Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-15
KNEWNOTH!NCT OTELL
Mrs. Peckham Excused by
District Attorney.
MR.. BEACH'S REASONS
SAYS SHE WAS IGNORANT OF
THE COTTON LEAK.
Grand Jury Hears Several Witnesses
at Session Resumed This
Morning.
MR.. BEACH'S REASONS

The grand jury Of the District OF Colum-
bia met this morning after ten-day recess
and continued its investigation OF the cot
ton crop report leak scandals. Chief Clerk
Clarke OF the bureau OF statistics Of the
Agricultural Department and several other
employees Of the bureau were before the
federal body. Several persons Of the many
subpoenaed from New York were also In
attendance, but were not called. Their turn.
however. will come before long.
In view OF the reports connecting Mrs.
Sarah H. Peckham of New York. wife OF
one Of the alleged associates of former
Statistician Holmes. with the cotton leaks,
a statement on the subject made by Dis
trict Attorney Beach this afternoon is. OF
more than ordinary interest. Mr.. Beach
said:
MRS. Sarah H. Peckham appeared in re-
Spouse to the subpoena served on her IN
New York. and was examined by the dis
trict attorney. She was willing to appear
before the grand jury If necessary, but Inc
district attorney concluded from his inter-
view with her that she was not connected
with the so-called cotton leaks. and was
excused from attendance before that body.
II is only just to Mrs. Peckham to say that
from her statement she was ignorant OF the
matter, and the revelations made in con-
nection with it were not due to her nor to
any domestic differences in her household.
So much notoriety has surrounded her IN
connection with the case that 1t seems
only just to her and to her friends that
this statement should be made Mrs. Peck
ham was here yesterday with friends from
New York, but. to avoid interviews with
the press and unpleasant surveillance, did
not make known the place where she was
stopping"
Would Not Discuss Matter.
Mr.. Beach would not discuss the matter
further. but it is understood he thinks that
many things were said about Mrs. Peck
ham which were not warranted by the
facts. as known. Mr.. Beach's statement is
OF interest. moreover, in view Of the fact
that Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has
been quoted more than once as saying that
the cotton crop report leaks became known
because two gamblers quarreled over a
woman Mrs. Peckham being the woman
Mrs. Peckham said in New York the other
day that she would make Secretary Wilson
regret having made that statement
1t is probable that District Attorney
Beach was favorably impressed by Mrs.
Peckham's apparent desire to do all that
she properly could to assist him, and to
render her own innocence more apparent
She came to Washington from New York
without demur and volunteered to go before
the grand jury and subject herself to the
district attorney did not deem necessary,
after his long and detailed interview with
her.
Among the witnesses heard today were
Lewis Mercer of New York. a one-time
business partner of Frederick II. Peckham,
who is accused with former Associate Sta
tistician Holmes and Moses Haas, New
York broker. of having profited by the cot
ton leaks. Mr.. Mercer was subjected to q
brief examination. He proved a willing wit
ness, answering all questions put to him
without hesitation or delay. .f'''
At the conclusion Of his examination he
was given permission by the district at
torney, to return to New York, and will not
be called again. It is said that Mr.. Beach
is satisfied Of Mr.. MERGERS innocence of
any improper knowledge of the cotton
leaks.
The grand jury will resume it's sessions
tomorrow, and several employees of the bu-
reau Of statistics of the Agricultural De-
partment as well as a number of witnesses
from New York will be called upon to tes-
tify. Mr. Beach had no comment to make
today on the continued absence from this
jurisdiction of former Statistician John
Hyde Of the Department of Agriculture