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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1917.
HOW WILLIAM J. BURNS, SECRET SERVICE,
WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF ’FRISCO’S GRAFT;
A DETECTIVE WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS
Found One Weak Spot in Forces of Organ
ized Pillagers and Made Convicts Tell
Story Which Led To Convictions.
When William J. Burns, of the Unit-
ed Stales secret service, was assigned
the task of exposlngjhe rottenness and
graft believed to exist among the San
Francisco city officials and public serv
ice corporation magnates, he found
himself UP against a colossal task.
It was a job that would have baffled
most detectives; It was one that would
even have worried and harassed that
tstute sleuth, Sherlock Holmes of Ba
ker street. But with a persistency that
was marvelous and In the face of what
seemed insurmountable obstacles, this
clever detective of the government's
corps of secret service men has laid
bare In nil its revolting details San
Francisco's shame.
And now Assistant District Attorney
Francis J. Heney, who routed the Ore
gon land grafters, has a complete his
tory of 8an Francisco’s miserable graft
ing and Is prosecuting officials high
and low with a vigor that threatens to
send millionaires behind prison bars In
convict stripes.
A Gigantic Taak.
When Burns was on the Job, the first
thing he ascertained waa that he waa to
light clever and powerful men—men
who would _ spend fortunes to thwart
him and Justice. The methods of ordi
nary detectives would not lay bare the
grafting of Mayor Eugene E. Schmltx
and Abraham Ruef, the political boss
of the city. He had to fight wealth,
social standing and a strong political
machine. He knew that his every move
would be watched by dozens of theioest
private detectives the wealth of the
grafters could hire, and this must be
avoided. He realized ho must work
quietly until he had his trap ready for
his victims, then spring It.
It was last October that Heney and
Bums began their attack upon the
grafters entrenched behind a machine
In full control of the city government
and dispensing at least 14,000,000 each
year In patronage and favors. Then the
lawyer and his detective partner had
no tangible evidence. All they had was
the guarantee of a 8100,000 fund by
Rudolph Spreckels, president of the
First National Bank. Heney had been
appointed an assistant district attorney
and a dependable grand Jury had been
drawn, hut there wai no evidence on
which to proceed. Ruef was an abso
lute dictator. The mere suggestion that
any man with Interests amenable to
police or supervisorial regulation could
he found willing to teatlfy against him
waa the occasion for a sneer. The pub
lic Inughed at Heney and regarded the
prosecution only half seriously as a
legitimate pursuit of the municipal
grafters. Plainly, It was up to Burns,
and Burns accepted the responsibility
with the quiet assurance that he would
force a confession from the lips of
every official who had betrayed the city.
Opening Made by Jealousy.
Just one weak spot the astute detec
tive found In the arch of corruption. A
petty political Jealousy had slightly
estranged Ruef and Frank Maestrettl,
one of his moat trusted lieutenants.
Maestrettl had served as president of
the hoard of public works and was no
toriously Implicated In the city admin
istration’s grafting.
He had been politically intimate with
the mayor and the boss and had been
Placed by them at the head of the de
partment where privileges were on sale
and official permits had their cash
value. For four years, Maestrettl had
served tn such a capacity. Naturally
tie had galnew knowledge that held un
bounded possibilities for Burns.
Promptly the detective comprehended
the situation and wlt/ly he began Ills
task by working for the enlistment of
me disgruntled district lieutenant as an
the prosecution.
n. year * before this Maestrettl had
oarely escaped conviction for participa
tion In election frauds. The jury In his
"f® voted for acquittal upon a technl-
fjj'ty. hut two confederates, Charles
wyman and Adolph Steffens, were con
sisted and sent to state prison for the
•*me offense.
Rbsslble resentment on the part of
l w ° convicts toward Maestrettl
turns’ ffrst opening. His agents
mi. ^ ,h * m ,n their cells and learned
met they would tell all If given their
' Immediately the governor was
. c ?' l . vlnc 'd that the men had expiated
wan "'me. s « Wyman and Steffens
T/v. out of Prison to relate the story
J;. Msestrettl’e part In the election
a hd to give any further Infor
mation they could to the groft-flght-
hv £5? detective In a house down
, ba /u ,hora to reveal more and
of ‘he corrupt administration’
Bc *iemes for forc-
thf J. r , Uth . fr °. m other members of
the Schmltx plunderbund.
That wax Burns' first notable
achievement In the fight to corner the
grafters. Boon with the knowledge he
had gained from Maestrettl. he had
driven a number of the administra
tion s favorites to the wall—among
them three ex-police commissioners and
two boodle go-betweens. The confes
sion of each, however, he kept from the
others. One knew not what his eon
federate In graft had done. With ad
mirable tact the detective thus played
upon the vulnerability of the guilty
bribe-takers until uncertainty bred
fear, and fear generally led to an ap.
plication for the prosecution's Immu
nity bath. In such a way the detective
laid a foundation for Mb operations
against the mayor, the supervisors and
the boss of theni all. t
Mayor’s Confidant Weakened.
Ono of the men closest In Mayor
Schmitz’s confidence was a man known
In San Francisco as G. M. Roy. From
Maestrettl Burns learned that Roy was
no other than Morris Golden, a fugl
tlve from Justice for two crimes com'
mitted In Oklahoma—one -the forgery
of the elgnature of Secretary Bliss, of
President McKinley's cabinet, and the
other the embezzlement of 15,0(10 placed
In Golden’s care by the residents of
Guthrie for the purpose of securing on
Indian agency.
In the favor of the Schmitz adminis
tration, Golden, alias Roy, had pros
pered. He had grown rich from Illicit
interests and thought he had left hls
criminal record years behind. He had
come to be a political power and a
leader of the society In which Mayor
Schmitz was the central figure.
Then suddenly, at an early morning
meeting. Burns flashed a complete
story of the past before Roy’s eyes—a
story Intensified by accurate details
and colored by pathetic applications to
the fugitive's gay freedom and social
sway. Instantly Roy was on bis knees
to the secret service agent. Without
attempting denial he admitted hls
guilt. But what could he do to escapo
extradition for forgery and embezzle
ment? What service could he per
form?”
"One thing,” said Burns. "Confess
all you know. Tell us everything."
A Shameful Story.
And Roy confessed the whole
shameful story. He told of collecting
the police corruption fund from the
gamblers of the Chinese quarter, of di
viding the swag and of bribing the
supervisors In .the Interests of public
service corporations. He turned over
all his intimate knowledge of graft to
Burnt and then remained subject to
the detective’s orders, cowed like
Maestrettl, by fear of criminal prose,
cutlon.
But Burns kept Roy's confession sc
cret so that the latter might retain
the confidence of hls old associates and
help at trapping ’’them. This was a
wise course, for two months later
Bums and two of hls assistants, con
cealed behind curtains, saw two super
visors, Thomas Lonergan and Dr.
Charles Broxton, take a bribe of 5500
each from the hands of Roy In return
for their votes against an ordinance
excluding children from a skating rink
In which Roy was Interested. As the
supervisors pocketed the bills the de
tectives confronted them. Lonergan
and Boxton tried to turn upon Roy, bi
were soon convinced that they had
been caught and that their only hope
lay In making a complote confession of
their boodllng operations. Within a
week they had admitted all their
crimes under oath, and so Implicated
their associates that the confessions of
fifteen supervisors were soon In the
possession of Burns.
The logic of the detective's scheming
Is apparent. With natural sequence,
move followed move as he carefully
developed hls plans, and brought to
bear the Information with which he
first broke the bravado of the grafters.
The Convicts’ Story,
v Burn * riie two pardoned convicts
unburdened themselves. Then Bume
approached Maestrettl. The dlztrict
p er was In a vindictive mood toward
bemuse he felt he had been po-
tcaiiy slighted. He maintained hls
«ience. however. unUl Bume broke the
ram* ana *be arrangement with Wy-
*S“ Steffens and told him of se-
Involved Mm In numerous
Srhm?. riregularltlee of the «u#f-
tlvn re »lme. Under the pereua-
at u *' nc ® such disclosures and
resnnr ‘ am * rime moved by a feeling of
Sklia' nt . t0w,rd Ruef. Maestrettl
k tide with Burns. Night after night
WILLIAM J. BURNS, DETECTIVE.
J Secret service man who laid bare tho vlciousnest of San Frsnciepo’s
graft and brought men high in station to answer to the courts.
MAYOR EUGENE SCHMITZ.
He was found guilty of extortion and hie application for bail hat
Ho wae found guilty of extortion and hia af
been refuted, after lengthy trial in San Franciaco.
Pope Waverly Electric
AUTOMOBILES
We have in stock new Oars in Runabouts, Stanhopes and
Viotorias. Also one second-hand Pope Waverly Runabout und
one Duryea Gasoline Car, bargains.
Georgia Vehicle Manufacturing Go.
50 & 52 WEST MITCHELL ST.
Also full line summer pleasure vehicles, Runabouts, Sur
reys, etc., and custom-made Harness.
Convlcta Wyman and Steffens made It
poeelble to ally Maestrlettl with the
prosecution: Maestrettl gave the tip
that brought Roy to terms; Roy wae
deed to trap the supervliore, and then
the supervisors, with their avelanche
of confession, swamped Ruef and made
him realise that longer plea of Inno
cence would be folly.
That wae the main plot, but all the
time Detective Burn* was working
along other lines to learn the secrete
of the men he had laid he would
make admit their guilt. '
Women Sleuths Pley Their Part.
Handsome women detectives, beauti
fully gowned and brilliantly Jeweled,
sought the society of city officials. As
far as graft society knew they had Just
arrived from the East. San Franciaco
was new and Interesting to them. They
must be shown all the attraction* of
the City The French restaurant*, the
luniaht cafe* the Bohemian reehrt*
of th* h Iong* ocean'boulevard, they had
r h ^Ve!lr^mrisT.he^ r ;.««‘w h e™
iw.Mtve and gallant euperrlior*,
tritoe* pocket* w * n bulgln * w , uh m *
gotten MBs, offered their service* aa
“Many a gay evening followed. There
Man> a a lutomo blie spin out
trough "a’oUlen Gate park and along
the edge of the ocean breakers to the
attractive gardens and chateaux where
unbending social codes do not maintain
their restraint. There were also many
delightful dinners, when, In the warm
flush of wine, confidence* were ex
changed, secrets were disclosed, hopes
and prospects were unfolded. Flat
tered to utter abandon, the supervisors
told many a story that was valuable to
Burns, when a few hour* later It waa
reduced to a cold written report and
submitted to the famous detective.
There were three of theso women.
They were employed before the super
visors had confessed as a result of the
trap sprung by Roy. In all likelihood
what they learned would have enabled
Burns to weaken the supervisors had
not the main plot developed so suc-
essfully.
Chauffeur Detective.
And that ^braham Ruef never had a
chance to escape the clutches of the
prosecution Is demonstrated by the
revelation that hls chauffeur watt In the
employ of Burns. Ruef kept hls boodle
In the Western National Bank, and sev
eral times he aent hls chauffeur with
a cardboard shoe-box Ailed with bank
notes, to be placed by the young man
In the safe deposit vault. Each time
the chauffeur reported to Burns, telling
front whom Ruef had received the
money, the exact amount deposited, and
the numbers end denominations of the
bills.
In addition to this, a detective under
Burns had charge of Supervisor Galla
gher’s automobile, while another one of
hie assistants was one of the chief
decks In the board of public works.
Gallagher was a leader In the grafting
board of supervisors and was acting
mayor while Mayor Schmitz wae In
Europe. The sleuth who ran Galla
gher's auto learned many things
through this connection, every detail
being reported to Burns. The clerk In
the board of public works secured con
siderable Information concerning the
hush money paid by people erecting
buildings tn violation of city ordl-
nances. /
Continuing the weaving of hie net.
Burns had two of hie detectives pre
pare to open a saloon, while another
negotiated for the opening of a cheap
theater until enough was learned to
Implicate the police and building of
ficials In crooked work.
So when these things ar* known, peo
ple wonder that the fifteen supervisors
did not confess sooner and marvel at
the fact that Boss Reuf kept up Me
' ont of Innocence *o long.
What Burns Hat Done.
The story that Detactlve Burn* hat
unearthed and put together piece by j
piece, confession by contusion, now 1
causes millionaires and men of social
standing to. see prison doora yawning
to receive them. Supervisors have
confessed that bribes to the extent of
millions of dollars have been paid by
the street railway company, the gas
company, two telephone companies, a
real estate company and the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company.
Burns' story complete will makeauch
men face prosecution as Patrick Cal
houn and Thornwell Mullally, the presi
dent and hls assistant of the United
Railroads. It will bring to trial Henry
T. Scott, president of tho Pacific Tele
phone and Telegraph Company; John
A. Britton, president of the California
Gas and Electric Corporation; William
F. Herrin, chief counsel of the Southern
Pacific, and many others.
Men who before Detective Burns was
on the Job felt secure and powerful with
their wealth and political power, are
now quaking. Many have begged
chances to confess and escape a possi
ble term in the pen. Millionaires and
men of standing aro terror-stricken and
are banding together to fight what
sqftns certain defeat. Proud namei
names Identified with San Francisco’s
jvealth and industrial progress—have
been dragged through the quagmire of
graft and scandal.
And many of them are In fear and
trembling lest It will not end thus, but
will mean an Ignominious ending In the
stripes of a penitentiary convict.
Cursed by the name of Burns, might
they well say, while thoae who have
suffered and are shocked by Detective
Burn*’ exposure, will call him blessed.
PERFECT
PROTECTION
POLICY
Insures Against
Any Sickness, 6 Months
Any Accident, 24 Months
Accidental Death
NORTH AMERICAN
ACCIDENT INSURANCE CO.
6Z3 Candler Building.
’Phone 5330.
AGENTS WANTED.
INDEPENDENT ICE CO.,
349 WHITEHALL STREET
Manufacturers of Pure Dlctllled Water Ice. Prompt deliveries
made In the city. -Carloads shipped to country points. Bell phone 536,
West, Atlanta phone 4343, E. B. HARVEY, Manager.
Xl^N'
Low Rates to Summer Resorts
SOLID VESTIBULED TRAIN
ELEGANT PULLMAN SLEEPING CARS
To Cincinnati and Louisville
GRA^D
NEXT WEEK
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday
Fourth Successful Week of tho
GEO. FAWCETT CO.
Presenting Clyde Fitch’s Great Comedy of the Golden West,
THE COWBOY $8 LADY
ALL SPECIAL SCENERY—EVERY DETAIL CARRIED OUT AS IN A
METROPOLITAN PRODUCTION.
SUMMER PRICES—Night, 25c to 50c; Matinee, 25o and 35c.
CASINO
NEXT WEEK
Maiinees: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
1 Stephens and Linton Present the Merry Musical Mix-Up,
MY WIFE’S FAMILY
LAUGHTER, MU8IC, DANCING, SPECIALTIES. TWO HOURS I
SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT.
Casino Prices—Sale during the day at Bijou.
CHICAGO FEARS
T1BIG STRIKES
Telegraphers and Teamsters
Will Tie Things Up in
Windy City.
Chicago, June 15.—Hope of averting ji
strike of packing houae teamster* prac
tically vanlahed yesterday. At the same
time It was given out at tho city hell
that If the atrlke la called as expected
there shell be no rioting In the street!.
The situation among the telegraphers
also grows acute. A atrlke la expected,
and If ono occur* Chicago will bo the
first city affected. The executive com-
mltteo of the union held a meeting in
New York and decided that If a strike
Is ordered only the men at Important
centers shall be called out. operators’In
smaller towns being left at their keys.
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
TO MEET TUESDAY
The Georgia Funeral Directors Aeeo-
clatlon will meqt Tuesday morning at
the New Kimball for ttyslr sixth an
nual convention. The convention will
be called to order by Jesse B. Hart, of
Macon.
The funeral men will remain In ses
sion until noon Thursday when they
will be treated to a Georgia barbecue
by the traveling men.
This meeting is expected to bo one of
the largest in the history of the aseo-
elation.
SCHOOL
BOOKS
BOUGHT
SECOND HAND
books.
We buy In any quantities.
Call at storo, mall list or
phone Bell 1822. Ask for Mr.
Gavan.
SOUTHERN
BOOK CONCERN,
71 Whitehall St.
H. PHILLIPS TO DON
EPISCOPAL SURPLICE
On Sunday morning at the morning
service at St. Philips cathedral, Bish
op C. K. Nelson will confer priesthood
upon Henry Phillips, one of the beet
known young churchmen In Atlanta.
Dean C. T. Pise, of the cathedral, will
present the candidate, and the sermon
will bo delivered by Right Rev.'Albion
7. Knight, bishop of Cuba.
Mr. Phillips waa made a deacon In the
Episcopal churqh lost November. He
has taken a apodal course of training
the University of the South, and In
II qualified to discharge the duties of
the position which he ha* chosen ton
hla life’s work.
DERELICT DE8TROYER
FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
Washington, June 16.—The treasury
department will accept -the bid of the
Newport News Ship Building Company
for the construction of an Innovation In
seagoing vessels—a derelict destroyer.
It will be 20t.feet long, with a beam of 24
feet, have u displacement of 1,480 tone,
cost 1245,000 and must be completed by
June, ISO*. The vessel will likely bo
stationed at New York, and will be un
der contract'of the revenue cutter serv
ice.
MORPHINE—OPIUM
and all narcotic habits cured at your
homo Painlessly and Permanently (for
$10.00) by an entirely new method.
“No Cure—No Pay.” Write today for
details. Dr. G. PATTERSON, 82 Cen-
tral Place, Atlanta, Georgia.
Have You
Had Your
Printing
returned with a little sticker at
tached, asking you to uad this la
bel?
OFFICES USING THIS LABEL:
Press Huddleston Printing Co..
21 8. Forsyth
Syl Lester & Co 2% N. Uroad
f. P, Bisson 9 N. Forsyth
N. C. Tompkins 16 W. Alabama
Telegram Pub. Co 66 Central Ave.
Franklin-Turner Co 66-71 Ivy St.
Index Printing Co....91 Central Ave.
Lnllntte Printing Co 20 S. Rroad
John Thomason Co..,...6K 8. Broad
III otter Printing Co...... 33-40 Walton
Converge k Wing.. 104 Edjrewood
Kirkpatrick k Co 21% 8. Forsyth
Atlanta Label Co.....64 Madison Ave.
Georgia Deutsche Zcltung
21 Grant Bldg.
If so, patronize the above offices
and you will please 30,000 Union
People In Atlanta.
Atlanta Typographical Union,
520 Candler Building
P. O. Box 266
Atlanta Phone 873
VGKAND
Tonight—Matinee Saturday.
GEO. FAWCETT COMPANY
Presenting Belasco A De MUle'e Com
edy,
THE CHARITY BALL.
Night, 25c to 50c. Matinee, 25c and
86c.
Next Week;
"COW BOY and the LADY.”
the BIJOU
KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS
MINSTRELS
FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH„
One performance only. Barrel of fun
and music.
SALE OPENS WEDNESDAY.
Regular Bijou Prices.
FACULTY IS ELECTfeD’
FOR MIDDLE GA. INSTITUTE,
Special to The Georgian.
Concord, Go., June 14.—The board of
trustees of the Middle Georgia Insti
tute, located here, has elected teachers
for the term beginning next September.
The following were etioan: E. M. Mar
tin, of Villa Rico, principal; Mrs.
O. Brown, of Concord, for the Interme
diate department, and Miss Buena
Vista Brook, of Hoganavllle, for the
primary department. Miss Laura
Strickland and Miss Nellie Stanford, of
Concord, were elected fot- the depart ’
moots of music and elocution.
Cure For Rheumatism
GRIFFITH’S Compound Mixture ol
Qualac, Sttlllngla, Eto.
tying the
Blood and
Regulat
ing the
Uver and
Kidneys,,
Internal Remedy
Relief
from P*ln
•fter flret
or eecond
Dose. Acts
by Purl-
The "Old Reliable* _
RHEUMATISM, NEURALGIA, SCIAT
ICA, GOUT and LUMBAGO.
Note—Th|* Bptelflo Remedy hae been ad*
vertleed tn the Medical Journals and used
In private practice for over 20 year* and
we have ample proof to Justify us In mak*
Ins the aeeertlon that thla preparation will
relieve or oure IS per cent of the case* in*
dlcated.
Doe* Not DUtarb the Stomach, Afford*
Quiet Sleep and Creates n Good Appetlt*
Atlanta, Go., DUtrtbatlng Depot:
JACOBS’ PHARMACY CO*
Wholesale Druggist*.
And for eale by Retail Drugglste generally,
Send for Free Descriptive Circular te
Griffith Rheutnatlo Cure Co., tele mnfg., «7
Third Ave.. cor. 11th fie. New York. N. t
CASINO
Tonight—aMtince Saturday.
Lincoln J. Carter's Scenic Romance
DOWN MOBILE.
Elaborate Stage Settings. A capa
ble company of players. Advance sale
at Bijou Box Office.
Next Week: “MY WIFE'S FAMILY."
THE HOME OF VAUDEVILLE.
No. 77 Peachtree Street.
Matinees 3 and 4 p. m.
Night 7:30 to 11
• Next Week’8 Program.
George Johnson Gladys,
Songs and Dances,
Lewis and Lessinger,
In Novel Act.
Tommy Wilks,
' Illustrated Songs.
William Thomas,
Sweet Singer in Costume.
WHITE - CITY
Atlanta's Newest and Largest Amuse
ment Park.
TWO CONCERT8 DAILY
By Wedemeyer’a Band.
VAUDEVILLE 2:30 and 4:00 in Af
ternoon: 7 and 9 at Night.
St Nicholas Auditorium
PONCE DE LEON PARK >
SKATING DAILY
8 P.
MUSIC EVERY SESSION.
CITY TAX NOTICE.
Books are now open for
he payment af 2d. in
stallment of city tax.
E. T. PAYNE,
City Tax Collector.