The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-21

made nothing by tho transaction. al.
thougt-'tfe plan was not in strict con.
formity with the law.
Special Rebates for Forbes,
w. L. Boyd, of w. s. Forbes & Co.
told or Irregular shipments. He found
that the rate on packing-house pro-
ducts from Chicago through Richmond
to South Carolina points was 2 cents
less than the local into Richmond and
out. The plan. therefore, was to re-
ceive car from Chicago. secure re-
consignment order from Mr.. Gilbert.
open the car here, change the con-
| tents, and send 1t along to South Caro-
lima, just as if It were direct ship
ment The identity of the freight was
not preserved, and the weight was less.
The car went forward at a division OF
the through rate. This scheme was
| knocked out with the others last Oc-
tober. While 1t continued 1t resulted
in saving OF freight bills to Forbes
& Co. There was no secrecy about 1t.
Practically every car was opened.
the weight reduced, and goods shipped
to South Carolina which, had not ar
rived from the West.
| All of this had been interesting
enough. but therc was now life in tho
case soon after Edward NJ. Thomas,
clerk to the auditor OF disbursements,
was put on the stand. He said little
| but that little opened the way for
sensations. He did not bring the pa
| pers that he was ordered to produce
because. he said. they had been de-
stroyed. He made no diligent search.
but accepted the word of Mr.. Enslow.
He had just been Instructed to make
a more careful search and return to-
w.. A. Ut. xS,-p
| matte appearance. He did say. how
ever. that Ensfow ordered the papers
destroyed.
The Enslow Sensation.
Mr.. Enslow Is the auditor of dis
bursements. 1t Is his custom to pay
shipping claims on the order of Mr..
Gilbert. Ii Is alleged that some of
these claims were made subsequent to-
| the time the Hepburn law went into ef-
| feet. Answering questions from Com
missioner Lane. Mr.. Enslow said he
did not know exactly when the records
We're destroyed, that 1t was done under
his orders some time last fall. because
| there was no room for them in the
office: that he did not know he was
| violating the law, as he had not read
| the Interstate commerce act, and that
1t did not occur to him that his act
was contrary TO law. Five or six tons
of stuff--orders of various descrip-
/ tions-were burned. He admitted that
he had not informed President Stevens.
| General Counsel Wickham or any OF
/ the officers except Comptroller Sulli-
van. The company had never given
| him copies OF the Hepburn law. he
said.
| "The records" said Mr.. Ensow. were
bulky. and I did not consider them
valuable. They were so badly mixed
up that we could not tell what was
| wanted; some were destroyed by the
| janitor by accident On one occasion
had several bundles put in basket
| to be sent to my sortage-room, but the
janitor misunderstood directions and
| burned them. He was told TO be more
careful thereafter. Telegraph linemen
went into the storage-room once and
kicked out many carelessly. The files
| were so broken that 1 took 1t upon
myself to destroy them because OF tho
| confusion and the crowded condition
| of the room. Claims paid shippers In
| 1907 were paid upon the authorization
| of Mr.. Gilbert. My clerk mad. an ex-
/ animation. but beyond the examina-
/ ton / considered the authority of Mr..
Gilbert and paid the shippers"
| Questions from the Commissioner
| ca me like steel bullets from rapid
! fire gun. Mr.. Enslow replied slowly.
| He could give no definite answer
| as to what papers were destroyed, or
| when Mr.. Sullivan. he said, told him
| not to sell the papers to junk dealers,
| as 1t was unsafe to have them around.
! He admitted that he had the vouchers.
/ but not the papers filed with them.
| explaining that they were kept separ-
| ate.
Destroyed Them At Random.
4 When Mr. Lane bstan reading sec
i ton from the Hepburn law there was
\ TIT OF n
4 like the scene in court when the death
| warrant Ia read.
4! Did you not know of this protis-
! ion in the law at the time you destroy
ed the papers?" he was asked.
mo, sir; never read the law and
| knew Of no reason why they could not
be destroyed"
4 Commissioners Lane and Mr.. Marble
Ihad whispered conversation for five
minutes. Mr.. Marble returned to his
Iseat.
"Did you make a list of the papers
you destroyed?" he asked Mr.. Enslow.
mo, sir"
| rs there list Of theme"
Not that know"
This is all I Lave to ask" said Mr..
Marble.
At the conclusion of the examination
commissioner Lane informed Mr.. Wick
/ ham that he was satisfied the records
had not been DESTROYED with the knowl-
ledge or consent OF the general counsel.
Mr. wickham said he knew nothing
whatever about the matter.
The hearing will be resumed at 10
O'Clock to-day
i TO Lecture Tonight.
The Rev. DR.. j. B. Hawthorne viii
deliver this evening an address en-