The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-08
Bellairs, Wood and Taft.

Bellairs. Wood and Taft.
A despatch from Phoenix yesterday TO
the Nep York Herald represented BEL
LARS : as having just learned from New
York that scandalous stories wore ahoat
here concerning his record. The former
war correspondent. author and promoter
Of military fame. and present corpora
ton president and developer OF the nat
ural resources OF Arizona, TRANQUILITY ex-
pressed surprise that anybody should
dream OF attacking bis personal reputa-
ton. He could not imagine what the
unpleasant reports might be. He pro-
fesses with apparent sincerity, says the
HsrolTs correspondent, absolute ig-
norance Of any charges that may have
been preferred against him that would
affect his integrity in any wise BEL
LARS remarked serenely:
.Ivouid like ven much 70 know what the charges
referred 10 may be, tina, may then more definitely
answer. II they refer TO any actions Of mine in
Cuba or the Philippines, am more than willing
70 snswcr.-
Expectation OF definite answer from
No. s48 of Inspector BYRNEs's Profess
sional Criminals Of America ought not
to run too high. for such expectation is
not unlikely TO be disappointed. By
this time the Captain-President has
probably learned exactly what Is being
said Of him in a hundred newspapers on
this side Of the continent. There 10
nothing In his biography as compiled
either by THOMAS BYRNEs or by ROBERT
PINKERToN inconsistent with the sup
position that he il already preparing to
submerge his identity In the under
world, previously to reappearing by and
by in some new field OF endeavor with q
new name that shall add another TO the
long string Of aliases which stretches
from BALLENTINE to BELLArRs.
The continued public attention TO the
case OF Capt. EDGAR GERALD BELI.AIRs
will proceed from something else than
ordinary newspaper interest in the
career OF an uncommonly adroit and
adventurous swindler.
Testimony Is accommodating In the
columns OF our contemporaries az to the
functions of this ex-convict during the
period OF his close intimacy with Gen.
LEONARD WOOD in Cuba, both before and
after the successful attempt to discredit
Gen. BROOKE and to make at Havana
the vacancy into which Gen. WOOD i'm
mediately stepped. The latest contribu-
ton to the increasing stock Of informa-
ton about BELLAIBs's services to Gen.
WOODS professional interests and ad-
illustrative glory is supplied by the
Herold, which says:
-oen. LsoSARD woop. 20 long a he rem lined
In Cuba. was ~ ardent fnend Of BELLAIns. otheI
CORES pondents friendly TO Gen. WOOD know tina,
the Dispatches written by BIILAras were censored
by the General. A. all times BELLAnl
vas ready 70 sing the praises Of the ocers though
his sweetest songs were reserved for Gen. woor
and those about him.
Besides supplying on Sunday last this
very important statement by the general
manager Of tho Associated Press, Mr..
MELVILLE Z. STONE, that when reports
OF BELLAIRs's bad character had de.
cided Mr.. STONE to discharge him Gen.
WOOD said he was all right and begged
us to keep him, the World made on its
own authority the following statement:
linn edistey on the accession OF Gen. WOOD u
the Military Govenorship OF Cuba. BELLAIRs
began to prosper. Gen. WOOD granted
him many courtcsies which were refused 70 others
Because Of hls connection with the Associated Press
BEIlAIls was In . posiuon 10 proven, publicity
being given 10 any Of the mistakes Of Gen. wooD
Who. until his unheard of promotion. was surgeon
In the Regular army.
-BxILArns became Gen. WOODS personal and
intimate friend. He VS. dined 81 the Paisce b.
WOOD was given perquisises which enabled him "a
live far beyond what his mere salary Is . news
paper writer would have permitted.
During his stay In Havana. BELiAIRs. a. ID,
| personal mend Of Gen. WOOD. wAs furnished 4
bone In the magnificent building occupied by Gen
LUDLOW. Slowly but surely reports were heard
IN the United states regarding every army ofhceI
unpopular With Gen. WOOD. These reports wer,
Detrimental and - . result the President and Wa,
Department. anxious not TO cmbsuass Gen. woor
in his dissatisfaction Of AFFAIRS ordered them 1.-THE
on,cers denounced by BHiLArRsl away. Thes,
reports omanated from an Ell eonvict whose picture
Is in the Roeues Gallery. professional swndlss
and the personal friend OF Gen. LsorAkp woop.-
BELLAIRs, upon leaving Cuba. boosted
that he had made LEONARD WOOD"
Without mentioning BELLAIRs and his
part in the making of Gen. woop, the
Springfield Republican day before yes
terday said Of the general results OF the
methods pursued at Havana In WOODS
interests:
1T is the simple truth tina, when Gen. woop
succeeded Gen. BROOKS - Military Governor Of
Cuba the nsv nation had already been successfully
starred - Gen Baooks and ~ sids vAs
Ass1 cssas dsys - "a vsssny pressvsse colony.
rather than Gen. woop and those who served under