New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-13
THE "COTTON LEAK" TRIAL
Further Testimony Gi0en By Secre-
tary WiIsOn.

Washington. June 12.-Secretary Wilson was
on the witness stand again to-day in the trial
Of E. S. Holmes, jr. He was asked further
questions concerning his alleged promises 70
suppress information given him at the time
Holmes was dismissed from the Department Of
Agriculture.
Regarding the formal statement given out by
the witness at the time Holmes was dismissed
Secretary Wilson said he did not make that
statement, which was signed by him. but it was
the report Of the Secret Service men who In
vestigated the Holmes case. He declared that
he had made arrangement pledge with
Van Ripper for the suppression Of names.
Mr.. WOrthington asked why he had given the
Secret Service report to the public to the preju-
dice Of Holmes Counsel for the government
objected, but the question admitted, and the
Secretary replied: Il thought the American
people had right 10 the report
Mr. Worthington then turned his attention 10
what he alleged to he Mr.. Wilson's violation of
his own rules in regard to prematurey giving
out information, and in support of this theory
quoted an interview given by the Secretary last
fall in regard TO the prospective production Of
macaroni wheat. The Secretary said he did not
remember the interview but if he had made the
statement it would not be in violation Of the
rule Of secrecy; the violation Of the rule
question of the premature giving out Of nfor-
nation coming to the bureau of statistics
IF you find me giving out that information
he said. the information that comes from regu-
lar sources then you will have case against
me-"
IF the information comes accidentally con-
tnued the Secretary, lit would not be a matter
of breaking faith; but if an employee of the de-
partment systematically arranges to get lnfor-
nation and gives It out and the fact comes to
my attention, he Will not he allowed 20 remain
long
He said he had not based any of his predc-
tons concerning the crops on the ofclaI m
formation coming to the Bureau OF Statistics.
The Secretary was asked about recent news
paper interviews attributed to him. He denied
many Offthe statements, but said he mad not
contradiCted any Of them. I never contradict
statements credited to me by the newspapers.
he added. I would not, even II they should
charge me with murder; then they would charge
Robert NJ. Rogers, New York stock broker.
Are you acquainted with Edwin s Holmes.
jr.?" asked Mr.. Baker.
Il don't know him by that name" was the
response L was introduced in 1908 TO a man
by another name. who l was told, was Mr..
Holmes" He told 10 look about the room
and see # he could identify the man. and, after
q careful scrutiny, his eyes lighted on Holmes,
who he said looked Ike the man, but he was
not positive in his Identification.
The witness told Of a conversation he had
with Van Ripper in 1904 couceTuig advance In
formation from the Department Of Agriculture.
He said Van Ripper wrote something on a slip
Of paper and. putting il in an envelope, asked
him % keep it. He did so. and after week OF
paper. When il was opened il found 20
contain the figures Of the last cotton grain
report which had been published in the mean
time. He sure that the information
given a week more before the report came
out.
Mr. Worthington introduced a newspaper re.
port which, nc said. had predicted the crop
port Of September 1901 accurately for the pur-
pose Of making the point that Van Ripper might
have obtained his figures from that some
other publication.
At the afternoon session number Of wit
nesses were introduced TO show that Holmes had
acquired considerable property in Washington in
1905. Nathaniel Murray, assistant sCatistician
or the Department Of Agriculture. testified 10
seeing Holmes at a local hotel IN conference
with Moses Haas on December 10, 1901
Court adjourned until Monday, when II is
understood q number Of witnesses from New
York viii stify.