The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-11
REPORT ON COTTON SCANDAL
PROVES A GREAT SENSATION
prior TO the publication of the Official
report
SUMMARY OF THE TESTIMONY.

tary Wilson gives a summary of the
testimony adduCei before secret service
agents. Mr.. Vankiper, the New York
Broker, under examination, said he be-
came acquainted with Holmes in New
York in August, 1904, through 'nu,-
tual friend" According to this testi-
mOny, Holmes told VanRiper he could
get information concerning the govern
ment crop report, principally through
the report of the general agent and The
reports of the state agents. Van Riper
said Holmes furnished him with infOr-
nation from time to time, for several
months, in advacce of the publication
OF the official figures, and that the in
formation furnished by Holmes corra-
sponded exactly with the figures after
wards published in the official crop re-,
ports. VanRiper stated that Mr. Faas
Of New York acted as go-between for
Holmes and himself, and he was given
to understand that Haas was securing
information for Theodore Price, cot
ton broker of Now York. The witness
said he met Haas at the Hotel Waldorf
and was told by him that the report
for June, 1905, would be Is per cent
on condition, and II 1-2 or Is per cent
on acreage, which was as bearish as they
could make it, and then he was going
to see Price with whom he would have
an interview, and wanted to see Van
Ripper, after he saw Price; that in about
an hour Haas called on him and Sai1
that at the request of Price he was 60
ing to Washington to see if they could
not get the percentage a little higher
and the acreage a little smaller, 70
make the report more bearish.
VanRiper testified that the official re-
port was more pearish than the figures
previously given Him and that he took
this to mean that the effort to influence
the report had succeeded.
The letters prod iced by Van Ripper,
which he alleged were written by
Holmes were all signed with the initial
III" Most of these letters were for
the purpose OF making appointments
with VanRiper, but the following note
dated August 90 1904, shows the rela-
tiOnship between Holmes and VanRiper
eff YOU had bought any of that stuff
sell it out at once, and sell as much
as you can in addition. We are going
to show very slight decline anu as
this is totally unexpected it will
send things down like fury. Other par
on Thursday. Where is P? Tear this
up. It may go up d little before Friday
but probably not"
This letter was signed with the init
ial III" VanRiper testified that all OF
the letters surrendered were from
Holmes and that the contents had ref
erence to the state of the cotton report.
A large number Of letters and tele-
grams signed with the initial "F. were
sent from New York to Van Ripper.
Nearly all of these contained infOrnla-
tion concerning the cotton report, TO-
gether with instructions to sell Or buy
on the market, according to the lntor-
nation furnished and all of them
closed with the admonition to destroy
] the letter.
The secret service agents learned
that "P.' referred to in Holmes letter
was F. A. Peckbam of New York, and
that the letters signed the initial II. -
were written by f. A. Peckham.
MR. PECKHAM INTERVIEWED.
| Mr.. Peckham was interviewed in New
| York city and stated that the only ex-
planation he had to give concerning the
| letters was that he was trying to make
some money in the cotton market, de-
clining to say anything of his relations
with Mr. Holmes. Haas or VanRipc..
| Shortly after he was interviewed, it
was learned that Peckham came to
| Washington AMI held a conversatica
with Holmes.
EXPLANATION OF HOLMES
Holmes was interviewed by secret
| service agents and considerable space
| in the report is given to his eXplana-
| ton. The first questions asked him
were as to his relations with Peckham
and VanRiper. Holmes said that they
| all had been on very intimate terms
| socially and that when he had occasion
| to visit New York. which was frequent
| ly, his hotel bill had been paid by Van
Ripper Or Peckhan,. Holmes admitted
| that Peckham, Haas and him were ri
one time associated in a business ven
| ture in which Holmes was to have {
| 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 interes, IL
this firm to l.. &. VanRiper and Van
| Ripper stated that the company was or
ganized for the purpose of handling
| true,b but that he was not aware of ,he
nature of the organization at time hi
was given an interest in it, and tha
when he learned the object of the com
pany was to handle cotton, he with
drew from it.
Under further examination Holme
stated that he had sold to VanRiper
about February 10, 1905, three
fourths interest N some mining prop
erty in Idaho for $4,000, this amocn
having been paid to him by VanKipe
in two installments in currency II
this connection Van Ripper stated that ;
|. contract had been made beiWeel
Holmes and himself whereby VanRipe
was supposed to have acquired seven
J eights interest in some mining proper