The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
HOLMES IS STILL IN HIDING.
ALLEGED COTTON LEAK" FAILS
TO APPEAR IN COURT.

Counsel Declares Delay OF Mails Il Respon
sible for His Absence and That He viii
Appear on Monday-Says Holmes II
Innocent and Courts Full Investigatiou
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2e.-Edwin 8. Holmes,
Jr., former associate statistician In the
Department Of Agriculture. who Ii under
indictment for conspiracy In connection
with the Government crop reports. did not
appear in the Criminal Court to-day and
give bond as was promised BY his attorney
yesterday.
Holmes was expected at the court room
to-day before noon, and District Attorney
Morgan H. Beach was very much dis
turbed by Holiness failure to appear. Mr..
Beach waited patiently until noon. Two
hours later he swore out . warrant upon
the indictment handed down by the Fed-
eral Grand Jury on Tuesday. Up to late
tonight the warrant had not been served.
Holmes is understood to be here, but his
whereabouts has not been made known
to the authorities. w. E. Lester, Of counsel
for Holmes, has assured District Attorney
Beach that Holmes will be produced on
Monday. The District Attorney Ia eI-
IDENTIFY determined to have the former
located. Detectives were stationed at
both depots tonight, and It Is understood
tho detail was made at the request OF tho
District Attorney.
Speaking OF the case to-day tAttorney
Lester, who with A. s. Warrington 10
representing Holiness interests. said his
client had no intention Of evading ARE st,
and that he had no fear OF the outcome
when the case was taken into the courts.
Holiness failure to appear to file bond
to-day he said was due to a misunder-
standing. Mr.. Lester said
Mr.. Holmes was In a far Western State
when the first publicity was given to what
is called "the cotton leak He at once
returned to this city and notified the Dis
trict Attorney of his presence and that he
would be on hand II he was wanted. He
stayed here for some time and then took
an extensive trip West, going as far as Wash
I'M ton State, where he remained several
days. He has never thought Of leaving
the country, but, on the contrary. courts
an investigation. which will disclose the
real facts and which he knows will establish
his innocence.
His whereabouts for the past several
days has not been known to the authorities,
but he has at all times held himself ready
to answer any charges, and as soon as I
learned he was wanted I notified him,
give such bond as may be required.
Il told Mr.. Beach that would have him
hero to-day. but forgot at that time that
to-day was but really half day, and l
could not got him here before II O'Clock.
I did not say that would have him here by
10 O'Clock: but he should have boon here
before noon but for an unusual AND I'M
delay In the mails.
Mr. Holmes Is not guilty Of the charges
a gainst him and he has given no advance
information concerning cotton crops. which
fact 10 well known to all those who
know the workings Of the Office he held,
because all such persons know very we'll
that such information could not be given
for the simple reason that the acreage
and condition Of the cotton crop a. furnished
by the Department. represented the united
Judgment Of at least four persons, ono Of
whom was the Secretary Of Agriculture
himself, and that this judgment was formed
only after. the reports from the various
agents, all over the country, had been
tabulated and averaged, all OF which was
uOu0 Ia tlI0 boAAO uoui Vic iOkObt Vuo AAAOo
public The contents OF these reports
which caIne from these many agents and
which were tabulated were unknown to
any person until they were known to all
four.
1T is most remarkable that 90 much
ore dibility should have been given to the
testimony Of man who says
that he bribed Government oficial and
rom the information he received for his
money made great profits. It d moon
ceivable that such . man should have
confessed. without q strong motive for
It. but would have preferred to continue
making money had It been true he was
making any or was receiving such informa-
ton.
Il understand that warrant Was issued
for Mr.. Holmes because no WAS not hero
before - O'Clock. II true, this was wholly
for Mr.. Beach know very we'll
that I would produce him, In accordance
with my promise. He also know very we'll
where Mr.. Holmes has been since Aug. 1
until the last few days, for ! conveyed to
him that information. I repeat that Mr..
Holmes would b on hand Monday morn
ng.'