The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-07-12


from Holmes and that their contents
had reference to the state OF the COT
ton report. a large number OF letters
and telegrams signed with the initial
"F" were sent from New York to
Van Ripper. Nearly all OF these con
taiued information concerning the
cotton report, together with instruc-
tons to sell OF buy on the market, &C
cording to the information furnished
and all OF them closed with the ad-
monition to destroy the letter.
The secret service agents lesrned
that 'P" referred to in Holmes let
ter was F. A. Peckhau, OF New York
and that the letters signed the initial
''Fn were T. a. Peckham.
TRYING TO MAKE MONEY"
Peckhan was interviewed in New
York city and stated that the only
explanation be had to give concerning
the letters was that he was trying TO
make some motley in toe cotton mar
ket, declining to say anything OF his
relations with Holmes, Haas or Van
Ricer. Shortly after he was inter
viewed it was learned that Peckham
came to Washington and held CON
yersation with Holmes over the tele.
phone in which he inquired whether
Holmes intended to resign his position
or whether he expected to be dismiss.
ed from the governments service. Peck.
ham was seen again by government
agents but would not discuss bis rela-
ticns with Holmes.
Homes was interviewed by secret
service agents and considerable space
in the report is given to his explsna-
tioaS. The first questions asked him
were as TO his relations with Peckham
and Van Ripper.
Homles said that they all had been
on very intimate terms socially and
that when be had occasion to visit
New York, which was frequently, his
hotel bill had been paid by Van Ripper
or Peckhan. Holmes admitted that
Peckhan, Haas and himself were at
onetime associated in business ven
ture in which Holmes was to have an
interest equal to the SUN OF s6 600,
which he was to receive as gift from
the other members Of the firm. Sub
S. ouently Haas transferred his interest
ia this firm to L. G. Van R!per and
Van Ripper stated that the company
vas organized for the purpose Of hand.
ling cotton. Holmes testified that
this was true, but that he was not
aware OF the nature Of the organlza
ticn At the time he got an interest jo
it. and that when be learned the object
Of the company was to handle Gotten,
he Withdrew from it.
SOLD BIS MINING PRoERTY.
Under further examination Holmes
stated that be had sold to Van Ripper,
about Feb. l9, 1905, three-tourths
interest in some mining property in
Idaho for $4,000, this amount haV
ing been paid to him by Van Ripper In
two installmentsin in currency. In this
connection Van Ripper stated that a
contract had been made. between
Holmes and himself whereby Van
Riper was supposed to have acquired
a seven eighths interest in some min
ing property, but that ne had never
seen the lr perty nor had any idea as
to it's value or as to its exact location.
Van Ripper said that Holmes wished
10 have a contract signed which would
show that Van Ripper had paid to
Holmes a large sum OF money for the
mining property, in order tnat Holmes
might be able to account for the pos
session of 50 much money. Van Ripper
says he knows that Holmes received
a very large amount prior to the sign
ing OF the contract and he believes it
was not for mining OF other property.
Secretary Wilson says there seems to
be every reason to believe from the
report Of secret service agents that
Holmes c;uld have given approx
mately Correct information anywhere
from one to three days in advance Of
the publication Of the official report.
During nearly the entire cotton re-
porting season Of 1908 Holmes was in
charge Of the bureau Of statistics in
the absence of Chief Statistician
Hyde, who was in Europe. Since that
time be has had access to the reports
OF field agents who furnish the data
upon which the cotton reports are
based. The most important Of these
reports come from Field Agent B. G.
White and from the several State
agents, to all Of which Rolmes had
access. L was found that alterations
had been made in the figures Of Mr.
Whites report, for October 3, 1908,
aud that these alterations appeared
to be in Holmes handwriting.
DEALS ONLY WITH FACTS.
Secretary Wilson says large num-
Der Of persons made statements OF
general character, founded on runor
and incapable OF verifcation, and for
this reason they were not made a part
Of his report, which is intended to
deal with facts only.
According to the new plan outlined
by Secretary Wilson to govern the
preparation Of monthly reports OF the
bureau OF statistics, the general spec
ial field agents and State agents will
report on speculative crops directly to
the secretary or acting secretary OF
agriculture. These reports will re-
main sealed In the custody Of these
officers until the day the official re.
port is to be made, when the agents
reports will be opened and the official
report compiled under strict precau.
tions. There never will be at any
time, in the possession Of the bureau
Of statistics or in any one Office Of the
department., except while the compil-
alton cf the official report is being
made, complete information from the
correspondents in all Of the cotton
States. Texas and Georgia, two Of
the largest cotton producing States,
will h, capo - toS froro rho proI1n NJ