The herald., 1898-09-18
BEING INVESTIGATED
GUY B. BARHAM HAS PREPARED
THEIR DEFENSE
SAYS IT IS ALL SPITE WORK
Laws the Blame at the Door Of the
Special Agents Because OF Help
Given Welburn in His Trial

The suspension of Gauger IT, M. fsdSna"
and Storekeeper A. d. Barham, two OF inc
oldest employees In the United States IN
ternal revenue service in this district, was
publicly announced yesterday.
The gentlemen named were suspended
on August 10th last. but the fact has been
carefully guarded from the pubic IN ae-
cordance with governmental procedure,
and only obtained publicity through gov
eminent officials and not through Messts.
Barham, The officers suspended are re-
spectiyely the father and brother OF Guy d.
Barham the we'll known internal revenue
broker of this city. Their cases are being
heard In Washington at the present tune
and both officials express themselves as
sanguine of a complete vindication. Inc
charges made were preferred by special
Agent Thrasher. who came to this coast
some two years ago and for snort time
kept the whole coast division of the inter-
nal revenue service In an uproar py MS
charges. His failure to make case
against Internal Revenue Collector Well
burn. whom he caused to be arrested on a
charge of embezzlement, Is said to have
caused Thrasher's removal from the ois
trict to one in South Carolina, where he
now is.
The charges against r. NJ. Barham are
that he has overcharged the government
In the matter of expenses on his trip TO the
various distilleries and wineries In his dis
trict. The sum total Of the overcharges
alleged to have been made by him aggre-
gate a little over $500 in a period Of five
years, according to the documents served
on him, and in no instance does the CON-
plant filed recite an overcharge OF more
than 81 In a single item.
The charge against A. D. Barham IL
that he paralytic and therefore incapable
of attending to the duties of his office al
storekeeper. Incidentally Guy Barham
was supposed to he disbarred from his
practice as a revenue broker on the ground
that he was cognizant Of the overcharges
of his father. Guy Barham. not being In
the government employ, could not be dis
barred from privileges he had never er-
joyed by government permission. He
talked guardedly about the case last night,
saying:
II want to tell you just as much Of the
inwardne Of this affair as can without
endangering my fathers and brothers
cases." said he. understand. in the first
place, that we. the Barhams. have not vio-
lated the orders of the government regard
Ing the secrecy of the investigation now
being made, an investigation which my
father and brother welcomed.
1.-THE trouble, II you can call 1t that. was
brought upon my father and brother
through me- Unable to hit me. Thrasher
and his successor, now in the city. reached
ont to deal me blow through my father
and brother, knowing 1t would hurt me
far worse than any attack they could make
on me personally.
"As to the charges, have but this 20 say,
and the decision Of the department at
Washington will in time bear me out: My
father never overcharged the government
a penny and l am willing to allow my
brothers record to be compared with those
of any storekeeper in the United States.
"Now as to why the charges were made.
When Special Agent Thrasher came to the
Pacific coast he investigated Collector OF
Internal Revenue Welburn's office anc
found him short in his cash. AS he should
have done. Thrasher caused Welburn's ar
rest on the charge of having embezzled
funds belonging to the government. We'll
burn denied his guilt, and called on his
friends to come to his aid in his extermi'
". was Welburn's friend before and
after he went into office, and when he ap.
pealed to me went to his aid. Through
the efforts Of myself and many others. Mr.
Welburn was enabled not only to get out OF
iail, but to make a defense which freed
him under the law from the charges
Thrashe had made against him.
THAT settled 1t with Thrasher. He could
not touch me, but he knew he could hurt
me by striking at my father and brother
who had no interest in and took no part
In Welburn's fight.
"He preferred charges against them
which I know will not only be disproved
but in so doing the proof will show The
malice. Our defense is in Washington
What It is I cannot tell you, other than to
say 1 am more than satisfied with the re-
suit Of the investigation I have made In
nv fathers and brothers behalf.
"When the time comes that our defenst
can be made public I shall be more thar
willing, If 1t be possible. to have all thu
evidence In the case published"
R. NJ Barham is an old resident Of thli
city and bears a most enviable reputation
He has held the position of guager TO-
many years and is heartily endorsed by hi
men with whom he has dealt In his officia
capacity