The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-14

Washington, July 12.-The investi-
CATION that will be made by District
Attorney Morgan Beach into the
charges that there has been a leakage
of information in the matter of pre-
pairing the government cotton statistics
will be far more exhaustive than that
conducted by secret service operatives,
at the request of Secretary Wilson OF
the Department of Agriculture. Acting
Attorney General HOyt has completed
his examination Of the papers trans
and he thinks there should be fur
ther and detailed legal inquiry. With
that end in view he has committed the
entire matter to Mr.. Beach, who in
tends to complete his examination of
the case before he retires from the po-
siti0n Of United States attorney on Au-
gust 31st. He has taken up the sub
ject as prosecuting attorney, and in all
probability will assist the government
when the matter is brought into the
courts, an outcome of the investigation
that is believed by Department of JUS
tice officials to be certainty.
Expense will not be spared in gath
ering evidence of the methods alleged
to have been employed by Edwin S.
Holmes, the dismissed associate statis-
tician of the Department of Agrlcul-
ture. and in exposing any accomplices
he may have had in his operations.
Mr.. Beach will have the benefit OF
the labOrs of the secret service men
who were employed by Secretary Will
son, and also of the best legal talent OF
his own office. Working on the case
will be number of men who ferreted
out much of the evidence used IN the
prosecution of pOstOttice frauds.
The statement frequently has been
published that District Attorney Beach
reported TO Secretary Wilson that there
is no statute under which Holmes can
he prosecuted. He said authoritative
" today that the position of Mr.. Beach
IT, this matter has been misunderstood.
Mr.. Beach took the position that
Holmes could not be prosecuted on the
showing made by the published report
ion that the investigation was not con-
Quoted from the point of view that
would be followed by law officer OF
the department. Secretary Wilson was
determined to ascertain, in the brlel-
est time DOssihle. whether there was
foundation for the charges made by
Richard Cheatham. Secretary of the
Southern Cotton Association that ad-
H.
ell by an employe or employees of the
government to stock brokers. When lie
became satisfied of the correctness OIL
the char! he published his report anu
took stpa : to prevent further leakage
by dismissing the official believed to De
guilty and reOrganizing the method OF
gathering and publishing crop staus.
tics. Officials of the Department OF
Justice have no doubt that the ofnclals
of the New York office have betrayed
their trust for their personal gain ana
there will be found some means TO
bring them to account. Therefore IL
has been determined that the further
investigation shall be an examination
by law officers assisted by secret SER
vice operatives. 1t is planned to con-
duct the examination secretly, on the
grounds that it will be much more et-
fective 1t has not been decided wheth-
er the case will be submitted to the
grand jury as to arrests, if it is found
that arrests are warranted, but 1T is
not believed this will be the procedure.
The grand jury has adjourned for the
summer, though if it is found adyis-
able. a special grand jury might be
summoned.