The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-12-25
HOW He GOT THEM
FORAKER DISCUSSES THE HEARST
EXPOSURES
LETTERS were Stolen

LETTERS were Stolen
Taken from the Odace of Archibald,
Standard Oil Trust liagnate, by his
Trust Employees and Sold to the
New York Publisher for big Sum
OF Money.
Former Senator J. 8. Foraker, OF
Ohio, in Washington on wednesday
produced a statement before the SEN
ate campaign expenditure investigat-
ing committee, prepared by Gilchrist
Stewart, purporting to be based on a
descdiption BY w. w. Winkerfeld OF
how v inSc1tielo and Charles Stump
took the "Archbold letters from
tue Standard OH sffice and sold them
to IepIe esentative Of William R..
Hearst.
"Mr. Hearst said on Tuesday that
| be did not know how the letters were
! procured" decla:e1 the former sena-
tor. Such preposterous story as
that you might tell to the marines,
! but TO no one else" Mr.. Foraker
said Stewart in 1908 sent him a news
paper clipping in which ". A. Ullman
attorney for c. P. Taft" was report
ed to have consulted with Mr.. Hearst
about the letters before they were
published and suggested that Ullman,
Mr.. Taft and John T.. Cronin, the lat
ter formerly Connected politically with
Mr.. Hearst, be called as witnesses.
Mr.. Froaker declared that about a
eek ago he had Mr. Stewart 60 to
Chicago, where Winkerfeld was work
ing as waiter. and ascertain what he
knew. Upon the interview, he said,
stewart had based his report What
that report contained. Mr Foraker
.roceaed In detail, declaring that he
id not vouch for its accuracy. Hell
added that the committee could CALI
WinkerHeld. Mr.. Foraker read tol
the committee from prepared state
inent q resume OF the report Stewart
had made to him Of his visit to Win
xerheld-
Mr.. Foraker said that while he did
not vouch for its accuracy, he sus-
sested that Stewart be called to tell
the story first hand. The first part
,n the former senator's statement
related the alleged story as report
ed by Stewart Of the preliminary
negotiations for disposal Of the let
,ers taken from the A-ch5old Lies.
a visit By Winkerneld and Stump to
a man named Eldridge and the first
parleys as to the price to be paid. The
principle portion giving the details
OF the alleged transactions after that
point. as to the purchase Of number
OF letters, was as follows:
They finally compromised at $5.-
600. Winkerfeld and Stump then
promised to bring the letters up the
next evening. Thu next afternoon
stump and Winkerheld took the let
,ers out one by one from the files.
They then wrapped two copying
books In some newspapers, put the
whole in a large box. They took II
Immediately to the Little Savoy, left
IT, with the Proprietor and returned
to the office; later they secured 1t
and Stump carried the letters and
books to Mr.. Eldridge. Upon his en-
trance on this occasion everybody
seemed expecting him and he was
ushered into a large private Office.
Mr.. Eldridge took the books and
brought from the adjoining room so
500 bills, which he gave 20 Stump.
He asked him If he could leave the
letters there until the next night and
come at six O'Clock with his partner.
The next evening Stump went to
zee Eldredge ard secured the letter:
and f!es. Eldridge and another MAJ.
Informed him that they were Of great
value and asked him If he could get
other correspondence. He intorme'
him he could. Then be gave him a
list Of prominent congressman. sena-
tors. judges. governors and some
ether men Of prominence, telling hin
to 20 as far back in the files as pos
sible and look them up. Anything
found concerning them was to b.
brought to Mr.. Eldridge. photograph
ed and returned and paid for accord.
Ing to its value, This list included
he names Of over 200 men.
They insisted on getting $4,000 for
every batch Of letters. and this was
agreed upon. For the next batch car
ried to them they were given only
$4,000. and the next only $4,000
Finally they became suspicious and
put tbs letters they had still Oh hand
in safety deposit box as the deposi-
tory OF all three and with the agree
meht that It required the signature OF
all three to open or secure the con-
| tents. They furnished 'Mr. Elor1oge
with some Of the originals as he ex-
planned he would pay a much highe-
price for them. Fer the Pen?ose
Foraker and Hanna batch they re-
ceived over $1,000. The other en-
gagements we're practically repeti-
/ tions Of the first.
In all they received $4,000, be-
came bolder and bolder and went
through all the fles OF correspond
ence. Mr.. Eldridge asked them to
secure two signature Of Mr.. Arch
bold's uncopied an original. This
they did. Mr.. Archbold signing his
name in two albums for them. For
these two signatures they received
$500 When they we're finally apre-
IE S~I1 9~1