The Tucson citizen., 1902-04-07
AN INVESTIGATION NECESSARY.

During the closing days OF the last
term of the United States district
court held in Tucson. VIM. NJ. Hoey,
filed an affidavit and had 1t read in
court by one of his lawyers, in which
he made allegations that should now
be investigated by the grand jury.
Mr. Hoey alleged charges of such
serious character, that il true others
should be indicted and il not true he
should be compelled to face the addi-
tional charge OF perjury.
Mr. Hoey, in giving reasons why his
trial shou,A be postponed, charged
that his mails had been tampered
with, and that telegraphic messages
sent by him and to him were subject
ed to espionage. We quote from the
affidavit:
That since some time before his
arrest he has been constantly shadow
ed by horde of these secret service
agents. and they have had knowledge
OF his actions and doings and that his
correspondence mas been opened. and
that these secret service agents have
seen and examined. as attiantl inform
ed and verify believes, every letter he
has sent since his arrest and many
of the letters he has addressed and
sent To persons, whom he knew to have
wledge OF facts useful to his de-
Tense. have not reached their destna-
ton ..e also states that he Is inform
eu and verify believes that these
secret service agents have. by reason
of intercepting 4.ls private cores
pondence been aDle to know who az
fiant believed to be witnesses OF facts
to his beneht IN his defence, and that
persons so addressed have been shad-
owed and interviewed, and thereby in
timidateu from making known to af-
iiant facts winch must be in their
possession. from communicating same
to Lam. That he naS not been able to
send telegram without its contents
being known to some one or more OF
these spies. That since he has been in
Tucson a,,enung court, as required
by his bond and obligation to the
court. his every action, and all of his
cOrrpsnOnuenCe has been known to
these secret service agents; that he
has not been able to leave the court
and visit the persons with whom he
sought to be in communication by cor
respondence, and has not been able to-
bring them here to consult with his
attorneys. He states that he has been
informed and beneves and so states
the fact 20 be, that letters
written for him by his attorneys
in hehalf, ave been intercept
ed and examined and that
these secret service agents. and spies,
so put upon information of what his
attorneys have done and are doing in
his behalf. He is also informed, and
beueves. ana so state the tact to be,
that some of the letters and kilograms
sent by his attorneys have not reach
ed their destination. by reason OF nav
ing been intercepted by said persons.
He also states that he is informed, and
believes. and SO states the tact to be.
that some OF me letters sent to other
persons ana upon other business, by
his attorneys. have been intercepted
and opened. and maied again. and
subjected to the spoilation OF said
persons
The investigation of these charges
is a duty of the grand jury. The san
city Of me mails should be preserved
inviolate. If messages intrusted for
transmission to the telegraph COM
pany are subject to espionage the peo-
pie should know it. No one has right
to tamper with the mails. If lne
allegations of Mr.. Hoey are correct
the officials guilty Of tampering with
the mails should be sent to the pent-
tentaly. II Hoeys allegation are
false he should be indicted for per-
jury.
At any rate the charges made and
sworn 10 by Hoey are altogether too
serious to be IGNORED The grand jury
should make a thor usH Investigation,
If the postoGoe and telegraph Office
can be rided Of thcir secrets, the SOON
or II is generally lHown ana under