.
Senator Depew was the first witness
called yesterday He expressed surprise
that his name had been mentioned by
Captain Christmas in his alleged ere
port He said he had never, to his
knowledge, met the Danish gentleman.
and he was certain that he had never had
any conversation with him upon the sub
tect of the purchase of the West Indies.
Mr O. w. Knox, of Gienelge. Nd. who
was mentioned in Captain Christmas re
port, was next called. He stated that
he met Captain Christmas in January.
1900. at the Hotel Raleigh, in this city.
and found him a cultivated gentleman.
He thought that Christmas had apparently
become entangled with sharpers and
feared that some OF them might ruin his
mission by carrying out their threats.
He advised him to see Senator Lodge.
and later introduced him to the Massa-
chusetts Senator.
Offered a Contract,
"He subsequently wrote me from New
York. said MIR. Knox, asking for ::
meeting, and came over to Philadelphia
to see me. He stated that he could not
remain in Washington, but he wished to
be kept better informed than he was, and
that he could not conduct the affairs he
wished. He proposed to me that | ac-
cept from him SIS, goo, for which / should
give him such assistance as he might re-
quire and aid him in any proper manner
to help along a speedy transfer.
Il told him that l did not think | could
be of any particular assistance to him,
but after repeated pleadings / entered into
such an agreement. February %, 1900.
ALLOW me to present agreement; e
speaks for itself
This did not satisfy Christmas; he
wished to have the matter so placed be-
fore the people that ii would not be fear
ed as a political issue. and then, perhaps,
II might go through the Congress.
He requested. under my agreement
with him, that direct the employment OF
prominent writer's, and perhaps experts, |
to go down TO the islands and write ar
ticles and have them widely published in
the periodicals and the general press
throughout the United States. ! told him
that to carry out such a plan effectively,
including the employment of a reputable
attorney. might involve $4,000, and that
he could not expect men to work without |
some guarantee of payment.
He made some effort TO secure this |
guarantee. and subsequently did but l |
had, in the meantime, ascertained that he |
was about to enter into other contracts, |
clined to have anything further to do with |
the plan"
Gave Christmas S..
Continuing, Mr.. Knox said that he saw
Christmas once more, on March "a. 1900, |
when he met him by chance in this city. |
That was the last time he ever saw him. |
Christmas seemed TO have the blues"
He gave him his check for IS, which Mr.. |
check to the committee.
Mr.. Knox declared emphatically that he
had never bribed or attempted to bribe 1
anyone in connection with the matter, and
had never received cent from anyone
in regard to the transaction either for
services or expenses.
In answer TO a question as to his
friendship with Senator Hanna. as Cap
tain Christmas had stated. Mr.. Knox said
that he believed Senator Hanna TO be his
friend. but did not claim any intimacy
with him.
Senator Bacon of Georgia told of two
casual conversations with Christmas. AS
to the latter's statement that Mr.. Bacon
took great interest in the purchase of the
Danish Islands the Senator declared it
was absolutely untrue, as he did not be-
lieve in the acquisition of the islands and
considered 1t unfortunate that the United
States was in a position where il seemed
necessary to take them
Secretary Hays Explanation.
Chairman Dalzcn then read to the COM
mi;tee the following letter received from
Secretary Hay in regard to the State De-
partment's connection with Captain
Christmas:
ITO Hon. John DalzeIl. Chairman Select
Committee, etc;
Il have received your letter Of the Glst
Of March and in reply beg leave 10 say:
In the early part OF December, 1899. |
Captain Christmas called upon nc at this ,
department and informed me that. through
private and personal sources IN Copen-
hagen. ne had become aware that there
was a disposition among some OF the lead
Ing members OF the Danish Government to
regard favcrably an overture from the
Of the United States looking
10 the acquisition OF the Danish Islands
He said that he had been q naval Off
,er, and spoke at scmc length in regard
10 the desirability OF the Island OF St
John as a naval STATEN for the United
States. At my suggestion he conveyed
what further technical information he
aad on this subject 10 Admiral Bradford |
1i the Navy Department.
although he presented no credentials
HnateYer and expressly declared he had
DO official character / thought his story
was Of sufficient Interest to be worth in
festigaton.
II told him ! would send confidential
md trusted agent OF this Government 10
J$penhagen TO ascertain unoiIIcialiy the {
rue state Of affairs. and mentioned TO c
i'm the name Of Henry White. first sec
'stary Of embassy at London. Captain
i,rtssuaa said ba yyoufd ike to he in 20 ! I