New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-13
Letters Tell of the Suppress
sion of Mrs. Bonds
Accusations.
WASHINGTON WOULD
NOT ACT IN MATTER
Neither u. S. Attorney Nor
Senators Willing to
Order Inquiry.
PLOT, SAYS SENATOR
His AccuSers Challenge Dis.
trict Attorney to Try Them
on That Charge.

Washington. Jan. 12-The Tribunes
publication this morning OF the details
Of the charge against Senator Thomas
p. Gore. OF Oklahoma. whom Mrs.
Minnie Z. Bond, Of Oklahoma City, is
suing for $4,000, on the allegation that
her character suffered following an as
sault she swears the Senator made on
her last M.rch in Washington caused a
sensation here.
While almost all OF the prominent
political persons agree that public
judgment should await court verdict,
many said to-day that had Senator
Gore issued a frank statement early,
his charge that men he approved for
office were blackmailers in backing up
Mrs. Bonds story might have carried
more weight.
Although efforts were made-and
made very publicly--to get the United
States Attorney in Washington to take
up the case before last April. IT was
not until May Is that the Senator of
fered to his constituents any defence,
and then in a letter that did not touch
directly on the Bond charge. This let
ter, the signature Of which was rubber
stamped, and in which the superscrip-
ton Of my Dear Sir and Friend" was
not preceded by the name of the per-
son addressed, was mimeographed. and
presented the Senator's willingness to
work In the interests Of his country
and countrymen, set forth the In
portant committees he was on, his ins
terest in the farmer. and contained this
reference to the case:
Il may say here that no man ever
had worse enemies or better friends
than I have. am proud of both. No
public official who has either courage
or conscience could be dragged or
driven from the oath OF duty by g.
frame-up by an unholy alliance on the
part OF few disappointed office-seek-
ers reinforced by two or three Indian
lobbyists. The methods Of these people
would both amuse and amaze you.
Relies on tho People.
Fortunately, the President. the Cabi-
net. the Congress and the public real
ize the true character and purpose Of
the conspiracy. Assurances received
from every quarter Of the state and
from members OF ell parties inspire
confident faith that the splendid cid-
zenship Of oklahoma Will not share the
i'll will and resentment OF those who
deserved disappointment. but Will Judge
their public servant by the earnestnees
of his labors In their behalf, and Will
generously justify one who has always
kept the faith and endeavored TO fight
the good fight FOR his country and his
countrymen."
On April H. disguised by the failure
Of the United States Attorney here to
90 deeply into the case, Kirby Fitzpat-
rick, land title attorney 70 the State
Board Of Public Land Commissioners
Of Oklahoma, once one OF the Senator's
varmest friends and witness against
Gore. wrote this letter to Attorney
General McReynods:
I'm re Bond-Gore charges:
Sir: The press OF oklahoma reports
that Senator Gore has been made tho
victim OF conspiracy 10 blacknail,
basing their conclusions on the finding
OF District Attorney Wilson. of your
department:
1T Is not my purpose 70 volunteer
any information as to the guilt or iL-
nocence OF the Senator. but respect-
fully suggest that you examine a tram
script OF the evidence taken by the
District Attorney. from which you will
be forced TO the conclusion that fell
ony has been committed either by the
Senator. the witnesses or the District
Attorney, in which case l feel that,
even though you do not cause the
guilty 10 be brought 10 justice. you will
surely see the innocent freed from the
imputation Of 'dishonor and crime.
81 submit this prayer as a witness
who was forced under process from
your department to testify against
political friend and supporter, well
knowing that official preferment was
the price must pay for daring to tell
the truth. Surely no honest citizen OF
the republic. not excepting the Senator
and the District Attorney. can deny
the justice OF this prayer.
Challenged Indictment.
When it was whispered in Washing
ton that the witnesses in this case
would be arrested, |, together with Nh.
Robertson, went into the office OF the
District Attorney and challenged an
indictment. which challenge was later
laid before the District Attorney BY
letter, copy OF which was served on
yourself and on each United States
Senator and, us l am Informed. you