The Washington times., 1907-11-02
SPY TRAPPED;
WOMAN CLERK
HELD IN JAIL
Girl Stenographer Steals
Government Letters.
Accused AccompliCe
Imprisoned.

CHICAGO, Nov. 2.-Etta L. Mclean,
the slender, dark-eyed girl until re-
Gently in the employ OF the Government
as CONFIDENTIAL stenographer to District
Attorney Edwin B. Sims, was held for
the grand jury yesterday in 5000 bonds
on a charge OF. stealing Government
documents. records, and copies OF cor
respondence between District Attorney
Sims and the Department OF Justice in
Washington. she failed to furnish bond
and went to jail
Alexander G. Gordee, a large and
mysterious person, who says he and
Miss Mclean are sweethearts. was held
by Commissioner FOote in $500 on q
charge OF conspiracy 10 steal letters and
documents from the Government He
accompanied Miss Mclean TO the North
Side dungeon. They formerly lived In
the same house. at ss7 North clark
street, as man and wife. Gordee's. real
name IS said to be F. Welding. He Is
alleged to have deserted his wife IN
Boston.
Miss Mclean has been IN the employ
Of the Government since april. She
was selected from among a number Of
applicants for the position. Neither
District Attorney Sims nor the Secret
Service men have been able to deter
mine how many Of the secret papers
Of the Government Miss Mclean has
turned over to Gordee in the seven
months she has been at work. The i'm
preston IS that she has taken extra
copies Of al important communications
and orders.
Attorney Miller Approached.
John s Miller, attorney for John r.
Walsh and the Standard OIL Company.
testified at the hearing that Gordee met
him In the lobby Of the Federal build
Ing week ago and said: 'T have i'm
portant information about the walsh
case, both from Washington and Chi
cago."
he told me his name was Gray" said
Mr.. Miller Il never heard NJ him on
the woman before and I want 10 say
that the attorneys for Mr.. Walsh never
received any Information from this man
OF this woman"
Miss McLean's zeal in copying a de-
coy letter relating to Walsh caused her
arrest. The letter was addressed 70
Attorney General Bonaparte. In a CON
fession she said.
When important papers were given
to me 10 copy or important letters o.
correspondence were given in dictation
] would slip an extra carbon into fba
machine. ana, being a fast operator. I
Wouia nave the work completed before
there was any chance for dlscoverv 7
kept the extra copy"
Captain Porter, OF the Secret Service
testlned to further details of the girls
IT = u a Hram= ==asae
copy Of the decoy letter ne arrested
Miss Mclean as she was leaving the
Onlce. She was taken before Tfstricf
Attorney Sims and asked If she had a
copy of the letter.
Hidden in Her Stockings.
''No. I have not" was the repIv.
You have a copy in your stocking"
declared Mr.. Sims. Give 1t to me-"
Miss Mclean retired to the end OF the
room There was a swish of skirts and
with trembling hand the young woman
turned over the letter TO Sims.
why have you been copying letters
and dOcuments?'' asked Sims.
Because 7 thought they were OF IN
terest," she answered- She admitted
turning the copies over to CSordee. but
could not explain what he had done
with them. On October Is, she said. she
gave Gordee a copy of an important
letter and that night they locked m
the residence of Walsh in the. citv f,i-
rectory, but she did not know whether
Gordee called upon Walsh The eopv
was found in her room. A report on
Standard Oil and the decision of Judge
Lands were found with the letters
When I arrested GOrdee' said Por-
ter. I asked him # he had been in
John r. Walsh's office In tie Grand
Central Station on October %. and ne
said: No, I was not / do not know
John r. Walsh and never saw the let
lrnntinred ON Second pareA