Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-30
Newspaper Clipping Enclosed.
Newport News, Va.
November 20, 1910.


concerning ther attempt of Mr.. Fred
Read, OF this city. to influence the
grand Jury In the case OF the govern
ment against II. A. Morewitz, for
purchasing smnggled goods from the
Celtic Princess" treasury file No.
1872, I now have the honor to report
that / have today telegraphed you as
follows:
Column and a half in local papers
about Fred Read and grand jury mat
ter My personal letter Monday
night not responsible for publication
II was led to send you this tele-
gram by reason OF finding In the
morning paper the enclosed clipping.
81 have declined to discuss the
matter with any OF the reporters, but
from what l know of the circum.
stances, the reporter has come very
close 10 the facts. am also led to-
believe that one of the reasons why
ne wss not indicted by the grand jury
was the fact that he had just been
selected to be collector OF customs.
The spectacle of a citizen. selected
to fill this Office. discussing the mat
ter with members of the grand jury,
and practically taking the part OF the
defense, in a case where the govern.
ment Is interested. is not calculated
to reflect credit upon the5 citizen. Ia
the rumors and reports are correct.
81 realize fully that the treasury
department does not wish me to e
main as coliacss- OF customs. !.
tie, eiorc, feel iustjhed in calling thu
attention of the department to this
circumstance. II must be suppressed
ed by some other citizen. l would like
10 see . man selected. capable OF up
holding the standard Of Official action,
which 7 claim to have followed while
Collector of Customs.
Respectfully,
(signed) 81. E. B. STUART.
Collector"
Tells Of Many Rumors.
Newport News. Va.
4 November 25, 1910.
'(PERSONAL)"
"The Honorable,
THE Secretary OF the Treasury,
Washington, d. c.
rSff:- !
Referring to my recent reports to
you. with regard to rumors that Mr.
Fred Read of this city reported by
the press as my immediate successor
In ofice) had made an effort to In
fiuence the grand Jury. while the said
grand jury was considering the case
of the United States against II.
Morewitz. for purchasing struggled
goods from the Celtic Princes your
file No. 1882. now have the honor ,
to report as follows:
ct is said that Mr.. Fred Read went
over on the same car. or boat. to
Norfolk. on or about Monday, Novem-
Der II with Mr.. Lane Lacy, who lives
in a suburb of this city. II Is said
that he asked MIR. Lacy where he
was going. 1t Is said that Mr.. Lacy
replied that he was one OF the grand
Jury. and was on his way TO the Unit
ed States District Court at Norfolk, /
Va. ana that after this notice OF his
business was given TO Mr.. Fred Read,
Mr.. Read shortly afterwards request
ed Mr.. Lacy to do what he could for
III. A. Morexitz.' and II possible to do
so. to avoid indicting him
1T is also rumoPed that Mr. Fred
Read later on. the same day. sp-
preached a Mr. Frsley, OF the New
port Hotel. Of this city, along the
same lines. and for the same pur- (.
pose. the said Mr.. Frsiey being also
a member of the grand jary.
at is reported further that the
matter was brought up In the grand
Jury room, in secret session II is re-
ported that the matter vss discussed
at some length. and that the mem
bers of the grand jury were very IN
dignant at this attempt TO influence
their action. That after considerable
discussion, Mr.. FraIey. took the posi-
ton that as Mr.. Fred Read had just
been appointed collector OF customs.
II would injure him very seriously for
an indictment to be returned against
him. and that therefore Il should be
overlooked by the grand jury, and no
action taken II is said that a vote
was taken in the grand jury room,
and that not less than eight OF the
grand Jury were in favor OF .returniug
an indictment against him but were
finally over-ruled BY the other mem
bers OF the jury.
Il do not guarantee the correctness
Of any of this rgmor. You have ms
chinery under your control BY which
YOU can ascertain the truth OF same.
There Is sufficient grounds In these
rumors to justify action on your part
do not believe that either you. or
President Taft would knowingly ap-
point to once. man guilty OF such
acts. especially when the particular
case was one In which the govers-
ment was attempting 70 iEtict for
violation OF customs laws. and the
sppoirtee expected 20 be q collector
Of customs
-Rcsnecf fully