The Washington times., 1905-06-22
Found Bad Record.

The Looniis scandal grew worse and
worse at Caracas continued Mr. Bow
en-. But to say that / instigated tho
charges is the product OF a heated mag
nation.
1T was seon after this that / was
summoned by the State Department to
Washington. A departmental inquiry
was made into MIR. Loomis conduct in
Venezuela, and / was dismissed from the
diplomatic service. Yet l am neither
responsible for Mr. Loomis' unsavory
reputation in Caracas nor for the circu-
lation of scandalous reports about him
He esta blished his reputation himself
and the statements charging him with
dishonest and dishonorab BILE conduct were
made with such detail of circumstance
that mere denial by me was useless
Scandal Grew.
admit that after 1 found in the
legation archives the documents that /
transmitted TO Washington 1 believed
Mr.. Loonis to be dishonest man.
After the incident relating to the proto-
col for settling by arbitration the dis
pues of all the creditor nations. my be-
lief in Mr.. Loomis' dishonesty was
strengthened. IN Caracas the protocol
was attributed to the lawyer of the
asphalt company, and he, in fact, did
draw it UP.
Regarding the sending to Washington
of the story of the Loomis check Mr.
Bowen said:
This was followed by a cabled offer
from Washington of diplomatic promo
ton that would remove me from Cara
cas-. admit that 1 considered the offer
as an attempt to bribe me- veiled under
an offer of a higher office, and inspired
by Mr.. Loomis The statement that [
attempted to steal or otherwise improp-
eriy procure information is unwaIrant-
only. and of our consular Offices In
Venezuela.
Mercado Claim.
While the recent inquiry was going
on ! received a letter from Captain
Parker, our military attache at Cara
cas-. dated May 13. 1905. saying: see
Loornts has denied everything I lunch
ed with Mr.. Wallace the other day. and
he told me that Loomis himself and a
third party whose name he has for
gotten. were in together on the pur-
chase of the Mercado claim, and that
everybody knew it.
.'The Mercado claim was against the
Venezuelan government. Il is referred
to in the following letter. which was
among the papers / found in the lega-
lion archives in February, 1904, and
forwarded to the State Department al
Washington;
Legation of the United States.
Caracas, August rs. 1900.
wv. w. Russell.
Dear Sir: In reference to the portion
Of Mr.. Mercado's claim which / bought
/ want to state that the only terms OF
settlement which / will accent. other
than full cash payment of about I'd.
400 boIiyars In gold. are the following
I viii accept 90 600 bolivars in gold and
10 400 bolivars in salt bonds at the rate
of 81 per cent or S per cent below the
onoted market rate, provided il does
not go below SO per cent
Very truly. r. B LOoMio;
..If the matter Is settled, please de-
nosit the cash and bonds to my credi,
with ii. L. Boulton & Co.
VIII IF B. LOOMS
AZ received for Mr.. F. B. Loomis tho
amount of 10000 bolivars In cash and
10 of0 bonds Of the salt, amount
which / have this day delivered tc
MI "A. f. JAURETT
Caracas. Sept. q. 1900"
.aT'he name of Jaurett was FREQUENT
ly coupled with that OF MIR. Loom1s IN
Caracas and sufficiently characteriZes
the transaction. Jaurett was a fugi-
tive from justice in Mexico. MI