The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-10
CONSIDERING
REQUEST
OF PRICE

w -
Washington, July lo-Theodore "
Price of New York. who arrived in Wash
ington yesterday. has. through his attor-
ney. requested Secretary Wilson 10 with
draw what Mr.. Price characterizes as
the unjust. offensive and unsustained'
charges and implications contained in
the report made public Saturday in con-
nection with the removal OF Edwin
Holmes, Jr.. the assistant statistician Of
the department OF agriculture.
Mr.. Price stated later that the secre-
tary has Mr. Prices request under con-
sideration.
Meantime Mr. Price secured from Rich
ard Cheatham the following signed state
ment:
Mr.. Cheatham states that after evi-
dence which he had furnished 20 Sscre-
tary Wilson was turned over TO the secret
service department. his services were en-
listed by that department TO assist the
man in whose charge>Dthe matter was
placed 10 secure any additional evidence
regarding the case.
1T was decided that more evidence
might he secured I'm New York. and in the
hope OF doing so the secret service agent,
accompanied by Mr.. Cheatham, went
there for that purpose.
SECURED NO EVIDENCE.
After working together I'm close touch
for three or four days. during which
time a number OF persons who were sup
posed TO know something about the case
were examined by the secret service agent
alone. and after having fully gone over
the ground and examining everyone who
I'm the opinion OF the secret service agent
and Mr.. Cheatham could possibly have
any connection with the affair. Mr..
Cheatham left for New York.
Before leaving he had a long con-
ference with the secret service agent,
who expected 10 leave a few hours later.
During this conference a full dis
cussion OF the matter was had and Mr..
Cheatham insisted that the secret service
agent call to see Theodore Price before
leaving the city. for the purpose OF find
ing out what connection he had with the
case. II any. as his name had been men,
toned in one OF the letters submitted as
evidence
Mr. Cheatham was informed 10y the
secret service agent that he had not been
able 10 secure any evidence from anyone
that would in the least connect Mf Price
with the affair. and that he had been
told Ry Mr. Haas that he. Haas. did not
know Mr. Price. and had not any con-
nection with him I'm any way.
Up 70 the time Mr. Cheatham left New
York he was informed by the secret ser
for the reasons above stated. and would
be useless, as he had not been able 10 So
cure any evidence that would implicate
Mr.. Price.
SAW PRICE NAME.
Up 10 the time the secret service agent
closed its report Mr. Cheatham remained
in close touch with him for the purpose
81 furnishing II with any facts connected
With the case that were obtainable.
Mr.. Cheatham stated that he failed 10
learn any new facts or even suggestions
from anyone who might know that Mr.
Price was connected with the matter.
Consequently Mr.. Cheatham was very
much surprised when he first noticed I'm
the report given out by Secretary Wilson
10 the press the name of Theodore Price
mentioned so prominently i'm connection
with the case. he did not know Of any
evidence having been presented or secur-
ed by anyone that would warrant the use
OF Mr. Prices name in connection with
the affair
(SiEned) RICHARD CHEATHAM.
Secretary Wilson told Mr. Price he
had William NJ. WINS. his attorney.
earlier in the day that he had no state
ment 10 make along the line requested.
The secretary explained in detail how
the matter had been brought 10 his atten-
ton by Mr. Van Ripper through Mr.;
Cheatham and he had I'm turn referred
II 10 the secret service department Of the
treasury department. ny the officials Of
which the investigation had been con
Quoted.
WORK OF SECRET SERVICE.
Their report had been made to him and
he in turn had made Il public. What had
been made public. therefore the secretary
expIaIncd. was entirely the work of tho
secret service. except that portion ~ his
statement which related to the reorsaui-
zSztion ~ the Statisticians office.
-nder those circumstances, he add" 1,
he did not feci called upon 10 make an o.
PLANTATION or withdraw anything that had
bccn given oIt II Mr.. Cheatham saw st
10 make n statement regarding the ma
ter. as Mr. Trice told the secretary NJ
Chcathan' had done, that was very WNil
ana good
District Attorney Morgan ~ Beach last
night occlined 10 discuss the question
whether any action would he taken by his
OFFICE lr tie case. He. however. made the
following statement. explaining his action
in correction with the inquiry:
WARRANT FOR STATEMENT.
"On Ir:da, last report on an invesu-
CATION conducted for the past month by
tho secret service was laid before me hv
the gccr"tary ~ agriculture. with the re-
quest that he be speedily advised whether
ore Holmes sometimes acting statistician
~ tho department., was ON the facts
stated in tho report. individually liable 10
criminal prosecution.
ON tho afternoon ~ the same dav
ldvised tire secretary that on the case "a
presontcd 10 me no such proceeding would
lie
"As 10 the manner in which the investi-
CatIon vas conducted or on the broader
question of a possible criminal conspiracy
was not consulted; and any suggestion
from me- In the then iuncture as % either
s"tl lert would have been an improper in
truSiou upon the administrative provinces
of the secretarv
1T Is tho duty Of tho district attorney
on complaint regularly lodged or with
out complaint, when the facts within his
own knowledge fairly warrant such
course. 80 present 10 the grand jury al
legged violations OF law. hut II is equally
his duty 10 avoid the slightest encroach-
mert ON questions ~ mere administration
In an executive department
"Imposslbilty that tho action OF the
secretary may he misunderstood or that