Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-20
HIGH OFFICIALS AC-
CUSED OF CONSPIRACY,
Miss Wood Produces Signed Statement
to Prove Existence Of Plot to Steal
toveletters Writtenby SenatorP|att.

New York, May 19.-High govern
ment officials at Washington are al
legged to have conspired to obtain pos
session of love letters said to have
been written by United States Senator
Thomas C. Platt to Mae c. Wood. This
allegation is contained in signed
statement introduced as evidence dur
ing today's hearing in Miss Woods
suit for divorce against the senator.
The statement, which was intro
duced after the court had denied mo-
ton by counsel for Senator Plat to
dismiss the complaint, bears what
purports to be the signature of j.
Martin Miller, and Miss Wood said
that while she did not see the signa-
tIre affixed she was assured by Mr..
Miller that it was genuine. The state
ment was prepared at her request, sse
testified. 1t declares that Miller was
asked by high government officials in
Washington and New York to get pos
session of Senator Platts love letters;
that the papers when obtained were
not to be given to Senator Platt but
were to be turned over to "Mr. Loeb
in Washington" and that when the
plan to get possession of the original
papers failed a scandal was begun in
the newspapers to force Miss Wood to
come to terms. "Wynne, first assist
ant postmaster general, started the
ball rolling by getting a New York
newspaper to print the article as IL
first appeared" says the statement,
which concludes:
"I was gotten into the conspiracy by
powerful officials who l dared not to
displease from a newspaper or political
standpoint 1 consulted Mr.. Howe.
Senator Platts secretary, frequently
ana acted at all times under the di-
rcction OF Lcob and Platt.'
Former Postmaster General Robert
Wynne is the present American con-
sui general in London.
!. Martin Miller, a former newspa-
per man, recently was American con-
sui at Rheims, France.
'Did Miller ever say anything to
you about the letters?" asked the ex-
animation attorney of Miss Wood, who
had been on the witness stand in her
own behalf since early yesterday.
Eyes," she replied, che said that if
he got the letters the Platts would
never get them"
"What was he going to do with
them?"
Hold them over Platt's head, I be-
licve," she answered.
The statement purporting to have
been signed by Miller bears the date
of Oct. IS, 1908. 1t reads:
II was asked by high government
officials in Washington and New York
to get possession of Senator Platts
love letters to Mae c.. Wood. In or
der to do this, 1 had to pretend l
would get out book for which she
gave me the manuscript Oct. 8, 1903.
1t was agreed by all parties interest,"
ed that 1 was to get her to New York
ard get the papers out of her room'
"Mr. Loeb called UP Platt in New
York and told him Miss Wood was
suing him for breach of promise. Mr.
Platt said he would be a party to the
scheme 1 failed to get possession OF
any Of the original documents or let
tiers. We then began the scandal In
the newspapers to force her to come
to terms.
Wynne, first assistant postmaster
general, started the ball rolling by
getting a New York paper to print
the article as it first appeared.
II established my headquarters In
the Tribune building, disseminating
such information as I could get from
the office of the first assistant post
master general. Senator T. c. Plat
was fully informed Of all matters and
I was instructed to cooperate with
him, hut the original papers were not
to be given to Plat. but to Mr.. Loeb
at Washington.
II was gotten into the conspiracy
by powerful officials whom I dare not
to displease from a newspaper or po-
litical standpoint. 1 consulted Mr..
Howe, Senator Platt's secretary, fire.
queptly and acted at all time under
the direction of Loeb and Platt."
(signeO u. MARTIN MILLER.
In her testimony given earlier in the
dow Miss Wood then under crOSS-ex-