The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-10

Cheatham remained Tn cloSe touSii "'sA him for the purpose of furnishing any iaees conencted with the case that was obtain able. Mr. Cheatham stated that he Tailed to learn of any new facts or even sug- gestions from any one who might know that Mir Price was connected with the matters Consequently MT. Cheatnam was very much surprised when he first noticed in the report given out by Secretary Wii- son to the press the name Of Theodore Price mentioned so prominently Tn con nection with the case, as he did not know any evidence having been presented or secured by any one that would warrant the use of MT Prices name In connec- tion with the affair.
 "RICHARD CHEATEAM."
 Has Nothing to Retract.
 Secretary Wilson told MT. Price tonight he had no statement to make along the lines requested. The Secretary explained
 in detail how the matter had been brought to his attention by MT. Van Riper through MT. Cheatham and he had in turn referred to the secret service d. vision of the treasury department by the officials of which the investigation had been conducted. Their report had been made to him, and he in turn had made 1t public. What had been made public, therefore. the Secretary explained, was entirely the work of the secret service, except that portion of his statement which related to the organization of the statis- tician's office. Under the circumstances, he added, he did not feel called on to make an explanation or withdraw any
 thing that had been given out. If MT. Cheatham saw fit to make statement regarding the matter as Mir Price told the Secretary. MT. Cheatham had, that
 was very well and good
 District Attorney Morgan H. Beach toe night was asked to discuss the question whether any action would be taken by his office in the case. He, however, made the following statement. explaining his action in connection with the inquiry: Beach Makes Statement. "On Sunday last report of an investi- gation conducted for the past month by the secret service division was laid be- fore me by the Secretary of Agriculture, with the request that he be speedily ad- vised whether one Holmes, some time acting statistician of the department was on the facts in the report, individually liable to criminal prosecution.
 sOn the afternoon of the same day advised the Secretary that on the case as presented to me no such proceeding
 would lie.
 As to the manner in which the investi- gation was conducted. or on the broader question of possible criminal conspiracy, was not consulted: and any suggestion from me in the then juncture as to either subject, would have been improper in- trusion upon administrative province oi the Secretary.
 "It is the duty of the district attorney on complaint regularly lodged or without complaint, when the fact within its own knowledge fairly warrants such course to present to the grand jury alleged vio- lations of law but it Is equally his duty to avoid the slightest encroachment or questions of mere administration in ar executive department.
 "A possibility that the action of the Secretary may be misunderstood of that the connection of my office with the sub | ject may not be clearly defined. Is thu warrant for this statement.
 MORGAN H. BEACH,"