New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-19

into the committees record by the former
Senator related the alleged story as re-
ported by Stewart Of the preliminary ne
gotiations for disposal of the letters taken
from the Archbold files, visit by WINK
field and Stump TO the man named Eiu-
ridge and the first parleys as TO the
price TO be paid. The principal portion
Of the statement, giving the details oil
the alleged transaction after that point
was as follows, as to the purchase OF
number Of letters
They finally. after about one-half hour ;
parley, compromised at 5000. WinKNtlu
and stump then promised TO bring the
letters up the next evening. Inc me-
afternoon Stump and Winkneld TOOK nv
letters out, one by one, from the me- Is
They then wrapped up two copying pVoho
Ia some newspapers, put the WhoIe ~ III
large box, such as tailors deliver suittS
in. and came out with II when MI Al ~
bold had gone home. They TOOK IL IN
mediately TO the Little Savoy, ielt y
with the proprietor and returned 10 w
office Later, after the office closed, st
cured IT, and Stump carried the letters
and the books to MIR. Eldridge.
Upon his entrance on this occasIpii
everybody seemed expecting nm, anu I0
was ushered into larger private ONCE.
Mr.. Eldridge took them and was gone
about an hour and brought from an au.
Joining room fifty 500 bills, which ne sdNe
to Stump. He asked him If he could IeaNs
the letters there until the next night anu
10 come at 6 o'clock with MS pai nc ne.
They next had their money changed mo no
smaller denominations and had U's
time that evening. A.
The next evening stump went 10 see W
Fldridge and secured the letters ana mr.,
Eldridge and another man Informed mn,
that they were of great value and askeu
him if he could get other Correspondent,
He Informed them he could. lHey tlei'
gave him a list of prominent ConsI es I5
men, Senators. judges, governors ,i aia
some other men of prominence teilite
him to go as far back in the MES as poe,
sible and look them up Anything Iounu
concerning them wac TO be brought 10 wi
Eldridse, photographed and returned anu i
paid for according to its value. ms IS S
Included the names of over TWO huhureu
men. .
They insisted on getting $1,000 for every
batch Of letters, and this was agreeu
upon. The next batch carried to Ih tha
they were given only. $4,000 for. ana aa tne
next only $4,000. Finally they became
suspicious OF each other and put those
they had still on hand in safety deposit
box as the depository OF all three, anu
with the agreement that II required the
signature of all three TO open or secu,o
tho contents. They furnished Mr.; Ed
ridge with some of the originals, as ne eh-
DldllltQ ne Npulu pay Il illuOlt iAihhNs -
for them II he could keep them than II
they had TO be returned and copies made
For the Penrose. Foraker ana llama
betch they received over $1,000. ,,..
The other engagements were praclcHily
repetitionS OF the first. They would take
| letters ont and nothing was thought OF
! their taking papers out because they were
always doing such errands. 1hey Wouid
be photographed and returned In all;
| they received $4,000, became holder ard
holder, and went through all the files 81
| correspondence. Mr. Eldridge asked them
10 secure two signatures Of Mr. Arch
bald's. uncopied and original. This they
| did. Mr. Archbold signing his name in two
| albums for them. For these two sigma
| lures they received $500.
When they were finally apprehended
| they went into hiding. fearing arrest for
| the time being. When the storm had
blown over they offered their entire batch
| Of remaining letters to Mr.. Eldridge for
l Mr. Hearst for $4,000. These negotiations
finally fell through, except they sold few
PenrOse letters for $4,000 TO a representa-
tive Of Mr.. Hearst. Upon advice Of Wink
field they decided 10 hold all OF the re-
naming letters for $4,000. After the pub
! lication Of a few Of their stolen letters
had raised such a Juror they raised the
price to $4,000. Becoming in dire straits.
they sold a few to a representative OF Mr.
Hearst for $500 last spring Negoiia-
lions have been begun fer the sale OF the
remaining seventy