The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-14
STOLEN LETTERS
VIM. Winfield, Former EN-
p1Oyee Standard Oil Co.,
Tells Clapp Committee of Fitch
ing Archbold Correspondence.
SOLD TWO FOR $1,000 EACH
Copy of Telegram Disposed of
at Same Price.
$500 for Loan of Two
Copy Books.
sold TWO FOR $1,000 EACH

Washington, Jan. 14.-Wm. Wink
field of Chicago, formerly employed
by the Standard Oil company as a
messenger, today told the senate cam
paign fund investigating committee
how he and another employee named
Stump, took the two letters from the
desk of John D. ArchboId of the
Standard Oil company and disposed Of
them for $1,000 each. He also told of
selling a copy of a telegram for ST.
600 and lending two copy books of
letters for which $500 was paid. OF
the amounts received Winfield said he
received one-third.
WINFIELD could not recall the con-
tents of the two letters or the tele-
or the signatures, He said the letters
were taken in the fall of 1904 and
published by the New York American.
He did not know what letters had been
taken from the copy books.
WINFIELD testified that in 1904 he
was employed by the Standard Oil
company in New York as messenger,
and stump, he said, was employed as
a file clerk. WINFIELD said that in
the autumn of 1904, after reading in
the New York American regarding
certain kilograms sent to some one in
washington, he spoke to Stump and
another office boy named Frank Nor
TIL employed in Mr.. Archbo1d'S Office.
Morrill, said he knew of a telegram
and he said he would let US see it,
said WINFIELD. "A couple of days later
ne showed 1T to US. 1 made a copy of
it and put it in the hands of Stump
and he disposed of it. It came out in
the paper on holiday
WINFIELD said he did not remem-
Der what the telegram said and did
not remember to whom it was ad-
dressed or whose signature was at
tached to it.
He then testified substantially as
follows:
-Four Months Later.
had nothing more to do with this
until about four months later I went
back to the office for my keys and
found Stump there at Mr.. Archbold's
desk. He told me that the paper told
him to get everything that he could get
his hands on. Stump was at Mr.. Arch I
bold's desk and had possession of some
of Mr. Archbold's letters. I told him +
that he was going further than L knew |
about. He said:
You keep quiet and We'll fix you up
He was doing business with his brother |
in law then. fEe got the letters and 7 |
saw the two he Got and read them"
DO you know the date of the letters, |
whom they wereA addressed to or the |
Interrupted Senator Clamp. |
No, 1 don't remember the date nor |
do 1 remember the signature attached |
1t may have been Quay or someone
Archbold.''
The two letters were the only things |
taken that day according to WINFIELD |
Two days later, WINFIELD said, a copy
book was taken and was returned by |
Stump the next morning.
More Letters Wanted.
1--WE were asked if we could secure |
copies of letters that had passed to !
and from Washington and had been
told that we would be paid" continued /
WINFIELD.
"Who told you this?'' asked Senator
Clapp.
WINFIELD replied that he had left |
the matter of disposition of the letters,
ETC., to Stump and he was taking care
Of that end. Summing up he said:
"All that I ever saw taken was two
letters and two copybooks. never
saw the two letters again.
What was your share?'' asked SEN
ator Clapp.
Il received less than $500" He
could not recall the exact amount He
said that he had an agreement with
Stump whereby he (Winkfield) was to
receive one-third of what Stump re-
and copybooks.
Who was to receive the other
third?''
His brOther-in-laW
What was paid for the telegram?''
''One thousand dollars. I got $685.
replied WINFIELD. Stump told me
hat $500 was paid for the use of the
,opybooks. The two letters brought
$1,000 a piece he continued At the
end of Winkfeld's testimony Gilcrist
was recalled to be question
ID about his testimony of yesterday
No new facts were developed. The COM
nittee will meet again tomorrow.