The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-06-20
Of Grating on Crop Report
Told by broker Van Riper'
BIG MONEY POURED IN
On One LEAK" Deal the Conspirators
Cot S167,Cc0 and Aci3es' Share
Was Onc-Ihlrd OF All the
Profits Accru;na.

A Washington special says: In Lou
is H. Van KiDer, New York broker,
the government Monday Introduced
the 1.rsL witness in the trial CT Ed
win Ii. Holmes, Jr, who has directly
connected Holmes with the premature
divu!ge1ce OF the information in which
the cotton crops Of the agricultural
department are based. Mr.. Van Ripper
was on the stand all day and the di-
feet examination had no; been con-
cluded when the court adjourned.
He said that he had met Holmes
in 1904, through F. A. Peckham, and
that he had agreed to give them two
thirds of any profits that Nigh: be
derived from stock deals made on
points supplied by Holmes. He then
told how Holmes had kept his part
OF the agreement by giving out ihfor-
nation a day in advance OF the ap-
pearance Of the official report; quot
ed figures 10 show the degree OF &C.
curacy Of the information supplied and
related instances in which Holmes
had been paid money through Moses
Haas. .,...
He said s167,OG0 had been cleaned
up on the information secured in ad-
vance OF the report for November,
1904.
He also testified that Holmes had
agreed to keep him informed Of the
plans of other cotton brokers and
told how in the end regular part
nership had been formed, in which
Holmes was one of five members.
Mr.. Van Ripper said that after first
meeting Haas and Peckham in Wash
ington he had seen them il Chicago
in company with Holmes and after
wards in St. Louis. They had consid-
cradle conversations at both places
concerning operations in cotton, with
the resul: that they began selling cot
ton in November and continued the
process until the December report was
issued. He had generally operated on
the strength Of the representations OF
Haas, who was supposed to be in fire.
ouent conference with Holmes, and
had indicated very bearish condi-
ton.
He had dealt, through number OF
brokers in the November transactions.
and had been successful to the extent
Of $4,000. Of this amount $4,000
was divided with Haas and Peckham,
Haas taking half and Peckham a
fourth Of the amount. Part or Haas
shares was paid in cash.
What did Haas do with the cash?'
.'He paid it to Holmes
When, and where?'
In the Office at that time"
Mr.. Beach, for the prosecution,
brought out from the witness the facts
concerning luS OlSdu1LdIioh VI tAAS
brokerage firm of L. H. Mercer & Co.
He said that while the names OF only
Mercer and Peckham appeared in the
articles of agreement. Holmes, Haas
and himself We're partners with the
other two. AS the working capital OF
this firm, $4,000 secured in the No
yember deal was used. Par. OF the
money made in that deal was reinvest-
ed in December On the Strength OF
Haas forecast Of the cotton glnners'
report, and $4,000 had been realized
as profits. One-fourih of this amount
was paid to Haas in currency, and by
him turned over to Holmes.
In December, 1884, the firm was
dissolved, and. Van Ripper testified that
s3S,2S2 had been paid to Haas in
cheaues and the same amount to
Holmes in currency.
Mr.. Van Ripper was still under ex-
animation when court adjourned for
the day.