The Washington times., 1907-09-04
WOMAN LAWYER
INVEST GATING
LUMBER TRUST
Department of Justice
Sends Female Attorney
on Secret Mission.

The Department OF Justice has another
real. secret which probably will not be
kept for long because a woman is at
the bottom of IT, The woman In ques-
ton is Miss May Grace Quackenbos, a
lawyer, Of New York, in the employ Of
tao department. and she is now in New
Orleans Investigating the Lumber trust,
according 10 the Southern papers.
Goes to New Orleans.
Some days ago Miss Quackenbos
slipped into New Orleans. She did not
know anybody in the town, and was
happy III the belief that 40 one knew
her except the officials with whom she
had 10 deal However, an energetic
newspa per man found ner out and OBJ
tanned a sort Of an interview from her.
but received no confirmation of the fact
that she was there on visit of inves-
LEGATION into the lumber interests of the
South.
The Department OF Justice IS guarded
IN its statements concerning Miss Ouack-
enbos and her mission. All arrange
meuts for the visit were made between
The Attorney General and Miss CUack-
enDos and in the absence of Mr.. Bona
pafte not an Official an the department
viii venture 10 say but what the New
YORK lawyer is on pleasure Jaunt 10
New Orleans.
MISS NlLtCEaeltbtS is q A4elIDtE or the
New York bar, and has been in the
service of the department about eight
months. She is regarded as very
SlreWd woman and emlleuLy fitted TO
look into the intricate question which
the Southern paper and the Department
OF Justice sparrow has assigned her.
To the reporter for the Southern paper
Miss Quackenbos acknowledged that she
held the title Of assistant district aJtOr-
uey. The Southern report says.
Much Speculation.
"She admitted her title. but absolutely
refused an interview, although the re-
porter pleaded hard for it on the ground
that a lady bearing the title of Special
Assistant United States District Attor-
ney was worth an interview a yard long
any day in this city. But the interview
was refused in q most courteous, but
most decided, manner. although AttUr-
ney QuaCkenbOs virtually admitted that
she was sent here by Attorney General
Bonauarte- She was asked il she was
here on an Investigation Of tie alleged
Lumber trust but refused 10 answer The
question and begged that she be asked
no more questions because she would be
obliged to decline 10 answer them. She
Il am here on business, the nature
Of which ! can say nothing about That
is all 7 can say. I cannot understand
how you found out I was here, and
wish YOU would say absolutely MOTH
ing about it,
The question was asked if she was
working in conjunction with loca
United States district attorneys. but At
tcrney Quackenbos prOfessed not tC
have an acquaintance with those gen
Attempts were made. before an efTor
was made 20 interview Attorney QuacE
enbos, 70 get into communication viii
w. W Howe United States district at
torney. and Rufus +. Foster, his assist
ant. but they were trultlcsS-
The object Of the visit Of Attorney
QUackenbOs viii cause more or less
speculation among business interests
already deeply engaged in watching
the Tight Of the national Administrator
on the trusts and in guessing on tht
next move. Il was suggested last nigh
that Attorney QuackeubOs Is bent OF
getting data concerning the Lumber
trust, and If this IS Sd IL viii be abOU
me most ncLel ahll-li-sI campaign eVel
Conducted. Few people know that there
Ire women lawyers pr1CtlCing in Ihi
United States, and s-iu fewer know
that there are women Who hold the Of
attorney.
some color is lent 10 the rumor OF al
investigation of the lumber trade, be-
cause of the recent perfection of an ex
1ensive organization among lumber mel
which has even gone 10 the expense u
sending high-sa'aTied men to Europe {,
look after fits interests there. Perhaps
after all. the Standard oil and the rail
road maEnates viii not be the onil
ones TO be dragged into the limelight %
rational Investigation. The question
naturally arises, viii the chivalrous in
stiDcts Of Southern trust officers ALLOW
them to refuse to pay any fine tina
might result from the Investigations o
Attorney QuaCkenbOs, as the STANDARD
OIL has done; IS not the Administration
taking an unfair advantage Of the S0utl
by sending her here2
Attorney Quackenbos is described a.
being woman of very distinguished
appearance and apparently Of very grea
brain power such as would enable he
10 accomplish anything she should Sc
out TO do