The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-12
Mrs. Peary Says That Francke
Wrote Asking Her to Pay
$1,000 for Them to Mrs.
Cook and End the Matter.
ABSOLVES COMMANDER OF
ALL UGLY CHARGES MADE
Feels That He Will Be Able to
Prove That He Did Not Op-
en- Cooks Letters and Steal
His Arctic Plans.

Sidney. Sept. l1.-"Rudolph Francke
wrote me two letters, stating that II
sent 5000 to Mrs. Frederick A. Cook.
wife of the explorer. there would be
no further trouble"
With great reluctance Mrs. Peary
made this statement tonight. II was
in reply to the charges made by
Francke that Commander Peary had
opened. read and even altered letters
entrusted by Cook to Francke. In
these letters, 1t was asserted were the
plans of Cook and his reports Of his
progress toward the pole.
Il am exceedingly loathe to speak
concerning this matter" said Mrs.
Peary. 1T is only because my hus-
band has been attacked and the pub
lie as a result may draw the wrong
conclusions of the affair. that I come
to his defense. I had hoped to keep
entirely aloof from this most unfor.
tunate controversy.
had returned from the Arctic circle he
began to make trouble by saying my
husband had stolen DIR. Cooks furs.
He even said that my husband had
found them at Etah and sent them a.
presents to his friends In the United
Staes.
Franeke's Return and His Letter.
"Francl1e returned ON the Erie. He
had left DR.. Cook and after several fu-
tile efforts to get south. he was taken
care of by Mr.. Peary. and given trans
portation aboard the Erie. It was ON
the Erie, Francke asserted. that DIR.
Cooks furs were sent south by my
husband.
AFTER F'rancke had reached New
York received . letter from him il
German. In 1t he made the accusa-
tions which I have alluded to. He
| further stated that some men. who
were themselves scoundrels had mo-
BILE wives. For that reason. he hoped.
that I would see that there was JUS
| tice''
"The furs which he said belonged
| to DR.. Cook were certainly worth
$1,000. and II that amount OF money
was paid to Mrs. Cook. there would
be no further talk. l did not answer
his letter and some time later re-
ceived another from Francke. Tbs
second was written In English
To Ridiculous 70 Discuss.
| "As to the charge that Mr.. Peary
\ f,,r~ -
longing to DR.. Cook is too absurd 70
discuss. l know he will explain every
thing satisfactorily when he comes.
Ridiculous also In the statement
/ reported to haze been made by
Francke that Commander Peary op-
ened DR.. Cooks letters. It has been
said that affidavits have been made
by Francke and Joseph White making
this accusation Now do You think
it probable that II Commander Peary
intended to do such an evil thing. he
would have done 1t in the presence ol
two witnesses.
The only Cook letters that know
anything about were written by Mrs
Cook to her husband At her request
my husband carried them North or
the Roosevelt.
1T is a pity my husbands great
achievement should be involved In
such bitter controversy. He hal
struggled for nearly q quarter OF :
century to win this victory.
When Herbert L. Bridgman, sec
retary Of the Peary Arctic club, wal
asked concerning Francke's threat Il
sue Mrs Peary. he replied: "Francke'i
charges will be absolutely disprovet
by Peary-"