The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-11

Washington, July 8.-As the result OF
the investigation by secret service
agents into the charges made by Rich,
ard Cheatham, secretary Of the cotton
planters association, that information
had been given to the cotton brokers
in New York By some person or Fer
sons in the bureau of statistics OF the
department of agriculture, Secretary
Wilson today made public an official
report in which he states that Edwin
S. Holmes, the associate statistician has
been guilty OF Juggling the official re-
port. The report says it has been found
that Mr.. Holmes communicated adj
vance information to L. c. VanRiper. a
New York broker ,and Mr.. Haas of New
York, whom Mr.. VanRiper said acted
as q 5O-betWeen in conveying informa-
tion from Holmes to other New York
brokers, including Theodore Price.
Steps have been taken by Secretary
Wilson to prevent any further leakage
of the department figures and an en-
tire reorganization Of the bureau Of sta
tistics and manner of preparing month
ly crop reports has been outlined by
him.
The papers in connection with the in
YeStigatiOn were referred to the United
States attorney for the District of Co.
lumbia and he has reported that in his
opinion criminal prosecution will not
lie against Holmes. Holmes has Ueen
dismissed from the service of the ce-
partment.
VANRIPER THE PRINCIPAL WIT
NESS.
According to the report, Wilson judd
formerly il. the employ Of l.. G. Van
Ripper, induced the latter to tell Of MS
connections with Holmes and then in
timated tn" information to Mr. Cheat
ham VarRiper became the principal
witness in the investigation conducted
by the secret service. and said he was
induced to communicate the fact that
advance information was being SlveT,
out by Holmes because he had heard
that Holmes and his associates had in
tended to try % manipulate the .!une
cotton report. Using this information
as a foundation the secret service agents
interviewed mum erous persons who had
been mentioned ~ Judd and VanRiper
as we'll as gathering a mass Of CORE
spOndence including many letters writ
ten by Holmes 10 Van Ripper and others
The report made to Secretary Wilson
and the Secretary's comments, tOgeth'
er with the details of the new plan o1
conducting the bureau of statistics
makes more than four thousand words
1t reviews the entire investigation be-
ginning with the charges that were lalc
before Secretary Wilson by Mr.. Cheat
ham several weeks ago.
The charges b. Mr.. Cheatham were
backed up with evidence that certain
information had been given to cottoI
brokers in New York by some person
Or persons emplC.Ied in the bureau D
statistics, relative: to the acreage ane
condition Of the cotton crop Of th:
United States, prior to the official pub
HcatiOn of the information and tina
the crop figures had been tampereC
with in the department in the interest:
Of certain cotton spectators. Secretar,
Wilson determined at once upon thor
ough investigation and furnished tt
officers of the United States secre
service all of the evidence which ha;
been given to the department. Th,
agents then were put in touch with Mr.
Cheatham, and directed to use ever.
Dossible effort to ascertain whethe
2 there had been q leak in the depart
and if so 20 furnish the secretac.
with the name of the person or per
sons responsible. Holmes is the 'onl
employee of the government who ha
been found to have had any connectiol
with srnnIvine information to broker