The Washington times., 1905-08-03
Mysterious Mrs. Peckham
Gould Tell Much to the
Grand Jury.
WHAT QUARREL EXPOSED
Van Riper's Break With Hus-
band Said to Have Re
suited in Expose.

Down at the bottom of the whole ex-
pauding series of graft disclosures in
the Government service was woman.
Two men quarreled over her, and the
exposure of their particular graft fol-
lowed.
That was the cotton crop report leak
The woman was Mrs. Peckham. for
merly known as Mrs. Fay. or De Faye.
Mrs. Peckham has been the battling
mystery of the cotton scandal from its
beginning. She and her husband sepa-
rated several months ago. her husband
going suddenly from New York to
Chicago. with only the explanation to his
partner that domestic affairs which he
could not discuss made it impossible for
him TO remain in New York.
Van Ripper Interested.
Van Ripper. once the crony and inti-
mate, in business and cotton and society
OF Frederick A. Peckham. was so far
interested in the affairs of Mrs. Peck
ham that he was president of a company
she managed. and furnished, it Is al
legged. the money to pay a large amount
OF her debts when she was in the bank
ruptcy courts. rather than have pub
licity given TO the contents OF q nys-
terious safety deposit box held in her
name.
What were the contents Of that box g?
Would they have offered a solution of
the mystery of Mrs. Peckham's rela-
1lonS 70 the cotton scandal, and would
they have furnished evidence now so
mucn wanted before the Federal grand
Jury2
All this Is as yet a matter Of specula-
tion. Mrs. Packhar1 is a woman of wide
experience, who, it is supposed, could
tell much that would aid the grand jury
IN reaching conclusions a bout the cotton
leaks If she felt 90 inclined. II is not
known that she mas been sum moHed tie-
fore the jury. even though her husband
was put through an interesting fnQuisi-
tion there and has declined 10 testify
as TO things which might incriEninate
himself.
When Gamblers QuarTeled.
Two gamblers quarreled over q
woman and gave it away. or We would
never have known of the cotton leaks,
declared Secretary of Agriculture VIII
son AT New York the other day. after
lie had visited the President and can
vassed at length the whole series OF
problems of graft in the Department of
Agriculture
What did you mean by that state
snent that two gamblers quarreled over
woman and from this grew the expos
Cre OF the gTaft2 was asked OF the Sec
retary after his return from New York
But the official would only smile. ad-
nit that he had not been quoted wrong
1y, and insist that there was nothing tC
add to the statement, because really il
had been impossible TO get TO the bot
tom of the matter,
Mysterious Mrs. Peckham was former
y Mrs. Fay or De Faye. Of Chicago.
and conducted 4 mall order business
there. II Went through bankruptcy and
the woman removed to NeW York and
established & like business Again she
got into financial difficulties, and cred
itors discovered that she had some
money IN safe deposit box of the Mad
4son Safe Deposit Company. Meantime
she had married PeCkham. \ receiver
was appointed for her concern, and Mrs.
Peckham was enjoined from taking out
the contents Of the mysterious safety
deposit box.
Then an order was issued that the box
be opened under auspices of court Of
Heer and its contents inventoried. This
was opposed 10 the limit By the attor-
neys for Mrs, Peckham.
The De Faye Company
It developed that Van Riper was pres
ident of the De Faye company, which
was the form under which Mrs. Peck
ham was at this time doing business. An
employe Of Van Ripper testified that the
money TO run the De Faye business
came from Van Riper. and that Van
Riper owned most of IL.
Finally the court peremptoriiy ordered
that the mysterious box be opened
forthwith. 1t contained. according to
one witness under examination Things
too valua BILE 10 be allowed to be open
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