Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-18
ABSTRACTED FROM FILES
Presents Statement Based on Confes-
sion of Culprits.
DOESN'T vOUCH FOR ITS TRUTH
Claimed That Hearst's New York
American Paid $4,000
for Letters.

FORMER Senator j. b. Foraker today
produced before the Senate campaign ex-
penditure committee statement prepared
by Gilchrist Stewart. purporting to be
based on a description by W. W. Wink
field of how WINFIELD and Charles Stump
abstracted the famous Archbold letters
from the Standard Oil officers and sold
them to a representative Of William r.
Hearst
This statement came at the close of q
long testimony to the committee by the
senator. i'm which he declared that he
was employed by the Standard Oil mere
ly as a lawyer in the reorganization in
Ohio and that he later declined employ
ment by the corporation.
Declares Assertion Preposterous.
''Nr. Hearst said yesterday that he did
not know how the letters were procured"
said the former senator. Such a pre-
posterous story as that you might tell
to the marines. but to no one else"
The witness said Mr.. Stewart in 1908
sent him a newspaper clipping in which
w. A. Ullman. attorney for c. P. Taft"
was reported to have consulted MIR.
Hearst about the letters before they
were published and suggested Ullman.
Taft and John T. Cronin. formerly con-
nected politically with Mr.. Hearst, be
called as witnesses.
Alleged Confession to Stewart.
Mr.. Foraker declared that about a
week ago he had Mr.. Stewart go to
Chicago where WINFIELD was working
ras a waiter at 1926 Wabash avenue.
and ascertain what he knew. Upon the
interview, he said, Stewart had based
his report.
What that report contained MIR.
Foraker proceeded to detail. declaring
that he did not vouch for it's accuracy.
lie added that the committee could call
WINFIELD.
According to this statement. Wink
field and Stump noticed newspaper
item about the sale OF letters, and TAX
ing some from the ArchbOld files tried
to sell them, but failed. Finally. they
wrote a letter to the New York Amerl-
can making the offer. and the next day
called up. They insisted upon talking
to Mr.. Hearst. but were contented to
meet a Representative in the Little
Savoy saloon.
Paid $34, 600 for Letters.
AS a result of that conference they went
the next day to the private editorial office
of the American, where man named
Eldridge talked to them. They were told
that Mr.. Hearst stated that they were
performing a great public duty. They
dickered as to the price with Eldrige,
wanting $4,000, but getting promise Of
only 5000.
to Eldridge to be photographed, and re-
ceived fifty one-hundred-dOllar bills.
The statement declared that other let
ters were wanted and that Wlnkheld and
Stump were given a list OF 2O senators;
representatives in Congress, judges and
governors with the assurances that let
Iers from them to Archbold would be
paid for we'll For one batch OF such let
$1,000 For the Penrose. Hanna and
Foraker letters. the statement said.
Eldridge paid them 81 900.
Evidently We were the fat cattle" said
Mr.. Foraker.
In all, the statement continued, 1000
was paid the two men. For two sigma
lures of Mr.. ArchbOld standing alone
they were paid $500. The statement said
the signatures were requested of the two
men and that they procured them by hav-
album.
Another Batch Sold.
A third man joined WINFIELD and
Stump, it was said, and the three put
q large number of letters in a safety
deposit vault.
After the 1908 storm went by they dis
posed ol some PenrOse letters to a rep
resentative of Mr.. Hearst for $4,000 and
made an offer to sell all their remaining
letters for $4,000. They disposed Of a
batch for $500 last spring and negotia-
tions have now been opened for the sale
of others.
Mr.. Foraker was asked practically no
questions by the committee. At the close
of his testimony the committee ad-
journed to meet at the call Of Chairman
Clapp No decision was reached before
adjournment as to calling the witnesses
suggested by Mr.. Foraker.