The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-28
EMPHATIC DENIALS
HOLMES DECLARES HE IS NOT
 GUILTY.
Says That van RfpeF's Statements Con- eerning Agreement to Supply Advance Information Are
 Absolutely False.

washington, June 27.-The entire day in the trial of former Associate Statistician Holmes of the Agricultur- al Department on the charge of con- spiracy to defraud the Government was consumed in the examination of Holmes himself. who was stiil on tho stand when court adjourned for the day. His testimony covered most of the specifications of the Government and he denied practically all the charges. Admission was made by the witness that he had speculated in cot ton in the spring of 1905 through a Minneapolis house, but he said that at that time no cotton reports were being promulgated by the Department.
 Washington, June 27.-Former As sociate StatistIcian Holmes today con- tinuer his testimony in his trial. on the charge of giving out secret crop tn- formation. He said that before this trial, he had known nothing of the let ters said to have been written by Pcck- ham to Van Ripcr and denied the au- thorship of lett Q attributed to him. He also declareS that he had never agreed to furnish Broker Price any advance information concerning the cotton crop report and that he had never supplied him with any facts ex- cept in an of1cial way. He made the same denial with reference to Van Riper, Haas and Peckham.
 He also denied that he had attempted improperly to influence Mir. Hyde In preparing the oficial report and said that he had never made a promise to secure any given result regarding the figures. After he became personally responsible for the figures, he had ceased talking at all about the outlook. He declared he had not arranged for cipher code with Peckham, Haas or Van Riper.
 He declared to be absolutely false," all of Van Riper's statements concern ing his alleged agreement to supply information to the New Yorker. Asked as to the truth of Van Riper's testi- monY, to the effect that (Holmes) had told him (Van Riper) that Haas had at one time given him forty one thousand dollar bills, he declared 1t to be untrue. Nor was 1t true that Price was carrying" him for 10000 bales of cotton. These and other charges were categorically and emphatically denied. He testified he never had received any money from either Peckham, Haas or Van Riper. as a share of profits. nor had he received any money from either of them except $1.000 from Van Riper on account of the Idaho mine.
 On cross examination Holmes said he had not talked about cotton specula- tions with Broker Price because he was a large operator and his movemen ts formed the subject of newspaper com ment. He did. however, indulge in such with small operators.
 MT. Beach questioned the witness at length concerning the letters written to Van Riper and signed H." and while Mir Holmes said he had no recoi- lection concerning the writing of the letters, he admitted that they probably were his. He was pressed as to why he had only used the Inititial of his name. There is a reason which don't know that I have a right to give
 It refers to the domestic difficulties of man.
 Very chivalrous." commented Mir. Beach and the court took a recess.
 The afternoon session of the court was devoted largely to questions re- lating to the sale of Holmes interest in the Idaho mine. Holmes said that no one had contributed any money to the firm of Peckham. Mercer & Co, and that he understood that the tender of fifth interest to him was practi- caly a gift. He still insisted that he withdrew as soon as he discovered part of It's dealings would be in cotton The witness said that when in New York his hotel bills were mostly pad by Van Riper. Peckham or Haas as an act of friendship.
 Holmes was still on the stand when OAurt adjourned for the day,