The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-22
DETECTIVES VISIT
ALL THE BANKERS
Seek Information Against HYDE
and Holmes
HYDE SEEMS INVOLVED
His Sudden Departure for Europe just
as Grand Jury Needed His serv-
Ices as a Witness Is
Significant.
HYDE SEEMS INVOLVED

Washington, August 21.-(Special.) AL
though District Attorney Beach will be
out of the city tomorrow and the grand
jury will have but few witnesses before
Il, an inquiry OF much Importance in con-
nection with the cotton crop report scan
dal will be continued.
At the request of f1r. Beach, several
detectives from the local force have been
assigned to the case and armed with a
letter from the district attorney. will visit
each of the various banks, safe deposit
vaults and trust companies in Washing
ton learn whether former Statistician Ed
| win s. Holmes, Jr., who was dismissed
from the bureau of statistics in disgrace.
and John Hyde former statistician of the
agricultural department, who resigned
| under fire, had at any time accounts,
joint or otherwise, or safe deposit boxes In
one or more of the various institutions.
Must Give Information.
The letter referred to informed the offi-
GERS of the institutions in question that
unless they acceded to the requestion con-
tanned in the ommunication-that the
detectives be fully informed concerning
| the relations, If any, existing or that had
existed between Holmes or Hyde and
the bank, trust company or safe de-
posit concern in question-subpoenas
would be issued and the grand jury Itself
would exact the information. A part OF
this work was completed last week. The
officers of most of the institutions al
ready visited assured the detectives that
ott Iafr had
among their customers. At several insti-
tutions, however, dmissons-important
in themselves but bare of detail-weye Sc
cured. Subpoenas will be issued for the
officers OF these institutions In order to
secure full information transcripts OF the
records, deposit slips and the like.
1t has not been known heretofore that
the authorities, In addition to the effort
to indict Holmes. were on the trail of
Hyde as well. No information could be
secured today either at the city hall or
the department OF agriculture concerning
the discovery Of facts which would in
dicate that irregularities in the bureau of
statistics of the agricultural department
occurred with full knowledge on the part
of former statistician Hyde.
Has OccasIoned No Surprise.
But the fact that Mr.. Hyde's financial
record is being examined into has not
occasioned any surprise on the part Of
those familiar with the situation. Mr..
Hydes sudden departure for England
Just at the time the grand jury needed
him as witness, together with his pres
ent presumably indefinite sojourn across
the water would have given pretext for
the inquiry. 1t is understood, even II the
authorities had not previously determined
| to go to the bottom of the cotton crop
report leak and make the investigation
as thorough as 1t was possible to do.
| The investigation by detectives OF the
| local force will be continued this week
until all Of the financial institutions In
| the city have been covered Such sub
| poenas rs are In the discretion OF the
district attorney, then considered neces-
sary, will be Immediately issued. The
only occasion for surprise In connection
with this inquiry into the financial stand
| ing Of Holmes and Hyde, In the opinion OF
those who are familiar with the facts in
| the cotton crop report scandal Is that
| this particular phase of the investigation
was delayed SO long.