The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-13
CHARGES AGAINST
 VAUGHAN VAGUE
Officials at Washington Refuse
 to Give Details
DEBENTURE CASES BOB UP

Vaughan In These Cases May
 Be Ground of His
 Removal.
 The causes of the removal of William Vaughan, United States district attor- ney, were not of a political nature, as was argued by persons familiar with lo- cal conditions. but were due entirely to alleged failure on the part of Mir. Vaughan to carry out instructions re- eeived from the department of justice at Washington. This statement was made by the acting attorney general in Wash ington yesterday in a most positive man ner, but the details of the disobedience of orders were not given.
 In local circles it is believed that the instructions which the district attorney failed to carry out to the letter related to the prosecution of the debenture cases which came up some months ago and in which the names of a number of promi- nent citizens of Birmingham were con ncCleQ. III " dSliill6tOh NAio oiAANAeAtR fuse to state if such Is the case. At the same time. they refuse to deny the ru- nor, and at the present it is being given more credence than any other theory of MT. Vaughan's removal.
 MT. Vaughan Talks.
 When questioned about this feature of the case Mir. Vaughan stated that the in- l 4o the debenture cases had been obeyed. He further stated, however, that he could not tell of any complaint from the de- pertinent relative to the matter without looking through the files of the office. having no recollection of such. The tone used by MT. Vaughan in making this statement was such as might convey some doubt in his mind as to whether he could say positively such instructions had not been the cause of his removal
 Several persons who are well informed as to conditions in local circles are posi- tive in the assertion that the whole mat ter will be found hidden behind protests made as to the character of MT. Vaughans work in presenting these cases to the grand jury. However, MT. Vaughan does not seem to think so, yet he is not absolutely certain that they did not affect the Washington decision. In fact he stated that he was afraid to say his work in any special case did not cause his removal, though he was posi- tive in the assertion that all his work had been done In as vigorous manner as he could do 1t.
 Had Praised Vaughan.
 While the opinion that some question of office duty caused the removal is be- lieved by many, others still assert the ac- ton was from purely political causes. Tkey assert that MT. Vaughan has re- ceived numerous letters from Washing ton commenting him for the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the office, especially in several individual cases which have been prosecuted. Then, too. 1t Is asserted that this cffice is sec ond in rank of all states in the United States in the matter of convictions se- cured. These facts, and the further state ment that President Roosevelt was afraid Alabama would not send a delega- tion to the next convention favoring him are claimed as the causes Of MT. vaughan's dismissal by those taking this view of the matter.
 The affairs of the office were yesterday turned over to Assistant District Attor- ney Julius ". Davidson, upon instruc- tions from Washington in response to a telegram from MT. Vaughan. Mir. David . son has had charge of the greater part of the office work during recent terms when MT. Vaughan was i'll. At the last term of the Huntsville court he had com plete charge of the 1ockets and received a commendatory letter referring to his work Several times different judges have complimented him as an excellent law yer. He win retain charge of the office until a successor to Mir. Vaughan ;s named.
 Account From Washington.
 The special correspondent of the Age Herald in Washington yesterday tele- graphcd the following dispatch regarding the case:
 Assistant Attorney General Henry M. IIoyt, who is acting attorney general dur ing the absence of MT. Knox, said this morning that nothing would be given out by the department concerning the remov- al of District Attorney Vaughan other than the fact that he was removed. as has been stated, for neglect of duty. MT. Hoyt added that MT. Vaughan's removal was determined upon by Attorney Gen. eral Knox three weeks ago when he sail- ed for Paris.
 MT. Knox" said MT. Hoyt today, went fully over MT Vaughan's case and left instructions for his removal. These have been carired out by the department, and J. w. Davidson, the assistant district attorney, will act as district attorney of Northern Alabama until MT. Vaughan's successor Is appointed. I know nothing of the intentions of the President but I do not believe he will appoint MT. Vaughan's successor without consulting the attorney general, who will return from Paris in week or ten days
 Nothing Political.
 'There is absolutely nothing in the re- port that MT. Vaughan was removed for political reasons His official work was not satisfactory to the department. That fs All