The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-21
ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT
But HaIbOred No Resentment
AGAINST Holmes

Van Ripper Declares That in His Ex-
posures Ec Only Wanted to Pro-
mote Pubic Welfare-Told by
Holmes of Having Received Presi-
dents Congratulations en- Excel
lehce Of Cotton Jtepor1s-tai!ure
10 Produce affidavit Cause Clash
Between Lawyers.
Washington, June 18.-In his cross
examination of L. c. Van Ripper, the
principal witness in the trial Of former
Associate Statistician Edwin S. Holm
es, Jr., Of the agricultural department,
Attorney Worthington sought to devel-
op the fact today that Mr.. Van Riper's
disappointment over his failure to re-
alize a profit on his speculation sup
piled the motive for his complaint to
Secretary Wilson, out of which grew
the charges against Holmes which caus
ed his discharge. Van Ripper admitted
his disappointment and his feeling
against Haas, the alleged intermediary
but cOntended that re harbOred no re-
sentiment against Halmes and declar-
ed that in his exposures he was ac-
tuated only by . desire TO promote
the public welfare.
Mr.. Van Riper's direct examination
was completed and also his cross ex-
animation.
Toward the close Of the day a sharp
tilt occurred between Attorneys Beach
and WorthingtOn over the failure of
the former to produce an affidavit
presented by Van Ripper to Secretary
Wilson in 1905, resulting in a demand
by Mr.. WOrthington for a
to the district attorney, commanding
him to produce the paper. After first
saying he would nOt do so, the dis
trlct attorney announced privately
that he would bring the document into
court tomorrow, regardless of sum-
mons. The incident led to the con-
clusion that the affidavit must contain
most important matters, but Mr..
Worthington said thai he knew moth
ing of its contents.
On direct examination today con-
corning the division % profits realized
on the cotton ginners report for De-
cember, 1904, Van Ripper said there
was $43,071 to be distributed and that
this sum was divided into four parts.
Haas share of the amount was $40
767, but he had been given $1O,8O be-
cause they could not make change.
Van Ripper said that Holmes told
him that on one occasion in 1903 when
there had been leaks il the report, he
had gone to the white house to assure
the President that the system was per-
feet and received the Presidents con
gratulations on it's excellence.
did Mr.. Holmes tell you at the
time whether there was any justifca-
ton of the suspicion that there was
a leak?"
H told me there was; he told me
that he had furnished the figures to
Price and related how Haas had gone
back and forth several times in an
effort to have the approaching report
manipulated so as to suit Prices con-
ditions. The outlook was for a re-
port showing a production of $1O,25O,-
600 bales. Price was short and said
those figures would not help him and
pleaded to have the amount reduced
below ten millions. Holmes had said
that it could not possibly be made
lower than 10000, 600 bales, but Price
had insisted and figures were made
to conform to Prices requirements
He said that afterwards an effort
was made at Holmes suggestion to
get outside place for Statistician HYDE
in order that Holmes could b. pro-
noted to the chief position in the Of
fee.
did Holmes ever tell you how he
got his advance infoTmation?"
Van Ripper was next asked by the
governments special attorney, chang
ing the line of questioning.
H did, was the response.
He said that he had access to the
reports of the special agents and the
state agents and that as these were
the only reports that received atten-
ton he was quick al figures and he
he no difficulty in getting at results"
lscnIovcd to Avoid Lynching.
Roanoke, Va, Tune 1S.-JOhn Rob-
inson, a negro charged with attempt
.ng criminal assault on Mrs. w. S.
I o. lIio~ 90