The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-27
Judge Brown Explains.

Department of Justice, | "Offce of the United States Attorney Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, January 1S "frhe Attorney General, Washington, D. C. "Sir-I have the honor to say that on the 27th day of December, 1905, Judge George W. Brown, who Is one of the attorneys for the packers in the beef trust case, gave to a MT Haser. who Is a reporter for the Inter-Ocean, and who reported the proceedings of the beef trust case, a certain amount of money ostensbly as a Christmas present. the exact amount I do not know, and directed him to give $1OO of it to another repre- sentative of the Chicago press, and who is also detailed to report the court pro-
 ceedings in this case, and whose reports are used by all of the newspapers of Chicago and largely by the Associated Press. Mir Hasler had ntimated to MT. Elwell, the other reporter, that he was going to receive a present, and on that
 day met him In the corridor of the feder- al building and handed him $100 MT. Elwen declined to take 1t, and Hasler pushed it into his pocket with Judge Browns card and told MT. Elwell that Judge Brown had sent 1t to him. Elwell went to his employer and told him about 1t, and his employer told him to take the money and give it to Judge Brown, which he did, and Judge Brown told him that he did not mean anything by it, that he just wanted to make him a Christmas present. I then requested Captain Por- ter to have an interview with MT. Has Ter. which he did, and I herewith enclose report of Captain Porters interview marked exhibit A
 "On the 4th of January there appeared in the Inter-Ocean the article which 1 herewith enclose, marked exhibit B
 This article was also sent with Captain Porters report to Chief WillSie.
 This morning an article appeared in the Inter- Ocean, a copy of which here
 with enclose, marked exhibit e. Circuates Among Farmers.
 "The Inter-Ocean circulates quite gen erally among the farmers, perhaps more
 so than any other Chicago daily. The jury empanelled to try the immunity appeared in court yesterday, but owing to the ill- ness of MT. Hasler. the hearing was post poned until 2 o'clock today The jury has been at large since they were first empanelled.
 After Judge Brown knew that l was familiar with the facts. he came to the office to see me. He had learned that we knew about the matter. His explana- ton was that complimentary articles had been written about him in the papers, and
 
 that he gave the money to Elwell out of gratitude for what he had said. l do
 not remember any articles especially com pllmentary to him, but l am having the matter looked up.
 Judge Brown also admitted to me that he gave the Hasler money at the same time. The amount that he gave Hasler was not stated. Judge Brown stated that the money he gave was his own money. and that his clients knew nothing about it. We are this morning considering the question as to whether we will lay the matter before the Inter-Ocean. Mr Gar field and I laid the matter before Judge Humphrey at his rooms
 fact that the Judge returned yesterday morning. and remained in Chicago over night, and had every opportunity to read ------>---->--~--~'-~ (Continued on Second Pags)