New-York tribune., 1905-07-09


with the figures afterward published the off,
eial cxop reports. Van Ripper stated that a Mr..
Haas OF New York, acted as a go-between for
Holmes and himself, and he was given to under
stand that Haas securing information for
Theodore Price. a cotton broker of New-York.
The witness said he met Haas at the Hotel
Waldorf and was told by him that the report
for June. 1903 would be - per cent on condi-
ton and 121a or 13 per cent on acreage, which
was as bearsh they could make IT, and that
he was going TO see Price. with whom he would
have interview, and wanted to see Van Ripper
after he Price; that in about an hour Haas
called him and said that at the request of
Price he was going to Washington TO see if
they could not get the percentage little higher
ana the acreage little smaller to make the
report more bearish. Van Ripper testified that
the official report more bearish than the
figures previously given him. and that he took
this to mean that the effort to influence the
report had succeeded. The letters produced by
Van Ripper. which he alleged written by
Holmes. We're all signed with the initial H
Most of these letters were for the purpose of
making appointments with Van Ripper. but the
following note, dated August 20, 1904. shows the
relationship between Holmes and Van Ripper:
If you have bought any of that stuff sell it
out at once and sell as much you in ad-
cline. and this is totally unexpected it will
send things down like fury. Other parties will
close out tomorrow and sell on Thursday
Where is P? Tear this UP. It may go up lit
tie before Friday. but probably not"
This letter was signed with the initial H
Van Ripper testified that all of the letters sur
rendered we're from Holmes. and that their con-
tents had reference to the state of the cotton
report. large number of letters and tele-
grams signed with the initial Fl" were sent
from NewYork to Van Ripper Nearly all of
these contained information concerning the cot
ton report. together with instructions to sell
or Duy on the market. according to the informa-
ton furnished. and all of them closed with the
admonition to destroy the letter.
The Secret Service agents learned that "P A"
referred to in Holiness letter. was F. A Peck
ham. of New York, and that the letters signed
with the initial "F" We're written by F. A Peck
ham.
Mr.. Peckham was seen in New York City and
stated that the only explanation he had to give
concerning the letters was that he was trying
TO make some money in the cotton market de-
cliniRg to say anything of his relations with
Holmes, Haas or Van Ripper. Soon after he was
seen learned that Peckhan came
to Washington and held a conversation with
Holmes over the telephone, in which he inquired
"Acl-4cF 11oALieS tnleh0SQ To resign MS place,
or whether he expected to be dismissed from
the government service. PecKnam was seen
again by government agents, but would not dis
cuss his relations with Holmes
Holmes was questioned by Secret Service
agents, and considerable space in the report
is given to his explanation. The first questions
asked him were TO his relations with Peck
ham and Van Ripper. Holmes said that they all
had been intimate terms socially, and that
when he had occasion to visit New-York which
was frequently his hotel bill had been paid by
van Riper or Peekham Holmes admitted that
Peesham. Haas and himself were at one time
associated in a business venture in which
Holmes was to have an interest equal to the
sum Of $4,000 which he was to receive as a gift
from the other members OF the firm Subse-
quently Haas transferred his interest in this
nrin TO l. G Van Riper, and Van Ripper stated
that the company was organized for the purpose
OF handling cotton. Holmes testified that this
was true. but that he was not aware of the
nature Of the organization at the time he was
given an interest in ii. and that when he
learned that the object of the company was to
handle cotton he withdrew from it,
COVERING THEIR TRACKS
Under further examination Holmes stated thar
he had sold to Van Ripper about February 10
1903, three-feurths interest in some mining
ing been paid 10 him by Van Ripper in two in
stalments in currency
In this connection Van Ripper stated that a
contract had been made between Holmes and
himself whereby Van Ripper was supposed 70
have acquired a seven-eighths interest in some
mining property, but that he had never seen the
property nor had he any idea as to its value or
as TO its exact location. Van Ripper said that
Holmes wished 10 have contract signed which
would show that Van Riper had paid TO Holmes
a large sum of money for the mining property
in order that Holmes might be able 10 account
for the possession of so much money Van
Riper says he knows that Holmes received a
very large amount prior to the signing of the
contract. and he believes it not for mining
or other property.
Secretary Wilson says there seems to be every
reason TO believe from the report of Secret Ser
vice agents that Holmes could have given ap-
prexiTnately correct informatio anywhere from
one TO three days in advance of the publiea-
tion Of the official report. During nearly the en-
tire cotton reporting season of 1903 Holmes was
IN charge OF the Bureau OF Statistics in the alb
sence Of Chief Statistician Hyde, who was in
Europe Since that time he has had access TO
the reports Of the field agents who furnish the
data upon which the cotton reports are based
The most important of these reports come from
Field Agent B. {. White and from the several
State agents, to all OF which Holmes has had
access. Ii was found that altera tions had been
made in the figures of Mr.. Whites report for
October, 1893 and that these alterati tions ap-
peared TO be in Holiness handwriting. Secretary
Wilson says q large number Of persons made
statements Of a general character, founded
runor and Incapable OF verification, and for this
reason they were not made part of his report
which is intended to deal with facts only.
PRECAUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
According TO the new plan outlined by Secre-
tary Wilson TO govern the preparation of
monthly reports Of the Bureau OF Statistics the
general special field agents and State agents