Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
He Will Arrive From Vacation Trim
in New York Tomorrow on
the Patricia.
SECRET SERVICE MEN AT WORK
Crime Of Forgery Alleged to Be In.
cluded in the Offenses Of the
Grafters Of the Relief
Contributions.

President Roosevelt is said to BIZ
back of sensational investigation
the particulars of which have Just
been made public in San Francisco.
1t is alleged that upward of a mill
lion dollars sent to that city for the
relief of the earthquake sufferers
has been stolen by the "grafters"
who infest the city. A large force
of secret service men are at work
on the numerous cases and if is
stated that when Mayor Schmitz
arrives in New York on the steam
ship Patricia, which it is expected
will be locked tomorrow, he will be
arrested.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
+ SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, November H..
The Chronicle published story this morns
ing declaring that the present prosecution
of the grafters of San Francisco is largely
the result Of President Roosevelts indig.
nation on hearing that the official grafterg
OF the city had stolen 100000 in cash
from the funds that were contributed for
the sufferers in the disaster of last April
1t is said that the President has had 100
Of the best secret service men working
among the post Offices of the United States
tracing the money orders that were sent
here for the sufferers. While this investi-
cation has been going on the government
has been able to get no adequate explans.
ton as to what was done with the money.
Word was received here last night that
Mayor Schmitz sailed from Europe for New
York on November Z. on the steamship
Patricia, and that he would arrive In New
York probably on Thursday Of next week.
The President Interested.
The Chronicle article this morning de-
clares that President Roosevelt is behind
the prosecution Of the grafters Of San Fran
cisco, and that the main object In setting
Former Secret Service Agent Burns and
other federal detectives at work here was
to procure evidence against several leading
city officers who have appropriated upward
Of $1,000 600 OF relief funds contributed to
aid San Francisco earthquake and fire suf-
ferers from all parts OF the country.
So indignant was President Roosevelt on
hearing of the loss of the relief funds that
he said he would bring the offenders from
the uttermost parts of the earth should they
make their temporary escape.
f,ll tba fra in, Co
Francisco relief money sent by postal
order and by inclosing paper money In en-
velopes and other packages. 1t Is said
amounts ranging from 80 cents to hundreds
of dollars were sent in this way. That but
comparatively a small sum reached the Red
Cross or citizens relief committee is shown
by records of these bodies.
1t is estimated that contributions were
sent through 10000 post offices and also
considerable sums through express conn
panies. The interest of President Roose-
welt and the federal authorities in this af-
fair has been SO great that the President Is
credited with the statement that the gov
eminent would spend 81, 100000 IL necessary
to unearth and bring the criminals to JUS
tice.
The crime of forgery is said to be In
cluded in the offenses of the raiders OF the
relief contributions. There are those who
place the total of the stealings at 100000.
Burns on the Case.
1t was through President Roosevet's In
nuence that william Burns. one of the
most skiilful detectives In the employ OF
the government, was detailed to work In
San Francisco. Francis J. Heney. who.
with Burns, was engaged in the important
land fraud cases OF Oregon and California.
was detached from that work and as
signed to the San Francisco graft investi-
cation.
Mayor Schmitz has been under constant
surveillance while on his vacation trip In
Europe, and when he lands in New York
tomorrow from the steamer Patricia he will
be arrested.
By Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. November IA new
investigation is progressing In the course
of developments In the local graft scandal.
1t now appears that many sums of money.
large and small, that were sent from differ
ent states to San Francisco for the relief
Of the sufferers from the calamity never
neached the relief committee. Some Of
these amounts. which aggregated large
sum. were matted care of Mayor Schmi<A