The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-08-04
HYDE SKIPS OUT
WOMAN NCASE
New Sensation Develops IN Cotton
Report Leak Scandal.
IS GOSSIP OF WASHINGTON
Resignation of Mrs. Burch From De-
partment Brings on Talk--Was
HYde'S Private Secretary.


A Washington special says: II is
unfair to say as some papers are do
ing, that any officials of the depart
ment Of agriculture have accused for
mer Statistician John Hyde Of com
piicity with the recently unearthed
departmental frauds. At the same
time, however, the prevailing impress
sion in the department is one Of sur
prise and regret the Mr.. Hyde should
have gone away practically between
two suns without letting Secretary
Wilson or Assistant Secretary Hays
know Of his plans. He was expected
to remain in the city until the grand
jury could have an opportunity to
hear him and his going has in a de-
gree crippled the government in its
efforts to bring the real culprits to
justice.
His action has, in a measure, de-
bl4O9Eu uN par NAhthNdl commence Ia
him. 1t is not yet time to say the
department thinks him a party TO the
frauds, but the officials do think that
he should have been brave enough 10
remain at home and stand the racket
whatever it might have been. His
failure to do this was a great disap-
polntment TO his Washington friends,
oficial and otherwise. No accusations
have been brought against him be-
yond the fact that his methods were
sufficiently loose as to make the work
OF the real culprits easier than It
should have been,
The suspicion exists in some quar-
tiers that he probably would not have
gone had he been satisfied that he could
run the gauntlet of the grand jury in
uui-y without harm. His departIEen-
tai friends say that his natural timid-
ity. w..lch is ranl: Cowardice at times,
has controlled him in this case, and
that his going away is not an evidence
of guilt.
Meanwhile, inquiry now under way
by Professor Hays, and the grand
Jury will probe a little deeper into
Hydes personal case than otherwise
they would have done.
The principal topic OF conversation
In washington is the resignation Of
Mrs. Bertha Burch, formerly private
secretary to Mr.. Hyde. Ryen the re-
fusal OF Beckham and Haas to testify
before the grand jury Thursday after
noon and probability of summary
treatment o. them unless they change
their minds does not appear to be no
interesting to the Washington people.
MIRA Burch is the woman who has
been frequently referred 10 in con-
nection with predictions that she
would either he dismissed or forced TO
resign. In view Of some OF the stories
that are goiDg the rounds, It Is be-
lieVed by some that Secretary Wilson
was unduly lenlent in permitting her
resignation, instead Of incontinently
dischnrging her.
Mrs. BuIch, II Is claimed, had o
thorough knowledge Of the intricate
work Of the bureau Of statistics ard
s'nce August 20. 1900, when she en-
tered the classified service as a stem.
ographer and statistical clerk, has
been one Of the most trusted employees
in the bureau under the supervision
a. John HYDE. II has been declared
by many employees at the department
that Mrs. Burch had unusual !nfu.
ence with Mr.. Hyde and that so far
as the Affairs OF the bureau we're con-
Cerned, she was called "the power be-
hind the throne"
In the departmental blue book for
1903 the name OF Mrs. Bertha Burch
is entered as a compiler" in the bu.
Tesu of statistics OF the department
Of agriculture. Mrs. Burch AYERS that
her position was that Of private sec
rs:ary to Mr.. Hyde. ,'