The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-30
CHARGED WITH BRIBING
GOVERNMENT EXPERT
Said to Have Made s75o,ooo or
Account OF Advance Informa-
ton Regarding Government
Cotton Reports, for Which
He Is Said to Have
Paid SI25,ooo.
v- ,AsH1NGToN. D. c., May 2s.-
nv Almost simultaneously II

NA/ washington and New YORK
" indictments were to-day re-
turned against Theodore
H. Price. prominent New York cotton
operator, Frederick A. Peckham and
Noses Haas. both OF New York. and
Edwin S. Holmes, Jr.. OF this city. for
merly assistant statistic!an of the De-
partment of Agriculture, of alleged
participation In government crop re-
port leaks. Price is charged with
having conspired with other three men
10 furnish advance Information regard
ing the crop reports OF the Department,
of Agriculture, and Price. Peckham and
Haas are charged with conspir!ng to
bribe Holmes to shape the official re-
ports to suit their interests. There
were four indictments brought In BY
the Federal grand Jury in both cities.
All but Price have heretofore been in
dicted under true bills returned here
in October, 1905, following the sensa-
t!onal exposure of the crop report
leaks. After a long legal fight Peck
ham and Haas succeeded in preventing
their extradition here from New York
but Holmes was placed on trial in June
1907, the jury reporting a disagree
ment Holmes has not been retired.
Made Fortune.
The indictments were returned here
iate TO day. According to one OF them
Price made $4,000 as result of his
advance information regarding the re-
port for December. 1905. and paid Haas
sl25,Ooo out OF this sum. While not
stating how much Holmes received as
his share, the indictment charges that
Haas paid Holmes $1,000 for informa
ton on the June report of 1905. The
Indictment says that on May 81, 1905
Price and Haas conspired by promising
offering and giving to an official o,
the United States sum of money to
induce Holmes. IN violation OF his duty
to furnish such advance information
I. recitcs the conference In New 9orl
on ala2 3lst between Price and Haas
following which Haas came to Wash
ington, met Holmes. and promised t'
pay Holmes for advance information
that on June / and 2, 1905. Haas re-
ceiyed such information from Holmes
and it was conveyed to Price. and thai
on June I'd Haas paid Holmes $1,000
The second count of the indictment
saws Haas and Price conspired TO bribs
Holmes to arrange the June repor,
go as to show a greater cotton repor'
than the Information in the statistl-
Giants office justified.
The other indictments charge the
three New York men, in eight counts
with bribing Holmes for the informa'
tIon. and with conspiracy to shape the
report as mentioned; charge Holmes
Peckham and Haas with conspiracy tt
defraud the government by getting In
formation in advance, and the fourth
Indictment charging Peckham and Haa:
only with conspiracy to bribe Holme:
IN give out advance information.
Price Is Bailed.
NEW YORK, May o9.-Theodore H
Price, at one time known as the Got
ton King" because of his tremendous
trades in the staple, and more recentl,
president OF the Eagle Fire Insurance
Company was indicted to-day by TN
Federal grand jury, after a long inves
tigation, In which startling leak o
the cotton crop statistics contained II
a government report which had no
been made public was discovered.
The grand jury found two indict
ments against Price, one charging con
spiracy to commit an offense agains
the United States, and the other brib
ery OF government official. Three
other persons were indicted will
Price, and warrants have been issue'
for their arrest, as they are out OF tn
1ur1SdlctlOn Oh the ce0eIdi SOutS y
this district.
With the handing down OF the in
dictments 1Ir. Price, who had appar
emily anticipated the action take
against him. appeared at the Fedora
building and surrendered himself. II
was arraigned before Judge Hough an
pleaded not guilty. Bail was fixed a
$4,000, which was furnished, and MI
Price was released after the cour
IL 49, . !
preliminary hearing.
Makes Statement.
Mr.. Price, in a statement made pub
lie after his arraignment asserted tina
he was entirely innocent of tn
charges. The statement follows.
Mr. Theodore H. Price made the fol
lowing statement in regard to th
Indictment handed down in the Sc
called cotton leak" case. He sal
that while an Indictment was. 9
course, an exceedingly disagreeabl
experience to undergo. 1t was an &C
cusation and not proof, and he
aware that the government has cor
eidered 1t necessary to take this actio
before the matter becomes outlawe
on June Sd, or thereahout He feel
no doubt whatever of the issue.
"The original cotton leak charge
made some three years ago We're base
on the statement Of Van Ripper, til
bucket-shop operator. self-confesse
participant and beneficiary with ott
ers of the alleged cotton Leak wh
ponducted his account with Messr
Hubbard Bros & Company and not wit
Mr.. Price.
Says He Ia Prosecuted.
''Mr. Price said that ever since /,
brought an injunction suit against tt
New York Cotton Exchange a yea
Ago the then and present dominar
ring in the exchange, who are his de
vlared enemies, have moved every II
sluence they could command to injul
md cripple him, and have fostered tt
present craze for indictments, and @.
pecially indie aents of Wall Sire.
men.
Mr.. Price says that he is the obje,