The Washington times., 1910-06-24
Haas Pays $4,000 While
Peckham Is Assessed
$4,000 on Motion.
HOLMES IS STILL
UNDER INDICTMENT
However, BY Recent Ruling, a Gov
ernment Employe on a Jury
InvalidateS Its Acts.

The long famous cotton leak case
was practically terminated today.
when Moses Haas, Of New York, and
Frederick Peckham, of Cincinnati.
Ohio. admitted that they were tech
nically guilty Of conspiring to effect
misconduct in Office on the part OF
Edwin 5 Holmes. jr., who. In 1905,
was assistant statisician OF the De-
partment Of Agriculture. in charge of
the cotton reports Haas paid fine
of $4,000. and Peckham a fine of
$4,000.
The men appeared before Justice
Ashley VI. Gould. in Criminal Court
No. /. They were released shortly
before noon. other indictments stand
ing against them having been
quashed.
In1icted originally in the cotton
leak" cases were the two men who
entered pleas OF guilty tcfav. Theo-
dOre h Price, the so-caIIed New York
Cotton King, and Holmes.
Price, who was cited for trial under
Indictments returned in 1908, three
years after the first set Of indict-
nlents, was relieved Of responsibility
IN the matter by the recent ruling Of
Justice Gould vacating the later in
dicJmenJs on the ground that one Of
the members OF the grand jury was a
Government emplOye. This ruling re-
lieyed all Of the Indicted men but
Holmes, who did not file a plea in
abatement.
Holmes Still Under Indictment.
Holmes still stands indicted, and
what disposition may be made OF his
case IS not known.
Attorney Wharton +. Lester, who
represents Holmes, said today that he
had not been advised of the course
adopted by Haas and Peckham. and
could not tell at this time how he
VIII advise his client
The pleas Of guilty. entered by Haas
and Peckham come at the end Of a Ave
Ne-Irs' fight. The Indictments alleged
that they entered into a conspiracy 10
obtain advance information on the cot
ton crop from Mr.. Holmes. ard used
such information in business deals.
indictments were returned in 1895. and
twice judges of New York courts de-
Clared that no statute existed whereby
the meu could be convicted Of d crime.
The charges dealt with The cotton re-
port FOR the month of June. ,g05. and IN
1898 a law was passed by Congress MAX
ing il crime 10 cOuSDire 10 effect mis-
conduct Of office on the part Of Gov
eminent official
Holmes was brought to trial separate
" in 1885, but at the completion of the
hearing the Jury stood six for acqUittal
and six for conviction. constituting 4
nnistrial-
Adkins Recommended Fines.
Special Assistant Attorney General
Jesse g. Adkins. in appearing for the
Government today tcId The court thar
in view Of the plea of guilty the Depart
Ineut Of Justice was rot disposed TO ad-
NOcdte sentence Of Imprisonment. but
would be satisfied with a substantial
fms
He declared. however. that the depart
n.ent believed that Haas moral reSUOn-
SiDllitv IN tie matter was greater than
that Of FeCkham and that he would sug-
gest That Haas fine be heavier
After hearing Judge Lockwood. OF
New York, who with Attorney HenTy l.
Davis. OF this city. and Attorney Fuller
OF New York, appeared for the defend
ants, Justice Gould said.
Il am willing to follow the recommen-
dationS Of the special counsel and OF the
Department IF Justice. and believe the
ends of Justice will be served by a sub
Stantial fine"