The Washington times., 1901-09-12
SECRET SERVICE ABsOLvED.
CorteIyou's Approval Regarded ms
OGsetting Criticism.


John E. WfIkie Chief of the United
States Secret Service In answer to the
rnaHy criticisms which appeared in a
number of newspapers, practically charg
ing neglect of duty against the Secret Ser
vice men who were with the Presidential
party when the attempt on Mr.. Mckin-
ley's life was made issued the following
statement yesterday in Justification of the
men under his direction:
There were but three Government Sc
| cret Service agents with the Presidential
| party. The fact that Secretary Coitelyou,
\ under whose immediate direction the rep
resentatives of this division were acting,
| has stated that our men satisfactorily
discharged the duties to which they were
! assigned, is sufficient for us.
| Regarding the statement of Joseph III.
| Brigham, Assistant Secretary OF Agri-
| culture, which appeared in one Of the
morning papers yesterday and in which
he is reported as having said that he had
received reliable information to the ef-
feet that the Secret Service and exposi-
\ ton officials had over twenty teiegrap,s
of warning that there was "A plan on foot
to assassinate President Mckinley at 1suf-
falo. Chief Wilkie said that the Secret
Service had not received any messages
| or kilograms of that nature.
| In reply to the question as to whether
the Secret Service had any knowledge or
Information whether or not there was an
anarchist plot in Paterson. n. j., to take
the life of the President, the Chief of the
Secret Service said that he had no knowi-
edge or information of any anarchistic
lconspiracies existing in Paterson, N. j.
| 1t vas reported yesterday that six Secret
| Service men were in Paterson on Mon
day in the effort to learn whether there
was a plot in that city to kill the Presi-
dent. All the haunts of anarchists were
visited. after visiting Straight Street
the Secret Service men went to the office
of La QUESTION: Scciale" and found
the editor, Pedro Esteve, and three as
isistants. The visitors. it is reported. were
invited to so through every room and
corner of the building, and keys to all
drawers and storerooms were given them.
Letters and papers were looked into and
notes taken, but it is not yet known what
evidence they have gathered.
1t is said that an investigation of the
record of Antonio Maggie. the Ital-
ian who is said to have predicted the
death of President Mckinley. and who is
under arrest in New Mexico. reveals the
fact that he was the leader of consid-
|
two years ago.
These men held regular meetings IN the
rear of BARRIERS shop kept by Maggie
and it is stated that the removal of the
| President of the United States was tht
| principal subject of discussion Maggie
and his associates all of whom were ltal
ians, are said to be disciples of Emma
Goldman for whom Maggie had a sor
|. of veneration. 1t was from her. it is said
that Maggie imbibed his anarchistic ideas
. Edward Andrew manager of the An
drews Opera Company, with which An
| tonic Maggie was formerly engaged as
. | cornetist is in Kansas City. Mo.
Several members of our company,
. Mr.. Andrews is reported as having sal
yesterday, were in the habit of discuss
ing economic and social questions, am
Tony cut in with his anarchistfc doctrines
. / Maggie said no man had a right to rul
, | another. and one day said the blood o
| every soldier killed in the Philippines wa
| on President McKinleys hands and tn
only way the common people could asser
/ their rights was by assassination
Early last February he told me dis
: | tinctly to watch for an important even
) before October. He assured us that Presi
D dent Mckinley would be killed before tina
e | month came.
Maggie left the company at Silver City
: N NJ" Mr. Andrews said. because hi
sympathies were enlisted by an anarchis
e prisoner there.