The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-31
Department of Justice.

Department of Justice.
Washington, December 3, 1904.
Hon w. w. Kitchin, House OF Rop-
resentatives, Washington, p. c.:
Sir: Under the date Of August Is,
1904, person, signing himself as NJ.
T.. Reddoch. addressed a letter to the
Postmaster General.
The letter in full is as follows:
Lexington. Tenn, Aug. is, 1904.
Hon. Henry c. Payne, Washington.
Dear Sir: We notice through the
press that the Democratic campaign
committee has had printed six million
copies of the speech delivered by
Claude Kitchin, Member of Congress
from North Carolina at the last ses-
sion of Congress assailing President
Roosevelt.
While engaged i'm some detective
work in this State / happened TO OBJ
tain the following information con-
corning Mr.. Kitchin:
In January, 1901. Mr.. Kitchin adj
dressed a letter, to w. r. McBroom, a
Federal prisoner sentenced from the
Eastern District of North Carolina
June 4th, 1900. violating section 1924
r. S., offering to secure n commute
ton of his sentence. or pardon for the
sum of $4,000 for his service and In
fiuence before the Department or
Justice. January Sth. 1901, this
money was registered 70 Mr.. kitchln,
Washington, d. c., by McBroon.
january 23rd, 1901, McBroom's
sentence was commuted to term Of
nine months. February 9th he was
discharged, This letter of Kitchin
to McBroom, if wanted TO be used, can
be secured, and also the affidarits 70
s,ybstantiate the above charges. 1
have been engaged in secret service
work for q number of years. and am
a Republican. was elector on the Nc
Klnley-Hobart ticket in 1896 AS a
reference I refer to the Hon. l.. II.
Mosley, Republican National Commit
teemah from the State of Mississippi,
whose address is jackson. Miss, and
F. W. Collins. Register of the u. ;.
Land Office. jackson. Miss.
If the above facts can be used to
any advantage to- you in the cam
paign, or to the Department or JUS
tice, I offer my services. In my
opinion this could be used effectively
to counteract the influences OF Mr..
Kitchin's speech so widely distri-
buted.
My work will detain me in Lexing-
ton for a few days only. and would be
pleased to hear from you before
leaving.
Very respectfully,
(signed) NJ. l.. REDDOcH.
Some preliminary investigation was
undertaken and the District Attorney
for the Eastern District of North
Carolina was consulted and Reddoch
asked to obtain affidavits in support
Of his charge. On my return 70
Washington, the matter was submit
ted to me. For reasons that would
make the propriety Of the course ap-
parent to you notably, because of the
reference to the speech in Congress
and the pending of the Presidential
election. l deemed 1t wise to refer the
whole subject to Major Holmes Con-
rad, Solicitor during the last Cleve-
land administration, giving him full
charge of the investigation.
I may be permitted to say that I
was influenced in the determination
to take no action without such an
investigation conducted by such a per-
son by the fact that 1t seemed to me
that the charges made against a man
in high public station ought nto TO
be lightly entertained and spread
broadcast. At that time, and at all
times since. this Department has
taken care to prevent any reference
to q, charge which might prove and
did prove, to be without foundation.
Certain affidavits in support of the
charge were submitted by Reddoch.
Major Conrad has reported that the
charges made by Reddoch are not
sustained, and recommends that Red
doch, who now appears to be form
er convict, should be proceeded
against for subornation of perjury.
1t is my disposition to submit the
matter to the proper District Attor-
ney with Instructions to present the
case against Reddoch to the grand
Jury. In view of the interest which
you would naturally have in the pro-
secution of case of this kind. deem
it proper to lay the facts before you
and invite from you and suggestion
concerning them.
I ought to say, in conclusion, that
after careful examination of the pa
pers in the case, / agree with the find-
ing of Major Conrad that the charges
of Reddoch are not sustained and that
the evidence upon which he attempt-
ed to sustain them is perjured
Respectfully,
(Sjpned.) w. H. MOODY,
Attorney General.