Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-21
Expresses Belief in Innocence of the
Accused Man.
UTs WHOLE BLAME ON HOWARD
Columbus Editor Made Soapegoat in
Present Scandal.
OVERLOOK METCAIFE'S SERVICE
Effort tn Make Him Appear the One
Who is wrons Too Apparent
TO DO ANY Good for
Hitchcock.



CFrom a staff Correspondent)
COLUMBUS. Neb., oct 90 Especial -
Nothing short OF a signed confession from
Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock that he borrowed
state money from Treasurer Bsrtley and
refused to pay II back VIII convince the
democratic state COMMITTEES that the SEN
atorial candidate is a beneficiary of the
BARLEY shortage.
do you believe that MIR. Hitchcock is
innocent Of the charge made by Edgar
Howard?" was asked Chairman Byrnes of
the state committee.
Il believe he is innocent" replied Mr.
Byrnes
Were Joseph BARLEY to place before
you evidence to show that Hitchcock did
borrow state money, would YOU then re-
quest the senatorial candidate to with
draw" he was asked
Whatever Joseph hartley has TO say
will have no weight with me-" replied
Byrues.
So it is clear that when Edgar Howard
produced positive proof that Hitchcock
was beneficiary OF the BARLEY shortage
and asked the state committee to request
| his withdrawal he vas going against
packed jury.
! Even though he was reinforced with
statement from BARLEY that Hitchcock
had not only borrowed the money, but had
| refused to pay it back, the committee
would not bo convinced
! Refuses TO EEcar Howard.
| Even though Mr. Hitchcock has answered
! the evidence produced by Edgar Howard
! only with charges of "blackmair' and
liar" the state committee had no ear
! for the Columbus editor.
The committee did not even ask Mr.
J Hitchcock a la a
which represented a debt of between 5000
and 5000 that he owed TO BARLEY which
he settled Tor H.J00 An of these notes
and letters were turned over to the demo-
cratic senatorial candid6te at the time he
forced the then needy ex-state treasurer
to deliver them upon the receipt of about
three-fifths of the amount of the interest
due on the loans Joe BARLEY turned over
all these papers TO Hitchcock and their
publication would tend to show the truth
fulness of the Howard charges
The very fact that BARLEY had turned
back the letters and notes is taken as
the best evidence that Hitchcock thought
when Howard first made his charges that
he and he alone had the goods which would
condemn him. That has been suggested
as the reason why he preferred to stand
pat and bluff 1t out. He did not know that
BARLEY might have photographed the evi-
dence before turning IL over to him. After
once having made the bluff there was
nothing left for him TO do but 20 ahead
with II.
over the state Hitchcock is condemned
for borrowing state money and failing to
pay IL back no more than he Is for the
treatment he is according the man whom,
he confessed had helped to save him from
financial ruin, even at the sacrifice of his
own good name and his liberty for six
lCng years.
BARLEY Not in from Choice.
Joe BARLEY is in business In Denver. lie
is out OF Nebraska politics. 1t was no,
his choice that he was forced to take a
hand in this campaign. He came to the
, front only when Gilbert Nj. Hitchcock had
. denounced one OF his warm personal friend.
as liar and he himself as a backmaiIer
o II was only because of HitchcOcks vicious
attack on Edgar Howard, followed by HI.
charge that Joe BARLEY was trying to holo
: him up for money, that the eX-state treas
> urer finally consented to grant an inter
view on the subject. lie broke his silenc,
that the editor OF the World Herald mishi
taste Of the same medicine that he forced
, down the throat OF a republican canddat,
" for regent Of the state university. Jo,
BARLEY feels the sting OF ingratitude" "A,
. strongly as did MIR. Hitchcock feel II som,
years ago.
MetcRlfe's Connection.
r Another feature Of the case that hal
brought forth severe condemnation Of III,
senatorial candidate is his effort 10 max,
OF Richard l.. Metcalfe a sCapegoat IL
this case Metcalfc, according to Hitch
cock made the settlement With BARLEY. Il,
was an empluye Of Hitchcock and as al
employe he carried out his Instructions
And Metca,fe has held his tongue He ha,
refused thus far TO tell what he knows o
the relations Of the state treasurer An,
Hitchcock, because he was an employe o
Hitchcock al the time. Mr. Hitchcock
reference 70 him as "Bartley's friend
rather than as his own employe. has create
feelin6 against Hitchcock among tn
friends Of the associate editor OF the Com
moner. Ia fact during the primary cam
paign Hitchcock received the benefit o
the circulation OF the story that Mctcalf
had signed the petition for the Bartlc.
pardon. Hitchcock old not sign the petition
lie got the money.
Edgar Howard realizes that he can d
nothing with tho democratic state com
mittee since lt refused 10 pay any atten
ton 10 his evidence. lie realizes that "a
has made his case aud II is now up to IN
voters insofar as hg is concerned.
what Howard says.
He realizes that Hitchcock would rathe
sacrifice the entire democratic state tcke
thaa O. step aside ana 20 into the court
for his vndicadCn. Today Mr Howard SAID
II feel that 1 have done my fun dut
toward my party ana fny state. / charge
that Mr. Hitchcock was partner wit
Joe Bartiey In the state treasury shortag,
have submitted the proof That proc
must convince every man who IS opep I
conviction.
~ now feet that IL Is time for me
retro from the controversy. which mas no
| developed into a quarrel between Hitcl