The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-21
Investigation Reveals Money
Scandal Involving For
Tner Clerk
TRAIL Is FOLLOWED
TO JUDGES BENCH
Charge Made He Heard Cases
in Which Wealthy Part
nerS Were IN
terested

ton OF United States Judge Peter ,.
Grosscup, which tho turist has an
nounced will be sent to President Taft
soon after October ), mas caused more
comment than any similar action on
the part of a Federal judge In recent
years.
Much OF this interest has been
aroused by the statement. OF Judge
Grosscup himself that his every move
in private and pubic lite during the
past two years has been marked b.
systematAzed espionage.
The question IN the public mind
has been who is the person or insti-
tuition SO interested In the acts of a
Federal judge? The Federal govern
ment has not prosecuted the inquiry,
and friends Of Judge Grosseup deny
knowledge Of the source OF the inves~
ugatlon.
1t Is now possible 10 reveal the
real cause Of the search into the lite
of the Jurist and to give an inkling
Of II sresults.
The identity of the investigator who
is acting for a. New Y ork magazine,
has been reveal ed as Lawrence Richey
one OF the most celebrated men of his
profession in the United States. Iie
MAS formerly In the United States
Secret service. but severed that con-
recuou in August 1893. The en-
p1oyers OF Rlchey admitted the evil
dence IN their possession - Attorney
General Wtckersham aud President
Taft, bat the government took no ac-
ton.
What Richcy Found.
Developments of particular inter-
est aSeerfAlned BY the investigator
rave to do with the relations which
have existed between coterie of
men having community Of interest
IL financial transactions of magnitude
/ The more widely known OF the men
interested are Judge Peter $. Gross
i cup. Francis s. Peabody. dominating
influence in the creates; retail coal
com nine III the world: w. W. Cur
ley. general counsel for the old Union
+ Traction Company, and no~ hearin &
/ the same relation to the Chicago Rail-
way Company; Marshal L, Sampscl.
former clerk to Judge Grosscup later
clerk OF the United States Circuit
/ Court and still later one Of the re-
celvers for the old Union Traction
Company; A. G. Frost, promoter Of
tho Chicago and Milwaukee Electric
hallway, and now under Indictment
for completely in Alaska land frauds,
John Il. Thompson, former treasurer
/ OF Cook county, and well-known Re
publican politician. his brother. Judge
NJ W. Thompson. of Danville; Harry
Hcllins, OF IL. Il. Hollins & Co. pow
erful bankers OF New York, and Ra-
faei Il. GOWN. OF the same firm
4 Heard Gases of Friends.
An interesting feature OF the finan
7 ctal transactions running into millions
is the fact that tho financial relations
/ OF Judge Grosscup with many of thes,
men existed at "a time when the bust
ness partners OF the Jurist were be
+ fore his court as parties TO litigation
vitality affecting both the judge ans
! the litigants
Judge Grosscup Is a principal fac
tor in the ownership of street rail
way system in Mattoon, Ill., The in
corporators OF this company wer,
clerks in the Office OF w. w Gurley
the attorney for the old Union Trac
ton Company, corporation who's
financial trials occupied the attention
OF Judge Grosscup's court for years
Judge Grosscup and Gurleys clerk
secured their franchise. and divide,
the stock In a way that seemed to in
sure dividends. But money to bu,
rolling stock was not available unit
after the Union Traction Compan
went into the hands OF receivers. Thi
action was taken In Judge Grosscup'
court.
An issue OF $4,000 worth of bond
thereafter found ready market.
bundle OF them, estimated TO be wort
: $4,000. were taken by the knicker
booker Trust Company OF New York
which later was wrecked and its presl
: dent committed suicide.
Bonds For Grosscup.
Judge Grosscup was satisfied wifi
ia bonds valued at $1,000 each an
u sGurley tonk sG2, ,g.>..,..,, 9.s.es -,
This awakening OF interest in tn
traction problems of NATION follow
ed the announcement OF the ITnio
Traction receivership. The receiver:
to whom Judge Grosscup intruste
Chicago's knotty traction probler
We're r. r. GOWN. OF Hollins and Com
pany; James II. Eckels, who died sud
denly as a maze of financial intrigue
= began to wind about him. and last bu
!, foremost, Sampsel. the $4,000 clerk Q
the court.
Clerk sampsel started with littl
, more In the shape OF material tina
Judge Grosscup's good opinion bu
that was considerable asset. as
; shown by perusal OF his bank &C
!, count. In July of 1904, his balance a
tho Corn Exchange Bank was $500.
That was his personal account. not tn
account of the receivership. With
few months he was adding to tina
personal fortune sometimes at tn
rate of az high as $4,000 and NOR
! month.
; Absolutely accurate records OF IN
: present stockholdings OF the coterie |
the Nation proposition are not avail
able, since the last annual statemen
but 1t is generally known that Gross
cup and his old secretary have com