The Washington herald., 1913-01-15
Other STOLEN
.LETTEREVIDENCE
Colored Messenger Corrobor-
ates Story Concerning Oil
Correspondence.
WORKING FOR FORAKER
Witness Tells Senate Committee How
He Fooled Detectives in
Chicago.

William WINFIELD. of Chicago, for
merry employed as messenger in the
office of John ID. Archbold, of the Stan
dard OIL Company, yesterday told the
Senate committee his version of the
theft Of letters from the private files in
the office of Mr.. Archbold. It was the
first appearance of the negro as a W.T.
ness in the investigation. WINFIELD said
he resided at 3H4 Wabash Avenue, Chi
cago: that he was formerly employed on
4 railroad train In the Pullman service,
but was now out OF employment.
The negro corroborated in the general
details the story given to the commit
tee by Gilchrist Stewart, the negro law
yer employed by ex-senator Foraker.
Briefly. the story was that WINFIELD
was employed by the Standard Oil
Company as messenger at the time. One
day he read in the New York American
the story about a telegram that had
passed between the Standard Oil Com
rany and some one in Washington.
Il spoke TO my chum, Charles Stump,
about it, said the witness, while we
talked an Office boy named Frank Mer-
ill spoke up and said he could show
US the telegram. He got the letter book
and showed It TO us. ] took a copy of
the telegram and gave 1t to Stump, who
disposed OF it,
Discovered In Theft.
The witness explained that Stump was
an employc of the Standard also. The
copy Of the telegram. the witness eX-
planned. was published one afternoon on
= holiday in a Hearst newspaper. Il
never knew anything more about the TAX
ing OF letters and kilograms from Mr..
Archbolds Office until about four
months later when one evening as I was
on my way home / remembered l had
left my keys. l went back after them
and found stump going through Mr..
Archbold's desk, which was unlocked.
stump was very much scared and said
that there would be something in it
for me-"
Received S..5OO.
The witness said that Stump explained
to him that he and his brother-in-law, a
man named ''Zirmy' or thinner" who
worked in vesey Street. were doing bus
mess together. in marketing Mr.. Arch
bold's correspondence. Stump agreed TO
take the witness in on basis OF one
third of what was received.
He told me that the newspaper men
wanted him to get all the letters he
could obtain from Mr.. Archbold's files.
especially letters written TO Senators and
others in Washington
Can you give the names of any OF
these newspaper mem" asked Mr.. Clapp.
WINFIELD named a "Mr Eddy as one
whose name he had heard Stump men
ton. On the day mentioned the wit
ness said two letters written to Mr..
and two letter-copying books
were taken. The books were taken at
80 in the afternoon, and Stump told
him they were returned the following
morning at 2 o'clock. The witness tcs-
.ified that Stump told him he received
!, 90 for the telegram, of which witness
received one-third.
How much was paid in all for the let
ers and kilograms"
Il can only say how much received.
Il was less than $500" replied Wink
Held. He said he never had knowledge
IF any other thefts OF letters. kilograms.
II letter-book files except those he had
estifled to. He never saw afterward
THAT purported to be copies of them.
He had heard from Stump that only
900 was paid by the newspaper men"
or the use of the letter-file book over
hight. Stump told him that 81, 600 Zach
vas paid for the letters.
Stump. he explained. left Standard Oil
'mploy- early in 1905. soon after the theft:
he witness quit in June following
" llldl ne never KNEW
Il but two letters being taken. and when
he saw more than that number pub
ished, he asked Stump. who claimed that
lie didn't know, where they came FROM
Passing from the details OF the raid
m MIR. Archbold's letter file Chairman
'lapp carried the witness TO Chicago,
nd last December at the time when Gil
hrist Stewart, employed by former SEN
tor Foraker was in Chicago trying to !
,et the witness to make a statement. |
Ninkfiell told OF an experience with |
detectives almost as thrilling as that /
elated by Stewart, who was a witness !
/!
Stewart On stand.
The hearing was interrupted at this |
oint by the meeting Of the Senate. II
ill be continued this morning Before
Winfield took the stand yesterday
forming, Gilchrist Stewart, the negro
iwyer, was cross-examined by Senator
'omerene. Stewart said the detectives"
Tho carried him away in Chicago last
'ecember presented two warrants"
tewart told Senator Pomerene that there /
ERE about thirty Of the detectives" 1