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Mii. EEASTIIS WfMAN
As Mr. Erastus Wiman is now in complete
control of all the Telegraph business of
Canada, the following correspondence
concerning him will^ no doubt, be of great
interest to the Canadian public :
EXKCUTlVE Oi'MCh nl mi
Mutual Union Tklkckaimi CoMrAxv,
No. 41 Pine S'ikket, Ni;w York,
October 19, 1881.
To the President and Directors of tlu
Western Union Telegraph Company : —
Wc huve ill our control and now on Hpecii.l deposit in trust for the Wes-
tern Union Tolegrsiph Company throe fifty dollar Unitiwl States le«(al tender
note«, numbered as follows : — Y 49,0(!7, series of 1809 ; K 175,7:{;{ and K :^21,-
772, both of series of 1874, and one one hundred dollar United States legal
tender note numbered A 80,15l{, series of 1878.
These notes, being in all $250 were paid by ceilain otlkers an<i directoi's of
ihe Western Union Telegraph (!oinpany (the hundred dollar bill having
come directly from the treasuij of that company) t»> a clerk in the employ-
ment of the contractors building the lines of the Mutual Union Telegrajdi
C-ompany to induce him to take from his employers, for the benefit *' the
Western Union Telegraph ('ompany, certain documents and extracts from
documents which it was hoped might be used to the injiry of the Mutual
Union Telegraph Uompany.
We have also an original letter »»f Krastus Wiman, of the firm of Dunn,
Wiman & ('o., one of the directors of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, directing the payment ot the money to the clerk, and
requestiug that one of the documents thus to be obtained from him should
be delivered tx> the (Jeneral Manager of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
nany; also the receipt of Thomas T. Kckort, the (icncral Manager of the
Western Union Telegraph Comj)any, ibr the paper ddiviMod in pursuance of
Ml-. Wiman's request, which receipt discloses njtoii its face a knowledge of
the source from which the paper was obtained ; also a memorandum in the
handwriting of l>. II. Bates, assistant general manager of the W^ostern Union
Telegraph Company, specifying certain additional information which the
<:Ierk was expected to procure ; also an autograph letter of Kratus Wiman
offering to provide the clerk with a situation at a salary of 81.000 per an-
num in the event of his losing his present situation, and we arc credibly in-
formed that the a.ssurances of this letter were verbally confirmed in the
f'trongest manner by Mr. Kckcrt and Mr. Bates.
TIi>\v liii- tlii> »'(»rihjiiiacy ha> txii'mlod wo, of cdium', caiiriot poKiiivrly
know. Till! list IniTiit^lu'd hy Mv. Matos iinplioN the lU'ccHHily of suborning'
(•oiili<iciili!il clcrUs ill the offi<ii of llu' Mutuul riiion Tch'^'rnith Company,
hill hiiloif it shall he cairictl aii}' I'lulherwo make this apjteail to the ijovcrn-
irig hixly of the VVestoni (Tiiioii Telo^^iaph ('om|>any that it ho Ktoj)]>e(l.
It ilie ^)0^s()n^ named are wo useful to this West oi'n Union 'lY'h'f^raph
Conijtaiiy that their serviees cannot lie wholly diHpensed with we lOHpectfully
re(ine>t ihat their /-eal he restrained within the limits (»feommon honesty,
and tlwit in their eftorts to hrt^ak down the Mutual Union Telegraph Coin-
]»anv they shall not he allowed lo hreak tlown all the rules of inondity and
Imsine^-^ honor and all seiilimeiiis of fidelity and h)yalt3' in employties to-
ward tlioir employers.
re.mit us lo i-eniind you thai the Western U'nion Tele^^rajth Company
is entr.'::;od in a business which makes its employees the rejjository not only
of]iapt'!'s i-eiatiii^to its own transactions, but of the business and domestic
^ocrets of Ihousaiids of others. Such a corporation should be the last lo cn-
'j^iiiXc iii corruptini; the clerks of others.
Wc! respectfully re<|Uesl that all of the papej's relatiiig to our all:tir.-«
which liavi' been procured in lhi> di-^lionorable manner be returned ami thai
hereafter tl.c opjiosilion lo this c')m|)ariy Itc limited to an honorable rivalry.
The very hifjii character of the large inajoi'ity of the dinu'lor.-
of the Western t'nion Tclegia))h Company and the relations which
they sustain to the other great corporations of the countiy give us
every contidcnre that they will not, even by thoir silence, appeal' to approve
of lliis conduct by tlieii- associates.
Phe ^25(1 will bo relumed when application shall be made foi- it and a
]>roj>er rccci])t given.
li' conclusion it should be said that the value or importance of the do-
(«uiii:nts obtained in the manner stated is no part of the issue between us.
It is tiie method by which they were pi'ocured that is alone the ground of our
objection and protest.
By ordiM- Kxccutive Committee.
('. F. Pkck, Secretary.
A leporterof the New \\»rl< Hoaid interviewed Mr. Wiman upon the
subject of the above letter when that gentleman said :
"I am perfectly Ihundersliuck, at the story imputing any imi)ropor
<'oiiduct on my part as one oi' the directors of the Western Union. 1 was
elected adii'ector only last week and really know but very little as yet as to
the alTairs of the company."
' Di' you deny having written the letter which you are accused of writ-
ing?"
" Tlicve is not a shadow of tiuth in the story. There is no such letter
in exisUMice for the very good I'cason that I never wrote it. 1 defy anybody
to pi-odiue such a letter. I am ))orfectly willing to have this matter sifted
to the l)oltom, for my record is clean, and I challenge any one to show to
the rontv.'uy."
■ TIow about the allegatioi, of your offering a place with a salary of
$1,000 to a Mutual Union clerk it he should lose his place through stealing
any (»f the Mutual Union's ])apci> and giving them to the Western Union
n\anagevs?"
" This is ju>>1 as untrue as the i-e^l of the story."
m
th
(I
cil
4 ell
nil
:{
posit ivfiy
siihorniiif;
Coinpany.
lio i^ovorn-
'rcl(>u;niV>l»
OH]UMttullV
on lioiiesty,
^rajih Com-
nonility aixl
uployoos lo-
)lk t'oinitany
ory not only
lui (lomcrttic
u' la^l to cn-
Wiman loainecl tliat the proof of hin
Union people, and thai his further
lu! ucknovvledgud sonto of the facta
o oiir aiVaiv>
•nod and Uial
[•s»bU' livalry.
10 directors
lalions whirl;
iilry give n-
ar to approve
The next day, however, when Mr.
i^iiilt was in the hands of the Mutual
denial of the matter would he tiMele<iH,
hut denied others.
The following further correspondence contains the most conclusive
ju'oof of Mr. Wiman's guilt :
KXKCUTIVK OfKICKS Ol THK
MiJTi-Ai. Union Tki.fcrm'ii Comi-anv,
41 I' INK St., Nkw York Citv,
October 24th, iSSi,
To the President and Directors of the
Woitern Union Tvlvijraph Company :
On the 19th inst. we sent to you a letter containing very grave charges
against certain oflicors and JMrectors of your company, alleging that they
had conspired to bribe a clerk to steal certain papers which they expected
to use for the benefit of the Western Union Telegraph (/Omjjany, and to the
injuiy of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company.
Mr. pjrastus Wiman, one of your Directors, and one of the persons im-
{ilicatod, has replied to the charges in a letter given to the press, which you
lavo no doubt seen, as it was prepaied in the executive ottices of your
coni])any.
Mr. Wiman's explanation, in brief, is that in his individual capacity, and
without any reference to the affairs of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
nany, he desired to obtain a copy of certain papers relating to the Mutual
I Union Telegraph Company. That a person not connected with this Com-
? ])any or its contractors ottered to procure it for him for a consideration
I named, and that he agieod to pay the j)rice, without in(|uiring as to where
I the person got it. That as he was just leaving the city and could not receive
m the documents himself, he ro(iU08tod the person in a note to take it to (ien-
l| oral Eckert, and ask him to pay for it and hold it until his return. That
' (Joneral Eckert merely received the paper and paid the price as a friendly
I act, and that Mr. Bates having road the paper, suggested that some further
I information was needed to make it complete, and spocilied what these defi-
sj cioncies were. The inference being plainly intended that neither of them
^ were aware of any impropriety in the manner of procuring the j)apers, and
that those acts had no relation to their conduct as officers of the Western
Union Telegraph Company.
I Having made those charges, we doom it our duty to you to produce the
I I evidence which to our minds conclusively proves:
*' i Fimt. That Mr. Erastus Wiman personally arranged for bribing a clerk
I in the office of the contractors ;^that he directed the money to bo paid to the
vith a salary 01 |(.|erk with full knowledge ; that in this way tho document was to bo surrep-
ihrough stcalmg |ii\,\ou8ly obtained ; that before the exposure ho expressed his anxiety, lest
Western Union -^^^ matter might come to light, and he and his associates be thereb}'
Idisgracod.
for it and u
nice of the do-
ne between ns.
ground of oui
c, Secretary,
iman upon the
any improper
Union. 1 ^vas
ttlc as yet as to
accused of wril-
is no such letter
1 defy unyl)ody
is matter sifted
one to show 1
Second. That Mr. Kckort, Vice-l'roHident and General Manager of l\\o
Western Union Telegraph (/()nij)any, and Mr. Bates, his assistant, entered
heartily into Mr. VViman'n scheme, a|»))roved of it and aided in carrying it
out.
Third. That all tliree wore doin«,' this in the interest of
Western Union Telegraph ('ompany. and in (luMr zeal for its service.
the
First.— As to Mr. Wiman's Pkrsonai, Guh/J'.
We have the attidavit of Mr. Menjaniin M. Plumb, President of the
Fahric-CJiiianienting and Manuljlctu^ing(^;)nJ^any, in which he deposes (hat
• Mr. Wiman called upon him at his oiHcie, and asked hi^ assistance in procnr-
'ng i)apeis Jrom the office of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company. That
upon Ml'. PlumI) suggesting that he knew a clerk in the office of the con-
Iraclors who could got infoi-mation if he was willing to do so, Mi-. Wiman
propo>ed that he woidd pay the clerk well if he would procure the original
contract, and make and deliver a copy of it.
Mr. Plunih then ])roceeds to detail at length numerous conferences with
Wiman, discussing the various steps in the conspiracy, in which the name«)f
Mr. Fearing was used as the clerk to he hrihed.
Preceding one of these intciviews Mr. Wiman sent a num to Mr. Plumb's
olfice with his (Wiman's) person.'d c:ird, on the hack of which was written:
•' DioAi; I'mmi! : Tlii.- i,« my |)lii>ii(iv'r.i|i!ii'r
wliul y<"' <'iiii willi liini ; lie is sutc.
I ciUiiHit iTct to yoii until 4;.'i0. Do
"E. W."
Mr. J'iiimb in his deposition explains that it was expected that Mi-.
Feaping would on that day get hold of the original contract for a short time,
and tho ])hoiit»gi'aplier was >^ent tocopy it rapidly, so that it could be returned
without, being missed.
At another of these interviews Mr. Wiman gave Mr. Plumb throe lifiy
dollar bills 1() be paid to Mr. hV'aring as a reward for the j)r(»pose(l treachery,
and .'in autograph leiter written on ilr. Plumb's ollice paper, addi-essed to
Mr. Fearing, and ollering him a position at one thousand dollars |)er annum,
in the event of his losing his present situation ; which let lei' was written by
Mr. Wiman in Mr. J'lumb's presence and is as follows:
Nkw York, Oct. I3tli, 1881.
" llv. (j. Fkaring : Mr. PImuli .<iiy.- it mav \>v iieccs.sai'v lor vuti U> cliaii^'t'
your locivlitui, and may wiiiit iiniiloyiiunt. As I ulnlcr.-lainl you are 'a good |)lioiio-
42;rit[ilu'r, I may want a party, and if yon gt't (ml of'rmpioyinont you may count on rue
lor employment at loasl $1,000 per annum.
" DUNN, WIMAN & CO.,
" P]RASTIIS WIMAN."
At anothei" of the.so interviews, Mr. Plumb, in e.xi)Iaining to Mr. Wiman
the manner in which the contract must be procured, said :
" Tliat Die elerk bad poH.session of tlie keys of (lie ,«afe in .^ai.l Moore & Company V
oUice on Saturdays, wliile (he caHliier of said eompanv was ordinarily out of the vM\ ■
tiiat thedfrk would liave to purloin (he same trom said iron .safe 'in order to make
llieeopy desired. Mr. Wiman ac(iiiie.sced in this, and said it was of the greatest im-
porlanee to hiseompany, and to oiler the elerk more munev than the amount hefore
(aled, if necessary, to get the document "'
'W
l>o|
lli|
of
.st;J
iiril
^'oil
Urf
to
igor of tlu!
nt, cntorod
carrying it
,si of il»o
'vioe.
idoiit ol" the
Imposes thill
CO ill procur- ]
On Uiii 13th October Mr. IMiimb Kcnt to Mr. VVimati the following' nol»>:
"New Yokk, Oct. IMh, IH8l.
" IWsnnal.
" Dkaii Mil. WiMAN [have sttti Fturiiij^ Jiml hIiowii liiiit your Irltn- olVcriii;;
liiiii ciiipldyinctit. lie is all ri;;lit iiiiil liuu ^ot tli*< copy of tlic coiitrtict nil coni]il('(<',
lull insists tlitit us jii' .stole it he is rtuuiiii^ <j:reiil risks, iiinl now wants more tliiin Hit
ifilTiO you j^ivve me to^^ivo to liini. Tlie laiit is, his cupiilily liiis Iktii excited l>y the new,'--
piiper talk ahoiit tiii.t matter, unil now lie wants $250. Hhall 1 ^'ive it to him? and
wliat .shall I do with the contract when I L'et it ?
•' llnntily yoiWH,
" B. M. Pl.UMB."
\
\
puny. That
of the con-
, Mr. Wiman
the original
feronces with
\\ the numeol'
o Mr. Phnnb'H j
was written : |
until 4.:i0. Do
I
" E. W."
octcd that Mr. \
V II siiorl time, ]
lid 1)0 returned *
inl> tliroe lifiy
).>^ed trcaciiery,
•, addroHscd to
lis per annum,
was written by
ct. 13th, 1881.
r yon to change
•e a good pliono-
may count on rne
MAN & CO.,
TUS WIMAN. •
gtoMr. Wiman
[oore& Com pan yV
ily o\it of the city ;
e'in onlcr to malic
,r the greatest im- -j
he amount hefore
This wjiH delivered to Mf. Wiman at the (Jrand Central Depot, where he
iiad ootic to take the train tor Montreal. He immodiatoly read it, and wi'ote
the I'ollowing rejdy, and handeil it to the nujssongor tor delivery to Mr.
PImnb:
" Dear P. ; Give him the .f250 after he has road it over to yotj, if you find it very
CrtvorahU' to contractors. I'erhaps it isn't worth it. I wd. go the $2')0 if you like.
Keep it till I come, or hand it to the (Jtii'l.
" K. W."
The messages who ciirrietl the note to Mr. Wiman (lo[»osos that he had
lirst rcjid it and knew its contents to bo sis just .stated, and that Mr. Wiman
retid it and wrote the reply in his presence, .ind handed it to him In dolivor
to Mr. Plumb.
The.so two nute.s convict Mr. Wiman of nearly till th.it we have charged,
and show the falsehood and weakness of bis pretense that be did not U'tiow
bow the pmiers were to be ])rocured.
The next monnnn-, ;it St. ,lobii'>. P.<^. Mr. Wiman sent to .Mr. Plumb
the following tcdeo-rapbic disjtatch :
" B. M. I'l.CMii,
" .')th Floor, 1!) Nassau 8i., N Y.
" Ik'tter do nothing further until I return Monday. Retain letter.
" K. VV."
To which Afr. Plumb sent the following re])ly'.
" Nkw Yohk, yet. llth, IHHl.
•' K. Wiman,
" President, <ic., Montreal, Que.
" Telegram received. Too late. Paid llu mont'V and received contract. Deliver-
ed it t(((»eneral Kckert us per your in-tnuUioiiS
•' 15. M. Pi.r.Mii.-'
l>olb mess:ige^ being frankcil o\er the Western Union lines.
JSolwithstanding the pos.session of the copy, Mr. Plumb deposivs that
they were very desirous ot obtaining tln' orinjiiiil, in order to lake pliolo-
!_!;rapbic copies of it.
in the interview between Mr. Plumb and .Mr. Wiman. in the presence
p)f ii witness, which is bereinafter (>x)>laiiied, .Mr. Wiman made the following
[statement
" In an.-wrr to Mr. Plinnl''s .|iu'stion as to what he | Wiman | would do with the
Lriginal ot the contract if Fearing got it this evenint', ina.smuch a.- he | Plunih ) was
[going away, Mr. Wiman said : 'lam going to the theatre to-niglit ; wdi he at the
Brunswick Cafr m su])j)cr with some of our friends, and will he thereat hall-jiast six
Lo .seven o'clock'; but you can .send it to me, and lei the party who brings it pass by
r
the Idhli'h ill the aicovr tli»'rc witli lll^ liiiiiilkcrchu'f in Iuh liuinl, iiimI I ficiiiL' liim
hol-l ■ in hiiiiilkcrcliift'iii hin liaiid will conic to liini ami ^,'tt contnicl t'ruin him.
Mr. Wimuii tlion cxplainH how ho would got thooiiginul photo/,'nipho«l.
F^urthor on in tho same convorHation Mr. VVinian Hays:
" * Tell Fpftiiiij; he need not lio ahirniod at all, to ntay wliiTf lu> in lor a Ion;; tiuii-
to coiiie ; that llicre in lotw of money lie can make hy remaining there.' * • *
* There are Heveral other ilociimentH which are very iiii|)(»rt'ii',t, ami which we want
him [FearingJ li» get if powHihle.'"
Then f'ollowH an cnurnpratioB of'tlio doHirod contivu^ts, spocifyin/^ jiarti-
cularly the one Itctweoii tho Mutual Union Tolograph Coini)any and tho
I3altimoi-o and Ohio Ilailroad Company.
u « X(.|| Foariii)^ lie Hhall he kept in the backj^round all the time, and need never
come forward to he l<iiown in this matter if he works projierly. We will j;et thcHc
Mutual Union IblkHon the rack yet.' "
The only conrirmatioii of thiH ovidojico noodod in Iho o.-^tinuile which
Mr. Wiman placed upon his own conduct.
Mr. Plumb tontitics that Mr. Wiman's telegram from St. John'n, VA^.,
referred to the letter given hy him to Fearing, which ho hoped had not yet
pa.ssed out of Plumh'w hands. In the interview with Pliimb alrojidy (juoted
from, in answer to u quoHtion from Mr. Phimb aH to how Mr. Kckert tind Mr.
Bates regarded tho stolen paper, Mr. Wiman said :
" Oh, they rejrard it as a hij? bonanza. You and I never did such great work an
we have done in this matter. It is perfectly marvelous work, nerformetl in so short a
time, liitf irc mu'if III ecn/ rarcfnl Tht Western Union fulhi are anxious t fiat we
shall not Ik: ilisj/riiccil in this iiKttftr I wish, Mr. PI umh, you would
arraii>re so I coiild sulistiturc another letter for that one Fearing has got. 1 don't want
it on your htadin;.!; of paper, and I want it written carefully." .
Mr. AVimaii then describes tho letter ho wishes to substitute for tho one i
given, and adds:
'• I wrote that letter very hurriedly and am afraid I was not guarded enough in its j
statements. T/iere is no use ninning deep risks where they can he avoided. Suppose he :
should drop Uiv letter and it should be found by other parties, it would hurt us.' j
!
Mr. Eckekt's an]> Mk. Bates' CoMrLiciTY in the Aekaik.
Ml". Wi man's explanation with regard to those gentlemen having been
wholly an afterthought, cannot bo expected to conform to the liicts, and of
course it does not. Keferring to tho letter written at tho depot, ho says :
" I sent him [Pliimh| WTitten instructions to deliver the letter to General Eckert,
and asked him fEckcrt] to pay for it, and hold it until my return."
By referring to the note as hereinbefore set forth, it will bo seen that il
can bear no such construction. Mr. Wiman had already furnished S1.^)0 ot'
tho purchase monc)', and he is entirely silent as to how tho additional SlOo
is to bo obtained, and he did not direct General Eckert to hold the papor^j
until his return ; ho merely directed its delivery to the General, ovidcntl}||
regarding that as its proper destination. Mr. Wiraan then adds that Mr||
Eckert received tin* paper and paid the money merely as a friendly act, with
out any previous knovvledgo or acquaintance with tho matter. The fact ih
Mr. Eckert did nof jiay the money at all — Mr. Batc.« paid it, although Mi
Kckert was ])re.'«eii' and consented to the payment.
I ri'ciiiii him
ijin lii«i>.
)()U»gnv|»ho»l.
lor li loi>« time
vliicli wi' wai't
i])uny und tho
ami ijcpd never
^0 will «('t thcHO
:timuto which
t. John'H, r.(J.,
,oa hiul not yet 1
already «iuolcd |
Kckovt sind Mr. :
nch groat work nn ;
•inctl in HO Hhorl a ;
e anxious thntwc
Fluml), you would
jrot. 1 don't want
1
titutc for the one
artledonoush in its
voided. Sti^fpose ho.
aid hurt «»• '
riiE Afkaik.
amen having hcen
3 the lactH, and of |
On thoMO interostiiig tiueHlionn wy huvy vory lull U-fHliniony. Mr. I'linnh
(h'posos :
Thai uj)on delivering a copy of the contrart to (ieneral Kckorl il wan
rea<l aloud I»y Mr. Hales; and (Jenoral Kckerl and Mr. lialoM \vcrt» hoih jri-
lornicd of the manner in which waid copy ol'«onlract was ohlainod, and of .Mr.
Winwm'H proniiso of a jtoHition lo the clerk, Fearing.
"(iciM'nil lOckcrt uiid Mr. Hut«'H HU),';;eHii'd ilutt llic naid Kf-ariii^ liud lictU'r rnnuin, il
posnild*', ill tlic ncrvict' (tCKuid .loliti 0. Moore and Coiiiiiatiy fur ;il liiist :i month or
two longer, HH Im' would perhaps healiU- to (jive thetu ii<lditioiial iiiid hirlher inroriii.i-
tioii, copicM o( pii|tfrs, etc."
'' It was ui.Ho Hiijr^esU'd at this inierview hy (ieneral Kokerl and Mr. Hiiie.s that
Mr. Fcariii;; should, it' possilile, ohtaiti the original of the cutitract now in iiand, und
let them have it tor a tew hours, and that tiiov would have had phnto^'ruphic, eopiew
made thereof, ho as to hrinjj the Huiiie up in tlie I'uturf if il would in iitiy way serve
their purpose."
dopol, ho Bays : " "^"■'' oi uie muiuai
"^1 » *' Henry G. Fearmj:.
Mr. Pliiinh, in speaking with Kt kerl Jind Jiale.s ol the paynuiit of thu
exlrti hundred dolhirs to I'Y'aring, dopoHos :
" Tiie latter sayinj; he thoii^^ht the liest way to make the pavmenl \vii-< lor him to
take the check ot the uompany (meanlnjr thurehy the Wewtern l^iion Tele;^raph Com-
pany] to his own order, and jiay the $100 referred to over in currency. 'J'his (Jeiieral
Kckirt approved of, and Mr. Hates immeiliately wrote a note or order, which
was addressed to U. H. Rochester, the Treasurer of the Western I'liion 'i'eie^'rapli
Company, and alter General Kokert hail seen the said paper, Mr. HaleH went, as c|e-
poiieni believes, to the Treasurer of the company's oliice, and returned in a lew
minutes, and handed me a U. S. lethal tender note ot'tli? denomination of $100, lor tin
purpose of payinji; the same to said Fearin;;."
" At this inierview the suhject of a letter from General Fckert or Mr. Hates to
Fearin(i, fjuaranleein;? the employment already promised liy Mr. Winian al a compcn-
saiioii e(pial to that he was receivinj; from Jolin G. Moore anil t'nmpaiiy afnresaid
was discussed, Mr. Bates saying that he did not think it would he wise lor cither of
them to write such a letter to Fearing! ; and General Eckert stated tu deponent tliiit
the olijection to the writing of .such a letter was that the said letter mitrhl L^et astray
and he traced. At this interview General fiJckert asHured deponent that Fearinjr
should he taken care of as already promised by said p]rastus Wiman ; that it was all
right, but il would not do for them to write such u letter."
The receipt given hy Mr. Kckerl eorroborate.s thi.s tostiniony. It is a.-
lollows :
" Recieved of B. M. IMumb the coj)y of the confract for the construction of the
lines of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, as procured by Mr. Wiman liiroui^h
>r to General Eckert,
•n."
will bo Hccn that il
V furnished $150 ol
tho additional S10»«
t lo hold the paporl
3 General, ovidctdly
then adds that Mr,
a friendly act, with
matter. Tho fact JH
)ixid it, tdthough Ml
TlIO.«. T. EfKERT."
The metnorandum given by Mr. JJates is tilso contiinnalory, when taken
in connection with the note to wliich it was a reply. You will observe that
it was not given, as Mr. Wiman stales, when the contract was delivered, but
was aftorwartls sent to Mr. Plumb's office. On tho 14lh day of October Mr.
Plumb sent Mr. Bates the following note:
"N. Y., Oct. 11th, 1R81.
" Dka.i Mit. B.XTES : Mr. Fearing is here in my oflice now, and can get, I think,
all you wai t. Please send me memo, of what is now wanted. I have missed nne ot
[the three things talked of.
Yours, etc.,
H, M. PLUM15."
i.r
r t
8
To whkli Mr. lijilos iitiinii'd the following momoi'UiKlum:
" Name of trustee, nameH of sureties, und wliiil stock and lionds already isHued."
Tho mcmoraiiduin an*! the addio.SH on the onvelope incloning it both bcin/;
in Mr. JJatCH' handwriiin*^.
In the face of thin testimony, it is ridiculous (o |tiotond tliat Mr. Eclcort
and Mr. Hates held any ditVei-ent attitude in the ease from Mr. Wimaii him-
self. They paid the one hundred dollars without any intimatioji or rociuest
from Mr. VViman, aud because they felt a deep interest in furthering the
]»rojeet.
If this was a men- friendly act on the part of Mi-, Eekert, we think you
will agree with us that it was not a very fi-iendly act on the ))a"t of Mr.
Winian to inveigle his friend, Mr. Kekert, into being the receiver of docu-
ments juDciired in the manm-i- these wei'e.
Tfiat Mk. WfM'X. Mr. Kckekt and IMk. I^aiks \vi:rk ali,
WokKiNo IN THIS Matter vo\< tin- Intkksts ok 'iiii.
WkS'IIRX UmoX TEI-KORAI'II CoMI'AXV.
Upon this jtoinl Mr. \Vi man's garrulity bus furnished us with abundant
pioof.
The ))retense thai he was acting in behalf of the Htockholdcrs of the
Mutual Union Telegiaith Company eould only have been put forward by one
stee])e<l in guilt and confusion.
All of his statements and actions show an earnest desiie to injure this
company.
Mr. Plumb deposes tliat the first statement made to him by Mr. Wimun
was that he was repre enting the AVestcrn TTnion Tclegrajih (Company, and
that he was desirous of obtaining
•' .Viiy iutoniiatiun rellcctiii^' upon tlif inaiiageineut of tlio Mutual Union Teloj^raph
Company, or tiie private cliaractor or hu.sincs.s of tlic otficers thereof." "Mr. VVimau
ixhn stated to me iliat ohr of tlie reasou.s for tlieir desiriufj to jjjet possession of these
j)a])ers and facts was to endeavor to create stink here in tlie newspapers in New
York and in this country is ajzainst liie Mutual Union Tele;j;rapli Company, tor the
[turpose iif inipiiiriiiL' their credit and deterrini^ the puldic from payinj;; tlieir subscrip-
tions." " He alsu stated that they had already <^ot two or
three of the pnnnincnt .sultscribers to tlie bonds of the Mutual Union Tele;;raph Com-
pany to join them: that lliese men would refuse to pay any more assessments upon
what they luid already -ubscribed for, and claim back the moneys already paid
thereon." -
This number a])])ears .subsequently to have been reduced to one — viz.,
Mr, Pxiwin Lord.
At another interview Mr. Plumb dejioses :
" He (Wiman) then -liowed nic a draft ot' a communication which he had written
the ni^ht previous, to tte signed, he stated, with some possible moditicaiion, by Mr.
Edwin Lord, which eomniunrcation wa< to be sent to Mr. Georire Wm. Hallou, Willi
whom he stated that Mr. Lord had some time previously subscribed for a large
amount ol bonds of said Mutual Union Tele;j;raph Conipanv" . . . . "
" He also at his intci view sl.ated that the attorneys w'" "i he had just seen were
preparin;: the papers ajrainst the Mutual Union 'feleiirann Company, in asuit wliieli
ihey were;iettintr Mr. Kilwin Lord to lirinjr for a bill of discovery, to brin.u' into court
the said contract for the construction of the lines of the M>'tiial Union 'felejrraph
Hi
to
both being
t Mr. Eckcrt
Wimaii biiii-
)u or roqucrtt
rtboring tlio
ao think you
l,a-t of Mr.
ivcr ol" clocu-
VKRK Al^I-
)F Till.
with abuiuUmt
:h(»klcrs of the
t'orwani by one
^. to iJijurc
this
V by Mr. Wimun
I Company, and
Union Telo^ruph
,f." " Mr. Winian
iiossession of iIh"'^^'
.wspaper.s m Now
Company, lor the
Lrinsx itieir subscnir
already }^ot tvs^o ov
on Tclegniph Com-
. assessments upon
^wwa iilreaily paid
le
cd to one — oiz.
hich ho ba.i wntlon
iiKMliticatiun, I'y Mr.
e Wm. Hallou, with
ibscril.o.i (or a largo
,e had just soon woyr
panv,in a suit winch
v,t6hrin,- intoconit
ual Union Toloj:vai)li
Comi)any, but which suit (Iji-y wunld not, of oourxc, file, ifthov could powHCHft them-
selves a copy of the contract relerred to. He stated to me that he had secured one of
tlio tirnt issue of the Mutual Union Telegraph Comi^any and one of the flubseriuenl
issue, and t^-n shares of the stock of the Mutuil Union Tek'grauh Oompanv, which
stock they fehould transfer to Mr. Edwin liord, thereby making him a stockholder, as
well as a subscriber to saici Comjiany's bonds ; threby making a better showing in the
coming suit against the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, to be brought in the
name of the said Edwin Lord. J^ater Mr. Winian said tiiat he had received tlie letter
for Mr. Lord to send, and that the lawyer.-^ had re-revised it and it had been very muciv
modified, but that it would make a very tine paragraph for the newspapers, and th«t
as soon as it had been sent it would be publisjied over the countrv by the Associated
Press."
Mr. PluiTib also deposes that at the tinio Mr, Wiman wrote tho letter
orteiing to take eare of Fearing he said:
"That if practicable I [Plumb] had beHpr retain the letter in my poseeseion,
show it to Mr. Fearing and hold it in a escrow as a pledge betwee?i them"; for he said
he was now a Director in the Western Union Telegraph Company, and that this was
a Western Union matter, but that il Fearing insisted upon holding it he could
have it."
After Mr. IMiimb had given ns liin afftdavit and fmnishod us with the
original (k)OuinentH referred to, in order to demonstrate the ab£i:)lute trutli-
fuhiesH of his Htatements, he inHistod that an interview with Mr. Wiman
should be held at his (Plumb's) office; ut which any witness we might name
.should have an opportunity to hear Mr. Wimun corroborate all that had been
alleged againwt him ami his associates. We deemed thi.s hut justice to Mr.
Plumb, if he had not in any way exaggerated the facts, and but justice to
I Ml'. Wiman, if he had been in any way misrepresented.
The interview was held, and our witness, a short-hand reporter, took
[down verbatim the whole shameful tale from Mr. Wiman 's lips, in a worse
|foi"m than Mr. Plumb had given il to us.
Jn this interview Mr. Plumb asked: '' Will Lord bring his suit?'* Mr. Wiman
replied: "Yes; he will bring suit to recover the ten thousand dollars ho has paid,
Jnit will not bring it for some time, as they arc waiting for the Mutual Union to sue
lim for his default in payment o\' two thousand dollars sixth assessment, then they
.ill come back ajjainst them ; we are going to t\x up a suit against them to make them
;irin<' the original of tb.is contract into court."
Sir. Plumb asked : " Will Lord bring that suit?" Mr. Wiman answered : " Wo
ave got another party who will bring it. We shall assign to him ten shares of the
lutual Union stock, which we hold, to enable him to bring the suit. Wo now want
got and will pay well fbr rive hundrod shares uf the first issue of their stock. . .
. . . I ".suppose il is selling at par, and we will give par tor it
You had hotter took out for to-morrow morning's Woi'ld, in tho column headed
jVVall Streof Gossip." We shall stab pretty hard there. I think it will be a very hard
|ticle against them. This advertisonionC recently in the papers (showing Plumb a
jy) was put in, not by Hamilton and Bishop, but by Connor, for Gould. Hamilton
Bishop's namtifi were merely made use of by ns."
When a man sets abotit the c-ommission of an act which, if exposed, will
ider him infamous, we must look somewhere for a motive commensurate
Lh the risk. That the conspiracy which was organized to bribe a con-
mtial clerk to commit a larceny, was in the personal interest of Mr.
[man. will not be believed by anybody. Or that ilwas necessary to steal
lers which the court would compel us to produce, if Mr. Wiman had any
rful ground of complaint as a stockholder of the Company.
Mr. Wiman is a Director of your compaiK^', and the Pre^i<le^t ot'your
Vt
I (
i!
r,
I 1
1 I
10
Caiuida cntcijjriwo, known us "The (ireat North-WoKlcrn Tilc^rapli Com-
pany." Our conijiany, when complotetl, will, thioiigh our allion, compote
with you in Canada uh well as hero, and to defeat our cntorpi'iHc and thus
dosti-oj' competition, it would, in the estimate of Mr. Wiman, bo advan-
tageouH to procui-e and publish
*' Any information reflecting upoij tlie nianaji;eineDt of the Mutiml Union Tologra ph
'* Company, or of tlu> i)rivate cliuractor or business of tlie officers thereof." • ' To
" create a stink herein the newspapers against the Mutual Union Telegraph Coni-
" pany, tor the ])urpose of inipuiring their credit and deterring the public Irom pay-
" ing their subscriptions." 'J'o induce prominent subscribers to the bonds of the com-
" l)any to refuse to i)ay assessment upon what tlicy had subscribed."
To stii' up lawsuits against this compan}^, and foi' tl is ])urposo to pur-
chase ten shai-os o!' stuck, and assign it to a party for that pijrpose.
The ol)Ject to be accomplished by these tactics would, it seems, in the
estimation of JVIr. Wiman, Justify him in incurring the risk of dcLcction and
the'disgrace of himself and associates, for he openly avows, in tho presence
of witnesses, that
" This was a Western Union matter."
of which company he states he is a Director.
While this m.-iy be a sufficient Justification in the estimation of a man I
capable of the villainy, it will surprise even Mr. Wiman, if it should bo '
claimed by anybody that it would be the proper method to protect out-
stockholders, of which he claims to be one to the extent of ten shai-os, if it
has not since been assigned to some one else for the purpose of instituting a
suit against us.
To convince you #hat we have fj[U0ted fairly from tho evidence, we an-
pen() hereto a (•o])y of the affidavits of Mr. Plumb and Mr. Hewitt, The
Oi-iginals of the following documents arc in our jwssossion, and can 1)0 at am
lime examined by the President of tho Western Union Telegraph Company
together with the notes of thephonographor who took down the conversatioi:
between Mr. Wiman and Mr. Plumb, and at the same time we will oxhibi
any other documents which it may be proper for you to see.
1st. The card of Mr. Wiman introducing his phonographer.
2d. Mr. Wiman's letter ottering employment to Mr. Fearing.
3d. Mr. Wiman's roj^ly to Mr. Plumb, directing the payment of tli
money.
4th. Ml-. Wiman's dispatch of October 14th, as issued from the Wcm
orn Union Telegraph Company's office.
5th. (Jenci-al Eckort's receipt for tho purloined document.
6th. Mr. Hates' memorandum.
It is but Justice to Mi-. Plumb and Mr. Fearing to say-that we arc co
yinccd that their participation in this alfair \>.is altogether in tho interest
justice, and was undertaken wholly for the purpose of exposing the misco
duct ot tho persons who wore seeking to make thorn instruments in tho cor
mission of a crime.
By order of the Executive Committeo.
^ C. F. PECK,
Sccretari/i
lioH, compote
riHO and thus
,n be advau-
11
AFFIDAVIT OF BFNJAMIN M. PLUMB.
B. M. Plumb, of the City and County of New York, hoinj,' duly sworn,
deposes and says :
That on or about the 5th day of October, 1881, Mr. Erastus Wiman came
to tlic office of the company of which I am President, and stated that he was
the President of tlio Great North-Western Telegraph Company, controlJing
every mile of telegraph wiie in the Canadas and Manitoba, and was repre-
senting the "Western Union Telegraph Company ; that there were certain
documents or papers in existence belonging to the Mutual Union Toleg5'\ph
Conipan}-, coj)ies of which the Western Union Telegraph Company andliim-
self wore extremely desirous of possessing, and certain other iniormation they
desired to obtain. I asked hiin what were the documents and information
they desired, and he told me that one document was the contract for the
construction of the lines of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, and any
information reflecting ujjon the management of the Mutual Union Telegraph
Company, or the j)rivate character or business of the officers thereof. 1 then
stated to him that I knew the gonei-al officers of said com])aii3', and also a
clerk in the employ of John (i. Moore & Company, contractors for the con-
sti'uction of the lines of the ]\[utual Union Telegraph Company, who might
help him get information if he wouldconsent to do so. He asked if this clerk
could probabl}' get at the papeis of the firm, and stated that he would pay
said clerk well, if he would possesshimself of the original of said contract, and
make and deliver a copy thereof, and that he would besides, in case the
a w V'"'^^^~ jl' \[ I clerk was found out and discharged in conse(iuence of his acts, furnish him
of ten s ''S^I^Ip^ ^ | employment at a compensation c(jual to that he was then receiving from said
ksio ot ins fo :., j^^i^j^ ^-j ■^^lf^^^y^, ^ (Company, and would also pay me 8500 if the copy was ob-
tained. 1 was astounded that Mi-. Wiman should make such a proposition to
„ion Tclcgra nh
thereof." *' f«
Telejirapn ^o'""
)ublio Iroin pay-
,onas of the com-
purpose to pur-
it soems, in the
of detection and
in the presence .j
i, nation of a man |
., if it should 1)0 I
d to pi-olecl o«v i?
of ten
)SC of
e evidence, we tH'-|
Mr. Hewitt. Thc^
„ and can l)e at any
'elegraph Company. ^
wn the conversaUjK ^
i,i,o we wiUexhibu,.
. see.
ographcr.
li-. Fearing,
the payment ot tli|
sued from the WchI|
)CU
mcnt.
, Bay-thai we arc H
aher in the intore.,1 *
• exposing the miscov
.Btnimcnts m the coi
Sccretarij.
me, but did not let my sui'prise be appaiont to him. One (leorge F. Baker,
now in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph ("ompany, and formerly
of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, had, previous to Mr. Wiman'b
coming to my office as aforesaid, been to me, and after asking me many
queslions touching the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, said there was
certain informatiim touching the Mutual Union Telegraph Company that he
thought J possessed wante<l by "a big man," and that he would bring said
man to my office within two days. Cuiious to know what was sought after,
J humored Baker in this, and when Mi'. Wiman came, as above, said Baker
accompanied him.
Mr. AV^iman also stated to me that one of the reasons for their desiring
to get possession of these papers and facts was to endeavor to create a stink
here in the newsj)apers in ^ew York and this country as against the Mutual
Union Telegraph ( •onipany, for the j)Ui pose of im|»airing their credit and de-
terring the jniblicfrom paying sul)seriptions, and if he ejuld create this dis-
affection here, tiiey could, by ))ublishing the same in Canada, as they
should, make sucdi a feeling against the Mutual Union Telegiaph Company
there as that its Canadian j'.liiance (called the Canada Mutual Telegraph
iConipany) would be unable to get aiiy subseriptions in Canada lor the said
iflast-r.amed Company's uses. lie stated that llie Canadians were a peculiar
lj)eopU', and that when the disatlection he proposed to produce here in the
ipublic p.ints, and otherwioc, was aocomplished, the Canadian }>eople would
i^ot touch the mafter of subsci'ihing to said Canada Mutual Union Tele-
il
n
n
graph Com)>atiy'H ])ur])08eH. lie ulwo Htutcd that llicy had already got two or
three ot the prominent subscribers to the bonds of the Mutual Union Tolc-
gra])h Company to Join them, and that these men would refuse to pay any
more asseHsmonts uj)on what they had already subscribed for and claim back
the moneysalrcady paid thereon. He also stated that he was pursuing in-
formation as to the previous private character, matters and business of the
officers ot said Mutual Union Telegraj)h Company.
Mr. Wiman then left my oltico, saying he should call and see me the
next day, and requested me to see what could be done. The foliowing day
Mr. Wiman called at my office and found me not in, and left upon my desk
his card, and, at a subsequent hour, again called and found mo in. He then
showed me some unimportant papers that he had received, in answer to his
coriespondence in relation to the previous character and business of the
officers ol'said Mutual Union Telegraph Company. He slated that they had
caused the records oflliu Disii'ict of Columbia to be searched foi- an}' pajiers
concerning the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, or its general officers,
and found nothing of any importance. Upon leaving, Mr. Wiman said he
would call again upon the following morning. He so called, and requested
me to otter to the clerk referied to as in the office of John G. Moore & Com-
pany one hundicd and Hfty dollars (S15()) to purloin said contract, and make
and deliver a eo])y thei'eot. Mr. Wiman said that he would be willing, if i»e-
cessary, to pay more than that sum. He thcji showed to mo a draft of a
communication which be, had written the night previous to be signed, lie
stated, with some possible modification, by Mr. Edwin Lord, which com-
munication was to bo sent to Mr. George W. Ballou, with whom
ha stated that Mr, Lord had some time previous subscribed for a
large amount of bonds of said Mutual Union Telegraph Com-
pany. He also showed me an opinion signed by
brown, of the firm of IJeach & Brown, attorneys, respecting subscrip-
tions which had been made to the bonds of said Mutual Union Telegraph
Compan}'. He also, at this interview, stated that the attorneys, whom
he hud just seen, were preparing the papers against the Mntual Union Tele-
graph Company in a -uit which they wore getting Mr. Jildwin Lord to bring
for a b 11 of discovery o bring into court the said contract for the construc-
tion of the lines of the Mutual Union Telegi-aph Compan}'^, but which suit
they would not, of course, file 'f they could possess themselves of a copy of
the contract referred to. He stated to me that they had secured one of the
first issue of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, and one of the subse-
quent issue, and ten shares of the stock of said Mutual Union Telegraph Coin-i
pany, which stock thoy should transfer to Mr. Edwin Lord, thereby makini:
him n stockholder, as well as a subscriber to said company's bonds, and thercbyj
making a better showing in the coming suit against said Mutual Unioi
Telegraph Company, to be brought in the name of said Edwin Lord. I toll
him I thought, he would shortly be able to get from the said clerk in th
office of John G. Moore k Company a copy of the said contract for the coi
siderations before stated; that I was informed that the said clerk had posij
ession of the keys to the safe in said Moore & Company's office on Satu
days, while the cashier of said company was ordinarily out of the cit}-, tliij
the clerk would have to purloin the same from the said iron safe in order
make the copy desired, Mr. Wiman ac(iuiesced in this, and told me it w;
of the greatest impo'-tance to his company, and to offer the clerk more mon
than the amount before stated, if necessjiry, to get the document.
My got two or
itil Union Tolo-
:'use to pay ^^ny
und claim back
as puvHuing in-
busincsH of the
und see me the
,e tbliowing day
ft upon my desk
ne in. He then
in answer to his
business ot the
ted that they luid
id for any papers
(reneial otficcrs,
i-^Wiinan said he
led, and requested
G. Moore & Com
Ml. VVInuin stated to me at the altove interviow, that in (iliri<^ tho suit
lot' said Lord against tlic said Mutual Union Telegraph ('c-nipany, llioy relied
dmost entirely for their grounds upon the testimony oi said George K.
"ake r, wlu> was now in the employ of tin; Western Union Telegi-aph Com-
)any' hut who had heen recently for a time in the employ of the Mutual
'nion Telegraph ( "om])any. lie stated that as ^oon as no returned to his
nice lio would send me a copy of a copy of a report Mr. Hakei- had made to
im of the condition of certain linos of the Mutual Union Telogra])h Uom.
any, which .Mr. Maker had inspoctod wliilc formerly in its service. I t(tld
im that I undorsiojd that Mr. Hakcr had nwide officii'! reports of his insp«c-
on of tho Mutual Union Telegrapji Uoni]>any'H lines at the time he made
lid ins])octions, and had reported in the most favorable terms uj)on them as
' their poles, wire, insulation, and construction. Mr. Wiman said, ''Oii.
y! if that is the case, we are ruined in our suit. If the MutiuU Union
elograph Coni[)any possess a report of Maker favorable to the construction
; their linos, we would be thi'own immediately out of court," and ailded
ords to the effect that they WM)uld make a laughing stock of themselves. I
^.. -- , stilted that the clerk referred to in the oftice of .John (J. Moore »fc ('oiu]>any
ontract, and maue Q0^^^^^^ m, Joubt get him copies of said rej»orts of the inspection of tlie lines
\ be willing, d nc- ^^ ^j Mutual I'jnion Telegraph (?omi)any made by said insi)ect()r. Maker. He
.^ ...~ - .^ , , \ Wggod me to eiuleavor to get the sann; laying stress upon the line between
s to he signed, he jj^-^^^ York and Moston, as' he said that in the first circular issued hy the
Lord, which com- |||m^„.,| (y,,ioi, Telegraph (V>ni])any lor placing its bonds, it assured thepuh-
Uou, \yith "^y"*^"^ 10 that it was hiiilding good and substantial lines of telegraph, at which
subscribed for a ..•|^^^ j^ 1^^^^ already consti-ncted said line from New York to Jioston. I
Telegraph Com- j||||^inQ^i ji^^, original repoi-t of said ins])e(tor, Maker, to the Mutual Union
by ^ .^^ IJi|legra})h Company, of the said line hotween tho Cities of New York and
t commended
Mntual Union ielc-^^ astounded, as ho said Maker had statetl to him an entirely ditlbrcnt state
''idwin Lord to bring |i;|.^^^^^ .^^^^ j^^. \yj„^.j,, ^^^\^\ d^.it he ha<l some time previously sent out
,et for the construe- ^^^^^^^^^.^^ letters to dilVei'ont parties in ihe country, naming, among otiiors,
,any, but which suit j^ j-rpjujii^^j^.^^j ,^^- j5,^l|.,^l^,. Thomas J?oaeho, SiipcrinteiKlent of the Wost-
iiselves of '^ ^^'H^V' |^\<tl ^Tnion Telegra])li TJompany at Moston; that he had received answci's to
1 secured one ot tnc ^^y,^ ^^^- (),j3,^^^ .^,,,1 (|).^( jjj^ {'aith in JJalvor's statements to him was very much
d one of the **^"^^';iftl<eii, from the Ihct that every rcs])onse ho had receivetl from said com-
nion Telegraph CoIn•^^pj^..^JQJJ^ ^^..,j^j, I j.|,^j I, jj^j,j.^(^ (l^jg,.^.^^, (•^y(j,..,{)l(_, .^^ ^^^ ^li^. thoroughness of
jord, thereby "^^^^"-je'construclion of the lines of the said xMutual Union Telegraph Compaii}-,
r's bonds, and thoreoj^^^^^.^j^^^^j y^,^^ ^j^^^^^ l^.^^l i.^,,nn,(^t^^,(j samples of the wire to be sent here, wiiich
st said Mutual *-"^**^|'Wplos of wire had been jtronoiinecd iiy exports to be of the very best, and
I Edwin Lord. 1 toK^^ ^jj^l^^^.j^j^ij. j,.|^. .^H j^j^.^l^l,^^.^, j^^^^^ 1^,.^,.^^,^.,} j,, ^^jjj^ direction was unfuvor-
i the said clerk in tin'^ ' j^^ l\^^^[y pj-oposed grounds to be furnished said Kdwin fjord in his suit
i contract for the f'<"'VaJjjst said Mutual Union Toloi;:rni>h ('oinpany.
^«aid clerk hud poss' • • ' ■
•mv's oflice on Satur On tho following morning, i think, to the last named interview, I
^^out of the city, thutoeivod from said Wiman, tliroiigh the mail, a letter with certain inclopures,
subserip
)sy)ecting ^^i^^^'^^M*" 30y(,'„i^ ^vhich I read entirely to said Wiman the following a
tl Union Telegrapu .^j^jjI^ji^j a complete copy t'hereof to Mr. Wiman. The leport
c attorneys, ^^^^^^"^ hJ^ said lines in the highest degree and was very favorable.
Y
IS, and
Hron safe in order tiiich letter requested mo to olttitin, if in my power, certain information
told me it wnom A'ashington which he thought was cori-ect, and if so would be injurious
■ t'l • clerk mm-e m'^no}the r<!i)utation of one of the olHcers of the Mutual Union Telegrapli Com-
! lodiment. ^7- '^'''''■' letter reflated to ])ersonal transactions occuring some ten years
o. Previous to this interviow, and earlier in the day, Mr. Wiman had
'•fH!
I 1
i irr
.! M
14
called at my office and found mo not in, and had loft on my donk a written 1
communication to mo as follows :
" Called to see if anything now. Send me word if yon want my man.
(Signed,) E. W."
The reference in this communication to " my man" was that if the said
clerk in Iho employ of John G. Moore & Company got the original document
wanted, in order that it might bo returned to its place as speedily as possible
after being taken, ho would send to me, at any hour that I should notify
hifn, his stenographer, who could take a quick copy thereof. Mr. Wiman
expressed himself as especially anxious for the copy of the contract, and
begged me to send him word to his place of business as soon as I ascertained
whether the clerk in John G. Moore & Company's office could get it. During
the following two or three days Mr. Wiman called at my office a couple of
times, I think, and found me not in, and on Wednesday, the 12th of October,
1881, called and found mo in, and said that he had revised the letter for Mr.
Lord to send to Goerge W. Ballou, and that the lawyers had re-revised it, and
it had been very much modified, but that it would make a very fine para-
graph for the newspapers, and that as soon as it had been sent to Mr. Ballou
it would be sent over the country by the Associated Press. Ho then stated
that it would bo necessary, if possible, to obtain the copy of said contract
before the following Saturday (the 5th of October), as Mr. Lord's assessment
then called for would be due on that day, and if not paid he would be in de-
fault, and then urged me to offer the said clerk in John (4. Moore k Com-
pany's office a larger sum than that already made if he could, previous to
Satui*day, obtain the said contract.
Mr; Wiman then loft, and the evening of th' i day I sent him a note ask-
ing him to call at my office between 3.80 an . four o'clock tho next day
(Thursday, October 13th\ when 1 believed the said clerk would have a copj
of tho contract ready. At the hour of four o'clock, P. M., on said followini;
day a gentleman came to my office, and handed mo the personal printed
card of Mr. Wiman, on the back of which was written in Mr. Wiman's hand
writing as follows :
"Dear Plumb: This is my phonograph or. I cannot get to you unti
4:30. Do what you can with him. He is safe.
" (Signed) E. W."
I told Mr. Wiman's phonographor his services would not bo needed, aiii
he left my office. At 4:30 P. M. (a half hour later) Mr. Wiman came in, an
1 stated to him that the copy of the contract was nearly ready, and that
could get it, I thought, for S150, the first sura he had offered as above, whci
he took out of his pocket and gave to me three U. S. legal tender notes, eao
of the denomination of $50, and numbered, respectively, as follows : E 321
772, series of 1874 ; Y 49,067, series of 18(59, and E 175,"733, series of 1874, i
be turned over be mo as from him to said clerk in the employ of John
Moore & Company, whose name was Henry G. Fearing. Mr. Wiman thci
also in fulfillment of his previous promise, sat down and in my prcsenc
penned a letter as follows :
"New York, Oct. 13th, 1881.
" Hy. (i. Fkarino : Mr. Plumb says it niiiy be necessary for you '
change your location and may want employment. As 1 understand you ii
doHk u written
ant my man.
E. W."
i that if tho said
.ginal document
cdily as i^ossiblc
should notify
of. Mr. Wiman
10 contract, and
as I ascertained
A get it. During
)ffice a couple of
12th of October,
he letter for Mr.
ro-revised it, and
a very fine para-
iont to Mr. Ballon
Ho then stated
1.5
a good ])honograj)hor, I may want a jiarty, and if you got out of employment
you may count on mo for omj^loymcnt at least 81,000 per an.
" (Signed) DUNN, WIMAN & CO.,
" EEASTUS WIMAN."
Upon writing this letter to Mr. Fearing, Mr. Wiman said that if practi-
cable I had bettor retain the letter in my possession, show it to Mr. Fearing,
and hold it in escrow as a pledge between them, for, he said, he was now a
rn Union Tel
Director ot the Western Union Telegraph Company, and that this was u
Western Union matter, but that if Fearing insisted upon holding it he could
have it. Mr. Wiman then stated that he was to leave tho city for Montreal
at 6:30 o'clock, P. M., the same evening, and after requesting mo to get the
copy of contract from said Fearing as ([uickly as possible, and to bring tho
same to his office, then said that 1 might miss him there, and requested that
I bring it to the (Irand Central Depot previous to the departure of the 6.30
train. IBoing detained, I feared my inability to reach tho depot in time pre-
vious to tho departure of said train, and I sent a note to Mr. Wiman, which
note read as follows :
" New York, Oct. 13th, 1881.
" Personal.
V of said contract | " Dear Mr. Wiman : I have scon Fearing and shown him your letter
Lord's assessment |ort'ering him employment. Ho is all right and has got the copy of the con-
ic would be in do- ^tract all complete, but insists that as he stole it he is running groat risks,
Ct Moore & Com- |and now wants more than the 8150 you gave mo to give to him. Tho fact
could previous to fi^, his cupidity has been excited by tho newspaper talk about this matter,
' Jjand ho now wants $250. Shall I give it to him? and what shall I do with
the contract when I get it ?
" Hastily yours,
" (Signed) B. M. Plumb."
The messenger found Mr. Wiman waiting in the New York Central and
Hudson liiver Railroad depot and delivered my note to him, and brought mo
from him a reply to the same, which was in the handwriting of Mr. Wiman
jrcad as follows :
" Dear P.: Give him the $250 after he has read it over to you, if you
find it very favorable to contractors. Perhaps it isn't worth it. I wd. go
3|he$250 if you like. Keep it till I come, or hand it to the Gon'I.
" (Signed) E. W."
The "General" referred to at the end of said note I understood to bo
general Fckert, General Manager of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany, as we had in our conversations already referred to General Eckert as
' " General."
During the A. M. of tho next day I received from Mr. Wiman an official
dead head telegraphic dispatch via tho Western Union Telegraph Company,
~ " ' ■ ■ '-'-' as follows :
mt him a note ask-
lock the next day
would have a copy
., on said followini-
iO personal printed
Mr. Wiman's hand
)t get to you unti
E. W."
I not bo needed, aiv
SViman came in, an
ly ready, and that
■crod as above, whci
al tender notes, eac
, as follows: E .321
33, series of 1874,
and in my present
"""l^li^Viman the, <J»ated at St. Johns, P.C^., Oct. 14th, 1881, as
" B. M. Plumi;,
" 5th Floor, 19 Nassau St., N. Y.
' Better do nothing further until I return Monday.
(Signed,)
Oct. 13th, 1881.
necessary for you
1 utulcrsttnKl you w
Retain letter.
E. W."
i
M' I
i!
" I'!
! M
( . Hi
I; 1
i !
,J ii;
.1 M
' iii!':
III Hccordunco with Mr. VViman'8 request I hud Uikon tho copy of con-
tnw't which I h;id rocoivcd tVom Henry U. Foarin;^, clork in tho office of «siid
John (J. Moore tV (Jonijiany, to (lonoral Thomas T. Eckort, who guvo nic
thcrofoi- a roccipl reading as follown:
*' liocuivod of B. M. Pliimh the copy of tho contract for tho construction
of the lines of the Mutual Union Telegraph Coni])any, as procured hy Mr.
Winian through Jlcniy d. Fearing.
(Signed,) Tilu.s. T. Eckkkt."
On this day I sent an answer to Mr. Wiman's message as follows:
" New Yokk, Oct. 14th, 1881.
"E. WiMAN,
" rrcsidcnt, etc., Montreal, Que.
'Tolograni received. Too late. Paid the money and received contract.
Delivered it to (Joneral Kckert as per your instructions.
(Signed,) B. M. Tlumb."
To this dispatch 1 have received no answer. This message from myself
to President Winian was sent hy the Western Union Telegraph Company
dead head
Upon delivering the copy of said contract to General Fckert in his
office it was read ,loud by Mr. Bates, his assistant, who, besides myself, was
jiresent, and ficneial Kckert and Mr. Bates were both informed of the manner
in whicli said e()])y of contract was obtained by Winian, and of the amount
of money that liad !)een paid for the same by Mr. WimuH, and of the faci
that Mr. Winian had also promised the clork in John G. Moore «& Company's
office [Homy G. H'earing] a position with a salary equal to that ho wjis then
I'ecoiving, and General lOckort and Mr. Bates suggested that said Fearing
had better remain, if possible, in tho service of said John G. Moore & Com-
pany for at. least a month or two longer, as ho would perhaps be able to give
them additional and further information, copies of jiapcrs, etc. I was then
re(juested by General Kckert and Mr. Bates to get from Fearing, if possible,
information as to how many bonds of the Mutual Union 1'elegrapli Com])any
had been issued under its subscriptions at the present time, the namesof' the
of the sureties on the bond gi^n by John G. Moore k Company to the Mutual
Union Telegraph Company for the carrying out of their contract, and as tn
who was the trustee for holding the Ixmds of the Mutual Urnon Telegraj)li
Company, ai.d the proceeds thereof
It was also suggested at this interview, by General Fckert and Mi'.
Bates, that Mr. Fearing should, if possible, obtain the original of the contracl
now in hand, and let them have it for a few hours, and that they would have
photographic co])ies made thereof, so as to bring the same up in the future,
if it would in any way serve their punioses.
After leaving General Fckort's office I sent to Mr. Bat<!s, his assistant,:!
note I'oading as follows :
N. Y., Oct. 14th, 1881.
Hear Mr. B.\tes ; Mr. Fearing is here in my office now, and can get, I
II
' -I
co|»y of con-
10 otftt'O of sui«l
,, who guvo mo
ho oonHtruotion
ocurcd hy Mr.
. ECKKRT."
s follows :
14th, 1881.
noivod contract.
17
think, all ynii want. Please send mo memo, of what is now wanted. 1 have
missod one of the throe things talked of.
" Yours, etc.,
"(Si^MiL'd.) H. M. PLUMH."
and received back by same niciHcnger from Mr. liato.s a momorandum in his
handwriting, " Name of trii.stoe,- name.s of snretios, and what stock and bonds
already i.SHued."
I further state that in this matter 1 never intended to receive, and have
not received, a dollar in money, oi- any compensation whatever from said
Erastuti VViman, fiom the Western llnion Telcgiapli Company, Irom the
Mutual Union Telegraph Company, or any one rej)resenting any or either
of said companies, oi- any individual, and that my interest or part taken has
boon to show, if it would over furthci- the ends of right and justice, the
scheme set forth, and which the pai'ties carrying it out seemed to think, ns
I had previously been in the employ of the American Union Telegraph Com-
pany, I might aid them in execution. And further, that I am not now, nor
K^"J f ' •■■.»g,l«»' IHVI nn^lli 111 ^^^»v^^ll.,l>/i.. J»liv« t... .iivi, vinii * >i,iii nv^v nw »T , .IVXl
avo I ever been, in the employment of the Mutual Union Telegraph Com-
f'pany or any of its officers, oi- of the firm of John (r. Moore A: Company.
On the following day after the delivery of the contract to General
,a<'e from myself -Eckert, and the receipt of the above-mentioned tclogra])liic despatch from
3tri'aph Company 'iJiJrastus Wiman, I called at the executive offices of the Western Union Telo-
Igraph Company in New York City, and again saw General Thos. T. Eckert,
■and Mr. D.H. Bates, the General Managei and Assistant (roneral Manager
of said company, and ae-ain referred to the additional ^100 that Mr, Wiman
in his note of the day before had authorized to be paid to Mr, Fearing, mak-
ing in all S250 so paid, and stated that as I was to be absent from the city
on Monday, it would bo necessary, in tulfillment of Mr. Wiman's ol)ligation
to said Fearing, to pay to Fearing the additional 5^1('0 (over and above the
rthat ho was then $150 previously paid him, as above set forth,) which General Eckert and Mr.
that said Fearing Bates acquiesced in, the latter saying that he thought the best way to make
the payment was for him to take the check of the company, [meaning there-
by the Western Union Telegraph Company,] to his own order, arul pay the
$100 referred to over in currency. This General Eckert a])provcd of, and
|Ir. Bates immediately wrote a note or order which I saw was addressed ioR.
H. Rochester, the Treasuter of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and
ilfter General Eckert had seen the said paper, note oi- order, Mr. Hates bog-
M. Plumb.
egraph Comps
■al Eckert in his
sides myself, was
lod of the manner
of the amount
and of the lact
oore Hi Company's
G. Moore & Com-
ips be able to give
etc. 1 was then
earing, if possible,
jlegraph Com])any
[), the names of the
pany to the Mutual
ontract, tmd as tn
.1 Union Tclegra])h
Sod me to remain a few moments, and went, as deponent believes, to the
•oasury of the company's office, which is on the first floor of the building,
$nd in a few minutes returned and handed to deponent a United States legal
tender note of the denomination of 8100 (said note lioing numbei-cd A 80,-
I'ul Eckert and Mi'. 163, series 1878), for the purpose of paying the same to said Fearing as the
inal of the contract lialance due him on the transaction of the said Wiman hereinbefoi-e sot forth,
lat they wcnxUl havi' ^hich deponent immediately took and delivered to Henry G. Fearing. At
le UP in the future, this interview the subject of a letter froni General Eckert oi- Mr. Bates to
[Rearing guaranteeing the employment already promised by Mr. Wiman at a
•Ues his assistant, ;i eompensation equal to that he was receiving from John (r. Moore it Com-
" ' pftny, aforesaid, was discussed, Mr. Bates saying that he did not think it
. 00 Would be wise for either of them to write such a letter to Fearing, and
.)ct, 14x11, ^* • (general Eckert stated to deponent that the objection to the writing of such
noAV, and can get, I 'letter was that said letter might get astray and be traced. At this inter-
iiinfr
II
( '\
t
IS
view General Eckort asrtiu'od dopoiiciit that Fearing should ho taUoti care of
an already promincd by waid Krawtus Wimaii ; that it was all right, hut it
would notdo, he thought, forthoin to write such a letter. J)t'[)onoiit further
saith that this statement has not heen prepared for him, hut that all of it ha^
been taken down in his own words as dictated by him.
I5KN. M. TLUMIJ.
Sworn to before me, this 15th \
day of October, 1 88 1 . /
C. G. ARCmiiALD,
Coiiiniissiopicr of Dirds, N. Y, City,
AFFIDAVIT OF WM. HEWITT.
SS,
State of New York, \
County of New York, j
Wm. Hewitt, being duly sworn, deposes, that on the l.Tlh of October,
A. 1). 1881, at the request of Mr. B. M. Plumb, he carried the following note
from Mr. Plumb to Mr. Krastus Wiman :
"N. Y., Oct I3tli, 1 88 1,
'• Personal, ii
"Dear Mr. Wiman: I have soon Mr- Fearing and shown him youi f
letter offering him employment. He is all right and has got the copy of tlio -
contract all complete, but insists that as ho stole it, ho is running greai
risks, and now wants more than the $150 you gave mo to give him. Tlu^^
fact is" his cupidity has been excited by the newspaper talk about this matter jj
and now he wants 8250. Shall I give it to him ? and what shall 1 do will:!':
the contract when I get it ?
" Hastily yours,
"B. M. PLUM15."
That he read the above note by direction of Mr. Plumb so that ho shoul
know what he was delivering ; that he delivered said note to Mr. Wiman iitj
the waiting room of the Grand Central Depot, Forty-second Street, Ncvi
York City, at 6:25 P. M. of said day, that said Wiman opened and read tlii
said note in affiant's presence, and immediately took a piece of paper out oh
his hand-bag and wrote the reply, a copy of which is as follows : pi
" Dear P. : Give him the $250 after ho has road it over to you if yot
find it very favorable to the contractors. Perhaps it isn't worth. f W('
go the $250 if you like. Keep it till I come or hand it to the Gen'l.
" E. W."
Said Wiman then handod this note to affiant, with a request that it I
delivered to Mr. Plumb, and affiant so delivered it soon after.
WM. HEWITT,
Sworn to and subscribed before me, )
this 1 8th day of October, 1881. )
JOHN H. WALKER, ^^
Notary Public^ Kings County^ Cer. filed in N, Y. County.
t. taUoii cure oi
ill right, Iml it
cnoiienl I'uilhcr 1
1ml :vll(»t'it»>si^ «
N. v. City.
Tin-: TKi,i:r,KAi'ii dispute.
I Wo jtriiil this nioiriiii;^ allot lior li'lttii' addrcHsod lo the PrcHi(h'\il nf thp
lU'o^tcM'ii Union T«'i('^TM|>h ( '<iin)»iiiiy hy the Sccictary of the Amoricau
^Initial Union Confipany in iM'l.ilion to tin- condiul ol Mr. Wiinan in altoniiil-
In^ to bril)(i the otliccM-w of Iho hitter ('((inpaiiy t(» Itctray llufir trust. Mr.
iViniun, it will ho roinonihorod, in a Ictlor wliich wo |)rint(Ml, doniod all
uiowlo(|o;o of those |>roc(HM|iii^,s. hi'Vond tlio more (net that ho had hoon very
inxious to u;ot inl'orniaiion of tho doin;;s of the Mntnal I'nion, and that a
jont Ionian who wnn not coinHMltil witii that ('oni|)any had undertaken to
ihtain for Jiiin a copy of a ooi lain conliacl, Mr Wiman not talcing llu' trouhlo
) oni|iiiio how ho was i^oinjL; to m't it. 'riiclottor, wliicli wo print this
loriiing, shows that Mr. Winnin's statt^inenis were simjdy untruths ; the
|\idonoo now produced is of lh<' tnosi frushiui; (diaraolor : it is its own
ijtr()no;(.'<| ooniinontary. ainl wo ask our readers to look at il and to Jud_i;'o foi'
^icni.'.elvos of the ( haraotor t)| tlu' gontlonian who has recently tigured so
Ifirifoly in connoetion with telogra))h matters in this oountiy. We havohut
Olio remark to niakcf in relation to it, namely, that il is a nio>i unfortunate
biicumstanoo that the whole toh\<:fraph sy.>toni of (.'anada should b(! in the
baiid« of a man so utioil}' lost to all sen^e of triilhfulness and honesty as 31r.
Wim.in is sliown hy this corres|»ond(Mioe to ho. If there is one tiling,' more
important than another in connoetion with oui' iclo^^rapli system, it is Ijiat
tho o who arc in oliar<j;o of it should ho men of houor. IM10 Imsinoss conducted
shown nim y^"' l^ telo,i,n'a')h is very often of the nu»st oonlidential character, and interests
got tho copy 01 1 qJ([j^> ,ii(;st serious import are ofieii dopoidciii ujvm it ; and hf)W can wo
) iH running gi^' OJ]>eot in the inforioi- oiliccus oonnoctod with the telegraph companies a
to give him. ^ '| regard for tlie ohiigations imjiostnl upon them, if thoii- superior otlioei' shows
ktiboutthis Ji^''^n^j'' that he regards the betrayal of eoniidonco as a matter to ho paid for, when
^hat shall 1 uo wu^^ interest of the |iurchaser i-- suffioicuitly gieat to appear to Justify il ?
One thought moi'o occurs to us in connection with this matter. Mr.
Wiman is at the head of the largest mei'cantilo agency <mi the Continent.
I. M. PLUMV.. Our I'oadei's do not )'ef|uire to he told that we havi; no high opinion of these
mb HO that ho shouli mercantile agencies; but, in connoetion with them, as in connection with
lie to Ml". Wim^w iitho telegraph system, everything depends upon the character of those who
oeond Street, Ncvmay bo entrusted with tho infoi'mation which passes thi-ough their hands. It
oiioned and road tbas not a [tloasant reflection that the intimate s'ocrets (jf merchants are in the
POO of papor out ohftnds ot'an a>sociation, whose head figures as .Mr. Wiman does in tho corres-
follows: pondonce which wc ])i'int this morning. Nothing can bo more humiliating
4. ,rr^^^ \? voitl>*n this oxposuro. — Montreal Ga::et(e, Oct. 27.
it ovov to you II )"^ 1
i:^th of October,
Lho following notu
: 13th, 18S1.
shown him youi
I
w>'
isn't worth
to thoGon'l.
« E. W."
h a i-ocpiost that it i
n after.
,VM. HEWITT,
iV, y. County.