The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-18
Van Ripper Relates Holmes Ad- vance Information Methods
SAYS PRICE GOT FIGURES
Government Introduces First Witness Connected With the Case Against Former Assistant Statistician.
 S167,ooo In One Deal.

$167,ooo In One Deal.
 Washington, June 17.--In Louis H. Van Riper, New York broker, the govern ment today introduced the first witness in the trial of Edwin H. Holmes, Jr., who has directly connected Holmes with the premature divulgence of the informa- ton on which the cottop crops or the agricultural department are based. MT. Van Riper was on the stand all day. lie said that he had met Holmes in 1904 through r. A. Peckham and that he had agreed to give them tow-thirds of any profits that might be served through stock deals made on points supplied by Holmes. He then told how Holmes had kept his part of the agreement by giving ou. in- formation a day in advance of the ap- pearance of the offiical report; quoted figures to show the degree of accuracy or the information supplied and related in stances in which Holmes had been paid money through Moses Haas He said that s167, GOO had been cleared on the in- formation secured in advance of fhe re- port of November, 1904. He Als1 testified that Holmes had agreed to keep him in' formed of the plans of other cortoa brok- CTS and told how in the end q regular partnership had been formed, ill which Holmes was one of five members.
 Defraud Government.
 Something of sensation was created In Judge Stafford's court today when Lotus H. Van Riper, who mas been regarded as the principal witness ia the trial of Ed win H, Holmes, Jr., on the charge of de- frauding the government m connection with the alleged leakage of the cotton crop reports of the agricuisural depart ment was called to the stand. Holmes manifested more interest than hefctolorS shown in the ease. MT Wan Riper seemed lp at east under tle direct gaze or me defendant and ais wife.
 After stating New York to be his fes- iden5e and saving that he Us eagased in western mining MT. Van Riper proceeded fa detail his dealings with MT. Holmes. He said he had fret met Holmes the 7th of August, 1901. at hotel III ms city, whither he came to meet nm 2h representation made by Frederick A. Peck- ham of New York, who had assured nm of Holmes ability to suppfy advance in 
 witness said that the introduction was made by MT. Peckham in that gentle mans room, who stated:
 Meets Holmes.
 ..rhis is the man told you about and he is going to show you that he can give the advance figures on the crop report.
 Holmes. according to the witness, then nroceeded to exhibited copies of the crop bulletins and to tell him that he mad pratically made up the reports ana thhc Statistician Hyde had accepted his esti- mate. Holmes had also told him, the witness testified, that he had been sup plying information concerning the report to,other persons in New York, as result of which he had accumulated soo'wV' which was then locked up In safety de- nosit vault. Among those to whom he had supplied the figures according to van Riper was Theodore H. Price and Moses Haas Holmes had also promseu' the witness stated not only to advise him as to the crop figures, but to keep him ad- vsed as to Prices operations. Ihe Wit ness said he had told Holmes that II ne could demonstrate his ability to supply the figures in advance he would operate with him and would give him two-thlrds of the profits If he could supply the hg- ures a day in advance. Van Riper sald if was then agreed that the information should be given through MT. Peckham but in view of that gentlemans absence he. the witness, had returned to Washing ton on August 9 to receive the figures on the wheat report. which was to De pup lished the next day.
 Advance Figures.
 He said that at the second interview Holmes had given what he said were the advance figures on the wheat report, and h oil in, iS check book and returned to New York. Holmes had then told him that the report would place the average yield of winter wheat at 1908 bushels to the acre, and had given S.5 as showing the condition of spring wheat
 There was objection to telling what had happened in New York but the question was admitted. He said he had given his figures on the crop to MT. Rogers of Gales &. Co, who as result had bought winter wheat and had suffered a slight loss The figures of the official report were, however, complete duplicate or Mir. Holmes advance information.
 A letter from Holmes to Van Riper under date of August IS, was introduced and read as follows:
 "Other parties have changed their plans sliehtIy. and I think it advisable for you to know about them. I therefore suggest that you come here Saturday or Sunday, or if you cannot do so for me to come to New York"
 Letter to Sell 1t.
 He had not come to Washington at the time suggested, but there had been fur ther correspondence relative to the crop report, one letter from Holmes, dated August 30, reading:
 If you have bought any of the stuff. sell it. and sell as much more you can In addition. We're going to show a slight decline, and as this is totally un- expected, it will send things down like fury. Other parties are going to close out Tear this up.'
 A letter from Peckham to Van Riper of August S1 to the same effect was also read MT. Peckham also requested ths t his letter he destroyed. Van Riper said that spot cotton was the stuff referred to fin Holmes letter, and that as result of the letter referring to the cotton re- port for September he had sold cot ton short, expecting the market to go down. He dealt again with Gates & Co.,, and as had been predicted there had been a break in the market. He had then r. alized a profit of about s2100, of which he had paid Peckham two-thirds. The checks showing the payment were exhib- lted. They were indorsed by Peckham and Holmes.
 Tip on Wheat.
 Another letter of September 1, signed P. Peckham, was read. It gave advice