The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-27
Says He Paid $4,000 for ''Opin-
ion" From Department
MILLER AND JOHNS ARRESTED
1t Seems That Johns Was the Conf
dental Man Who Worked on the
Outside for Miller-Depart-
ment Has the Checks.

Cincinnati, May 2o-John J. Ryan,
whose confessions caused the arrest of
D. V. Miller. assistant general attorney
of the postoffice department at Wash
ington and OF John M Johns, prosecuting
| attorney Of Park county, at Rockville,
Ind, operated his "get-rich-quick" turf
investment concern from here and from
st. Louis, and ran winter races at New
port, KY Other warrants have been is-
sued as a result of the Investigations of
Postoffice Inspectors w. ]. Vickery of
Cincinnati and r. NJ Fulton of st. Louis.
Ryan Is here now, and admits he oper-
ated some time at st. Louis before the
inspectors got after him, and later he was
called to Washington. Ryan says;
81 was sore because 1 heard others do
ing business like mine stood in with the
postoffice department by giving up $685.
600. and 1 felt that those VINO were
standing in with the department were
behind the investigation, SO as to get me
out of their way"
Got Telegram From Johns.
After returning from Washington to
st. Louis last November Ryan says he
got telegram from Attorney Johns from
Rockville, Ind, that Johns could be of
service to him with the department at
Washington, and later Ryan and Johns
met in Terre Haute. There, Ryan says,
Johns explained how close he was to
Miller and how Miller had accepted
$1,000 job in the postoffice department at
Washington with the idea that the job
had certain trimmings" such, as Ryan
says Johns explained, Ryan would be
able to furnish.
Ryan declares Johns asked $4,000 to get
Miller letter from the attorney generals
office, showing Ryan was entitled to use
the mails After a little dickcring, Ryan
says, Johns came down to $500 and the
proposition was accepted. A proposition
to pay $1,000 for literature SO woTded 1t
would pass muster If 1t was ever taken
up In the mails was later accepted. Ryan
asserts that Johns delivered the letter and
literature to him December 16 Ryan says
he gave Johns $1100 cash and checks dated
December II, one for $1,000 and one for
$140o.
Warrants Issued.
The warrants for Miller at Washington
and Johns at Rockville were drawn up
here last Saturday by United States Attor-
ney Bundy and his associates on informa-
tion by postofhce inspectors who have a
great mass of documentary evidence,
notably a letter to John ]. Ryan from
George A. Christlancy as acting assistant
attorney general for the postofdce depart
ment, informing Ryan that the investi-
cation satisfied the Washington officials
of his right to use the malls In his busl-
ness. In one corner are the initials ID.
V. M" In Miller's handwriting, indicating
that Miller dictated the letter and for
this reason the officials say there is no
proceeding against Christlancy. This let
ter was not forwarded to Ryan, but 1t
came to him through Johns when they
met In Cincinnati December IS, 1902, after
Ryan paid Johns $1100 cash and $4,000 In
st. Louis checks. These checks Endorsed
by Johns and cashed by him in the bank
at Rockville, Ind, are also In the hands
OF the postoffice inspectors here.
This Letter Cost 5000.
The following is the letter that Ryan
says cost him $1,000:
I'D. V. M
washington. d. c.. Dec. 10, 1902
'Messrs. John J. Ryan & Co, Fourth and
Locust Streets, ST. Louis, Mo.
"Gentlemen-Your attorney has request
ed that you be informed of the decision
In this office In relation to your case
which has been pending before it since
November IL, 1902, and in accordance with
said request l beg to inform you that
information desired as indicated by GER
tain written questions propounded to you
at the time of the hearing and your an
swers thereto, were furnished by you
to the postofhce inspectors November 2s
and 20, 1902. Said inspectors have filed
their report In this office which report
shows that you have furnished the infor-
nation desired and were complying with
the promises and agreements contained in