The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-20
Alleged Conspiracy to Secure
Senator Platt's Tender Epis.
ties to Mae Wood.
LETTER Is SUBMITTED
SIGNED BY MILLER.
Document Declares the Newspa-
per Man Was to Acquire the
Letters by Wynne's Direc-
ton for Loeb-Wynne
Is Mum, and Loeb
Enters Denial.
= EIv YORK. May 1e.-High gov
ernment officials at Washing

Il q
ernment officials at Washing
! lN ton are alleged to have con-
| spired to obtain possession nf
love letters said to have been
written by United States Senator
Thomas c. Platt to Miss Mae C. Wood.
in signed statement introduced as
evidence during to-day's hearing In
| Miss Woods suit for divorce against the
Senator.
The statement. which was introduced
after the court had denied a motion by
counsel for Senator Platt 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 signature affixed. she was
| assured by Mr.. Miller that it was
genuine. The statement was prepared
by Miller at. her request, she testified.
| Asked to Get Letters.
! It declared that Miller was asked by
thigh government officials In Wash
ington and New York to get possess
sion Of Senator Platt's love letters;"
| that the papers. when obtained, were
not to be given to Senator Platt, but
We're to be turned over to MIR. Loeb,
| in Washington" and that when the
| plan to get possession Of the original
| papers failed. scandal was begun in
| the newspapers to force Miss Wood to
come to terms. "Wynne. first assis-
| tant postmaster-genera started the
ball to rolling by getting a New York
| newspaper to print the article as 1t
first appeared says the statement,
| which concludes:
II was gotten into the conspiracy by
| powerful officials whom I dare not to
displease from a newspaper or political
| tal
| Senator Platt's secretary. frequently,
and acted at all times under the direc-
| ton of Loeb and Platt."
| Former Postmaster-General Robert
Wynne Is the present American con-
/, slll-seneralsto London. i. Martin MIL
| Ter. a prominent newspaper man. se-
Gently was consul at Rheims. France.
| did Miller say anything to you
about the letters?" asked the examining
attorney OF Miss Wood, who had been
on the witness stand In her own behalf
since early yesterday.
Yes" she replied, che said that IL
never get them"
What was he going to do with
them?'
Hold them over Platts head, be-
l1eve," she answered.
The Miller Letter.
The letter purporting to haye been
signed by Miller bears the date of
October 49, 1903. 1t reads:
"I was asked by high government
officials in Washington and New York
to get possession of Senator Platt's love
letters to Mae c. Wood. In order to
do this had to pretend I would get out
book for which she gave the manu-
script on October S, 1908. It was
agreed by all parties interested that I
was to get her to New York and get
the papers out of her rooms.
"Mr Loeb called up Platt In New
York and told him Miss Wood was
suing him for breach OF promise. Then
Plat said he would be a party to the
scheme.
Il failed to get possession Of any
original documents or letters. We then
began the scandal in the newspapers
to force her to come to terms. Wynne.
first assistant postmaster-gen
started the ball to 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 could get from the
office of the first assistant postmaster
general. Senator T. c. Platt was in
formed OF all matters by me- and II
was instructed to cooperate with him,
but the original papers were MT to bel
given to Platt, but to Mr.. Loeb atI
Washington.
II was gotten into the conspiracy
by powerful officials, whom dare not
to displease from newspaper or po-
litical standpoint. I consulted Mr..
Howe, Senator Platt's secretary, fire.
auently. and acted at all times under /
the direction of Loeb and Platt.
(Signed) "J. MARTIN MILLER."
Was Given Money.
In her testimony given earlier, In
the day. Miss Wood. then under cross
examination, was led to tell Of the i
circumstances under which she signed, |
In 1908. In this city, a release of SEN
ator Plat from any claims she may
have had against him. She testified
the sum of $500 upon signing the
statement, but denied that she was
aware of all it's contents.
The ross-eXan1nation ended carly !
in the afternoon, and was followed by
a motion on the part of the defendants |
counsel to dismiss the complaint. This |
was denied by the court. and Attorney
duced a statement purporting to have
been signed by Miller, and was en-
amintng Miss Wood regarding 1t when /
court adjourned for the day.
Wynne Refuses to Talk.
LONDON, May 19,--"I have absolute-
ly nothing to say about this subject" |
was the emphatic reply of Robert j. /
Wynne the American consul general vi
London when questioned tonight re-
gardng the statement made by Mae
VVon6 fo,day in her divorce stlit aga tnS /