The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-09
tBy the Associated Press.)

Washington July S.-As the result
Of the investigation by Secret Service
agents into the charges made by
Richard Cheatham, Secretary of the
Cotton Planters Association the infor-
nation had been given to cotton
brokers i'm New York by some per-
son or persons in the bureau OF
statistics of the Department of Agri-
culture, Secretary Wilson today made
public an official report in which he
states that Edwin S. Holmes. the
associate statistician had been guilty
of Juggling the official report. Inc
report says it has been found that
Mr.. Holmes had communicated to l..
G Van Riper. a New York broker. in
formation, and that Haas, of New
York. had acted as a go-between IN
conveying this information from
Holmes, Van Ripper and other New
York brokers, including Theodore
Price.
To Prevent Further Leakage.
Steps have been taken by Secretary
Wilson To prevent any further leak
age of the department figures, and an
entire reorganization of the Bureau of
Statistics and manner of preparing
monthly crops has been outlined by
him. The papers in connection with
the investigation We're referred to the
United States attorney for the District
of Columbia. and he has reported that
i'm his opinion a criminal prosecution
will not lie against Holmes. Holmes
has been dismissed from the service
of the Department.
According to the report Wilson
Judd of New York, former employe
of l.. c. Van Ripper. induced the latter
TO tell of his connections with Holmes.
and then communicated the informa-
ton To Mr.. Cheatham. Van Ripper be-
cam the prominent witness in the in
vestigation conducted by the Secret
Service and said he was induced to
communicate the fact that informa-
ton was being given out by Holmes,
because he heard that Holmes and
his associates had intended to try TO
manipulate the June cotton report.
Using this information as a clue the
Secret Service agents interviewed
numerous persons who had been men-
toned by Judd and Van Ripper. and
also gathered a mass of correspond
ence. including many letters written
by Holmes To Van RiDer and others.
The report made to Secretary Wilson
and the secretary's comments. together
with the details of the new plan of
conducting the bureau of statistics.
words. 1t reviews the entire investi-
CATION. beginning with the charges
that were laid before Secretary Will
son by Mr.. Cheatham several weeks
ago.
Backed by Evidence.
The charges by Mr. Cheatham We're
backed uD with evidence that certain
information had been given to cotton
brokers in New York by some person
or persons employed i'm the bureau of
statistics. relative to the acreage and
condition of the cotton crop of the
United Staes. prior to the official pub
lication of the information, and that
the crop figures had been tempered
with in the department. in the inter
ests of certain cotton Spectators.
Secretary Wilson determined at once
ests OF certain cotton SPECTATORS. Sc
thorough investigation and furnished
To officers of the United States Secret
Service all of the information that ne
had been given To the department
The agents then were put in touch
with Mr.. Cheatham and directed to
Sc every possible effort to ascertain
whether there had been a leak in the
department. and if so to furnish the
secretary with the name Of the person
or persons responsible. Holmes is the
only employee of the government who
has been found To have had any con-
nection with the supplying of informa-
ton TO brokers prior to the publica-
ton of the official report.
Summary of Testimony.
After reviewing the charges Secre-
tary Wilson gives a summary of the
testimony adduced before Secret Ser
vice agents. Mr.. Van Ripper. the New
York broker under examination.
said he became acquainted with
Holmes in New York in August. 1904.
through n mutual friend" Accord
ing to this testimony Holmes told
Van Riper he could get information
concerning the government crop re-
port principally through the report of
the general agents and the report CT
the State agents. Van Ripper said
Holmes furnished him with informa-