The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-03
POSTAL THIEVES IN The Tolls.
Developments in The 'Gst.Rish-
Quick Bribery Gases.
RYAN, the Man Who Furnished
Money 10 Bribs Corrupt Officials
Turns State Evidence and
Furnishes Documents.


Turns State Evidence and
Furnishes Documents.
Washington, May 26. United States
Marshal Henry G. PettiE, at Rockville,
Ind, notified the department. by tele-
graph today of the arrest Of Joseph M.
Johns, the man charged with con-
spiracy in the alleged bribery OF DAME!
81. Miller, the. assistant attorney OF
the postofice department, who was
arrested last night. Johns will be tried
wish Miller at Cincinnati. The cases
viii be presented to the Federal grand
iury. which meets there on October o.
According TO evidence in possession OF
the postal authorities Johns received
81 500 as result OF the decision or
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Chrissisncy that the Ryan Turf
Investment Company was entitled
to use the mails. aliier W. was
an assistant Of Christiancy. Ihe
authorities here say thas Jonns
was not an attorney OF the Ryan con,
Germ, but has been lifelong friend
and political associate OF Mltier. 1ne
exact division OF the $500 is not
known. Miller was at the possomee
department today in conference WITH
Assistant Attorney General Robb. who
closely questioned him regarding the
case The case of the Arnold Com
many, the turf Investment concern
which was responsible for the first
T.haroes aoainst the Office of the assist
ant attorney general, and which,
DESPITE the adverse report or poseomce
inspectors, obtained favorable de-
cision from the Office, is still under
investigation.
The checks which figure in the al
legged payments to Miller and johns,
which are in possession OF the depart
ment, are for So, 400. They were sup.
plemented with cash payment or
81, 100. The checks are signed by the
RYAN ceacern and made out to Johns's
order and endorsed by him. Ryan has
agreed to be witness for the Govern
msnt. He has furnished the depart
nent with ali the information In his
possessicn, including the documents.
While the department cannot
guarantee Ryan's immunity, it will
nnt his service in giving States
evidence in the best light before the
Court. Miller had charge OF the IN
yastigation of the Ryan case and pre-
nared the letter, which Acting As
sistant General Christiancy signeo.
This letter, which constituted the de-
cision Of the department., allowed the
concern to nse the mails, and was slgn-
ed December 10. The decision in the
Arnold case, which served as prece-
dent, ana whose language is followed,
Was signed by Assistant Attorney cen
eraI Tyner, December f..
JOHN ]. RYAN'S CONFESSION.
Cincinnati, May 26.-John J. Ryan.
whose confessions caused the arrest OF
Miller and Johns, operated ms get
rich-ouick'' turf Investment concern
from here and from st Louis and ran
winter races at Newport, Ky. Other
warrants have been issued as result
nf the Investigation Of the postofhce
inspectors. Ryan is here now and ad-
1nits that he operated some time at
St Louis before the inspectors got att
ar him, and later ne was called TO
Washington. Ryan says:
ssI was sore because / had heard
that CONCERNS like mine stood In with
the postofice department by giving up
S25, 900, I felt that those who were
standing in with the department. were
behind the Investigation so as TO get
me ont Of their way - .
After returning srem Washington to
ST. Louis last November, Ryan says,
he GOT g. telegram from Attorney
:Johns. of Rockville, Ind, that Johns
eouid be Of service to him with the
6ensrtment at Washington, and later
Rvan and Johns met in Terre Haute.
There. Ryan says, Johns explained
how close he was TO Miller and how
Miller had accepted a 1900 job IN
the postofice department at Washington
with the idea that the job had certain
q trimmings. such as, Ryan says,
Johns explained, Ryan would be able
to furnish. Ryan declared that johns
asked $500 to get from Miller a let
ter from the attorney generals Office
showing Ryan was entitled to use the
mails. Later Ryan say Johns came
down to g, 500 and the proposition was
accepsed. A proposition to pay S2,OOC
for literature 80 worde6 it would pass
Inaster if it was ever taken up IN the
mails was later accepted.
RYAN asserts Johns delivered the let
ter and literature to him on December
1e. Ryan says. he gave Johns 81, l0C
cash and checks, dated December II,
one for 5000 and one for 81. 400.
Then, Ryan says, everything went
along smoothly until the trouble Of
February 8. A week later a fraud
order was issued against Ryan, and
Ryan says an effort for another shake,
down was put on foot, but he would
not stand for it. He says he received
more teIegrams from Johns. Ryan
says he preserved all the. telegrams
and letters.
JOHNS HELD TO BAIL.
Terre Haute. Id, May 26.-JosepE
81. Johns, who is charged with COM
plicity in the Milier-Ryan postal scan
dal, was arraigned before Commission
Id