Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1878 — MYSTERIOUS TELEGRAMS. [ARTICLE]

MYSTERIOUS TELEGRAMS.

A Call Upon Mr. W. E. Chandler to Explain Them. [From the New York Herald.l In connection -with the proposed Florida investigation there are some telegraphic dispatches sent during the period immediately after the election the meanmg of which puzzled a good many innocent souls when they were brought out in the investigation of last year, and which it will be well now to have explained, merely to satisfy an idle curiosity, as it were. Here, for instance, is one sent on election day by-Mr. Purman, candidate for Congress, to Govin, then election manager and now United States Consul: Tallahassee, Noy. 6. To C»l. Manuel Govin, Key West: Draw on Gov. Steams and myself for 200 more. W. J. Purman. Here is another from the Chairman of the Republican Committee, two days after the election: Nov. 8, 18?6. Judge J. M. Edmunds, Chairman Republican National Executive Commitiee, Washington, D. C.: In order to prevent frauds we must have money. If Florida is important, authorize me to draw on you for $2,000. Answer. M. Martin. Chairman Republican Campaign Committee. W. J. PUBMAN. Here are several mysterious cipher dispatches from Mr. W. E. Chandler: Tallahassee, Nov. 12, 1876. M. A. Clancy, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York: Doctors plenty; rainy weather. Is sea smooth ? Have Jones ready. W. E. Chandler. Clancy was the stenographer of the Republican National Committee. But who or what was Jones ? Chandler appears to have been anxious about him or it, for he telegraphed again the next day: Talla., 13. W. A. Clancy, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York.: Florida swarming with prominent Democrats. Send some Republican lawyers and eminent men. Send Jones to E. A. RclUns, Philadelphia. Have Arthur William warm. Men acting cold. W. E. Chandler.. Chandler’s mind was set at rest about Jones the same day by this dispatch from Z. Chandler: Washington, D. C., 13. Hon. W. E. Chandler, Tallahassee, Fla. : Dispatch received. Jones gone to Philada harney all along the line—sea safe cotton high stiffen oranges men coming. Z. Chandler. Chmn. The price of cotton seems to have interested most of the Republican statesmen, for on the same day Mr. W. E. Chandler, at Tallahassee, was anxious about the j rice, and telegraphed to that eminent cotton factor, S. B. Packard, now Consul to Liverpool:

Talla., 13. S. B. Packard, New Or'eans : Has Kellogg my letter? Must know positively about cotton. W. E. Chandler. Mr. Chandler got satisfactory assurances the same day thus: New Orleans, 13. Everett Chase, care Gov. Stearns, Talla., Fla. : Just received your letter. Think cotton high: how there ? K. New Orleans, Nov. 15. Everett Chase, care Gov. SternH : Confident cotton high, only keep it firm (here. K. There is also the following assurance about money, a week after election, it will be observed : Nov. 13, 1876. To Col. Manuel Govin, Key West, Fla.: Will have funds from Washington iu ten days. Draw only fifteen days’ sight. Our success certain. W. J. Purman. On the same day following to somebody in Columbus : Talla,, Fla., 13. A. E. Gee, Columbus, O.: William S. Matthews, and other of high character, rainy. W. E. Chandler. On the 15th of November, another mysterious character is added to “Jones” in the following dispatch : Washington, D. C.,Nov. 15. Hon. W. E. Chandler : Cook and others leave to-night Robinson will accompany Jones if necessary Cotton high Doctors plenty You must not leave. Z. Chandi.eb, Chmn. Nine days later Robinson and Jones have Smith added to them, to increase the myßtery: Washington, Nov. 24. Hon. W. E. Chandler: Cotton high. Robinson in riiiladelpha Smith went with Jones to Florida. Z. Chandler. Finally, on the 27th, we find that Robinson’s first name is William, otherwise Bill we suppose, and that Mr. Chandler has need of Bill in “smallcherries,” as also of some apples : Tallahassee, Nov. 27, 1878. Z. Chandler, Washington, D. c.: William Robinson iu small cherries ; probably shall not need him ; apples about twenty ; best to be ready for any emergency. W. E. Chandler. The day before Mr. Chandler described to his friend, Gov. Kellogg, a new kind of fever:

Tallahassee, Nov. 26, 1878. Gov. W. P. Kellogg, New Orleans: Cold reports here; doctors scarce ; cotton fever spreading ; raining here. Answer. W. E. Chandlek. All this is very mysterious and eminently calculated to excite curiosity. WilLnot Mr. Chandler tell a mysteryhating American public what it all means? Who was Jones? and why should Mr. Chandler, at Tallahassee, with his hands full of election business, have been so anxious that Jones should go to Philadelphia to see E. A. Rollins ? And who was Smith, who was added to Jones and with him went to Florida ? And who was Robiuson, sumamed William, who, after sojourning in Philadelphia, was finally wanted in Florida in the shape of “small cherries,” and with “ apples,” apparently of the “twenty” kind, added to him, to be ready for any emergency ? It is tantalizing to read so much and know so little. When he was examined before the House Committee, Mr. Chandler refused to testify on the ground that he was the attorney for nearly all the Republican politicians in Florida. Was it as their attorney that he demanded Jones, Smith, and Robinson, sumamed William ? By the way, Mr. Chandler ought to tell ns whether his instructions to “have Arthur William warm” were obeyed ? Did they set him on a gridiron ? or put him in the oven? or what?