The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-19
HearstPurchaser Of Doc
uments From Stand
ard Oil Files.
FORAKER PLAYS
DETECTIVE ROLE
Former Senator Presents to In
vestigating Committee State
ment of How the Publisher
Came Into Possession of
Archbold Letters, Which
Created Such Sensation.

Washington, December 1s.-Formel
United States Senator J. -. Forakel
to-day produced a statement before
the Senate campaign expenditures In
vestigatinz committee, prepared L.
Gilchrist Stewart purporting 70 be
based on a description by W W. Wink
neid OF how WINFIELD and Charles
stump. took the "Archbold letters
from the Standard OIL offices and so''
them 10 a representative of william
l.. Hearst
Mr.. Hearst said yesterday that h
did not know how the letters were
procured" declared the former Sena
tor Such a preposterous story a.
that you might tell 10 the marines
but 10 no one else.
Mr.. Foraker said Stewart. in 1905
sent him a newspaper clipping II
which W. w uliman. attorney TO
President Taft. was said 10 have con
suited with Mr.. Hearst about the let
ters before they were published, ah'
suggested that Ullman, Mr.. Taft an'
Mr.. Cronin. the latter formerly con
nected politically with Mr.. Hearst, b
called as witnesses.
Winkneid Tells of Transactions
Mr.. Foraker declared that about Z
week ago he had Mr.. Stewart 60 u
Chicago. where WINFIELD was work
ing as a waiter, and ascertain what h
knew. Upon the interview. he ssic
stewart had based his report
What that report contained. Mr.
Foraker proceeded TO detail. DECLARING
that he did not vouch for It's accuracy
He added that the committee could cal
WINFIELD.
According TO the statement pre-
scented. WINFIELD and stump tool
some letters from the Archbold nie'
and wrote letter 10 the New fOr'
American. making an offer OF sale. an'
the next day called up.
They Insisted upon talking 10 Ar
Hearst. but were cortcnted 20 meet
representative" They went the mex
dsy TO the private editorial oTnces o
the New York American. where mar
named Eldridge talked TO them. Tne'
were told that they were perform
ing great public duty They
talked as to price with EiGridge
wanting $4,000. but getting promis'
Of only s. zoe. The next day they de
livered the letters TO Eldridge TO b
photographed, and received hfty $40
hills The statement declared thai
o.her Letters were wanted. and tha
WINFIELD and stump were given los
Of 9G0 Senators. Congressman. judge:
and Governors. with the assurance;
that letters from them TO Archbolf
would be paid for we'll For one
hatch Of such letters they claimed q
have received $4,000. and for another
81 600. For the PenrOse, Hanna anc
Foraker letters. the statement salo
E.ldridge paid them $1,000.
Evidently we were the Tat cattle.
remarked Mr.. Foraker
In all the statement continued. s34.
Gee was paid 20 the two men Foi
two signatures of Mr. Archbold. stand
ing alone. they claimed they were palt
$500. The statement said the sigma
lures were requested OF the two men
and they procured them by having Mr.
ArchboId write his name in an album
Roth WINFIELD and Stump were en-
moves in Mr.. Archbold's Office at tn'
time the letters disappeared Wink
field. a negro. is a son OF Mr. Arch
holds butler.
xdjourns without Decision.
When Senator Foraker concluded ~:
testimony the committee adjournet
indefinitely without deciding whether
n cali the witnesses Mr.. Foraker sug-
geste5.
Mr. Foraker read TO the committee
from a prepared statement resume
81 the report stewart had made 20 hin
., his visit 20 WINFIELD Mr- Foraks.
said that while he did not vouch fo'
rs accuracy. he suggested that Stewart
he called to tell the story fTst-hand
IRE former Senator's statement FIRST
detailed the preliminary negotiation
ror the sale OF the letters as report
Cd by Stewart
The principal portion giving the de-
tails Of the alleged Transaction ate
that uoin- as 20 the purchase Of Z
number Of letters was as follows.
They finally. after about one-haif-
hours parley. compromised A. $500"
WinkaeId and stump then promised 2
hiring the letters up the next evening
The next afternoon Stump and Wink
seld took the letters out. one by on
from the files They then wrapped ~
two -opving sooks IN SOM rcwspa-
pe-x nut the whole in large box
x,,ch as ta.Iors deliver suits in. and
came out with 70 when Mr. Archboit
had gone home. They took II imncd-
lately e. the Little savoy. left "a VIII
the proprietor and returned 10 the OF
exe. later. after the Office closed. thcs
secured 10. and STUMP carried the iet'
te-s and the books g. Mr. Eidridse.
Upon his entrance on this occasion
vervbodv seemed expecting hin and
he was ushcrci into large private
once. Mr.. Eidridgc took them and
was gone about an hour. and brouEl
from an adjoining room ffty 800 bills
which se gave - STUMP. TIC asked
hin, II he could feavc the letters there
- ~
& o'clock with his partner. They next
had their money changed into snnaiis'
de,oninaficus sra rad bie time that
evening. The newt evcui.-e stunt
went 10 sec W. Fidrsdec and secured
the letters ana riies.
~Eldrifre and another man INFORMED
him that they were % great value and
asked him n ~ could get other cor
respoufer~o He Informed them ne