Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-08
MAE WOOD CHARGES
Regarded as Most Serious,
 According to Reports.
FURNISHED ADVANCE INFORMATION.
Allegation That Young Woman Was Engaged by Senator P1att to Watch Postoffce Reports For Ex-
 press Company.


 Postoffice Reports For Ex-
 press Company.
 WASHINGTON, Sept. B. Charges made by Miss Mae Wood in regard to Senator Thomas c. Platt in her suit against him and the United. States Ex- press company for S25,000 have caus- ed much speculation here as to whether in the event of her establishing in court the substance of her allegations any official action in regard to Senator Platt would follow.
 The fate of Assistant Statistician Holmes, who has been indicted follow ing the alleged leak in the department of agriculture by which, as charged, certain brokers were enabled to take advantage of advance information is fresh in the public's mind.
 Miss Woods assertion that she was engaged by Senator Platt to watch all reports, recommendations and other steps taken in the postofice depart ment concerning the United States Ex- press company, of which Senator Platt is president, is thought by many to be of most serious nature.
 She also charges that she promptly reported to Senator Platt when, in May, 1903, Postmaster General Payne had stated that he intended to recom- mend to congress the establishment of a post check" system.
 Her allegation that on the receipt of this information Senator Platt hurried to the department and caused the rec ommendatioh to be greatly modified before being reported" is regarded as little less than startling.
 The plaintiff also boldly makes the assertion that by reason of her serv- ices ''the express company saved hun dreds of thousands of dollars" her services being, as charged, the delivery of advance information to Senator Platt. .... -
 Miss Wood, former employee of the postoffice department, has taken steps to attach the property of the company in Omaha and garnishee MT. Platt's salary as the company's president.
 The petition in part says:
 "Plaintiff alleges that she is an at- torney at law, skilled in her profession, and has been for the past nine years. That on or about the 1st day of April. 1902, this plaintiff was engaged by de- fendants as an attorney to watch all reports, recommendations and other steps taken in the postofice depart ment at Washington concerning the United States Express company and report the same to defendant, Thomas c. Platt, who was a member of the United States senate and stockholder in and president of said company.
 That in May, 1903. Postmaster Gen. eral Payne had prepared and given out the statement that he intended prepar- ing his annual report to submit to the house and senate of the United States congress. a report recommending the l establishment of the post check sys- tem, and had prepared the same. 'The plaintiff, knowing. of this step, promptly reported the same to the said Senator Platt, who hurried to the de- partment at an early hour of the day the same was to be submitted and caused said recommendation to be greatly modified before being reported. ! That by reason of said services the said express company saved hundreds of thousands of dollars; that defend ants after said services were rendered acknowledged to this plaintiff that the same were invaluable to them"