Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-05
: Arizona Man Files Sensational
Statement With Senator Clay
for Senate to Act Upon.
SAYS EFFORT WAS MADE
TO INVOLVE MORGAN
IN TIMBER SCANDAL
Williams Declares That Millionaire
Perrin Was Convicted on Perjured
Evidence While e. III. Hartman
Escaped.
BY Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON, Feb. al s. williams.
tia Arizona man who came to Washing
ton 70 press charges against the secret
service and who claims that his room
AZ the Raleigh hotel was entered Sunday
night and valuable papers taken, today
nlad with Senator Clay, q member Of the
invaaagating committee. q sensational
statement enumerating his charges
against secret service agents.
Tha statement revolves around the con-
vicfion OF z. B. Perrin. a millionaire land
owner and sheep raiser Of Arizona, Tor
conspiracy against the government, Dur
according TO Williams, the original pur-
pose OF pressing the house was ground
issa and unsuccessful effort TO implicaSe
the late Senator John T. Morgan, OF Ala
bama. IN a scandal involving large tract
Of valuable timber lands In California
williams charges also that the depart
mani OF Justice has made an invesuga-
tfon since the conviction Of Perrin which
coupietely vindicates him OF conspiracy
and shows that the conviction was Sc
cured BY Questionable means The re-
Fort OF this investigation, Williams
claims, win not be divulged by Attorney
General Bonaparte.
Charges Against Hartman
Senator Clay viii lay the statement OF
williams before the investigating commit
tee II he can get a meeting. He states
that the investigation has been delayed
by Senator Ganiger. whose time for the
present is required by the consideration
OF business OF the District OF Column
bia-
Another OF Williams charges Is that K.
h Hartman obtained several years ago a
vast tract Of land In Utah by the same
means as Perrin contemplated using. The
lands were patented to the Hartman IN
terests, he claims. under the hitchcock
administration Subsequently. when there
was talk OF an investigation. the Harr-
man people decided the lands back 70 the
government and there were no prosecn-
lions as in the case OF Perrin whose
methods were IDENTICAL
The prosecution OF Perrin grew out OF
a transaction he contemplated with John
A. Benson. OF San Francisco, involving
sixteen thousand acres Of timber land
N California
When the government investigated the
case prior to Perrin's indictment, Inspec-
tor George c. Hunt advised against
prosecution In his report was an afida-
Wit by c. p. Smell, a secret service agent,
who was previously In Perrin's employ
"a a lawyer, and this afndavt set forth
that Perrin remarked TO Benson, the al
legged conspiracy that he Perrin) had
great influence at Washington with Sena-
tor Morgan. and that he could get him
to assist In getting the lands.
Was Morgan Bought?
The first question asked Perrin by In
suector Hunt was: How much money
had been paid Senator Morgan by Per-
rim" and for what purpose had 1t been
paid according TO Williams statement
Eight months later Secret Service Agent
william ]. Burns appeared before the fed
eraI grand Jury and declared that he
was '5ust from Oyster Bay. and that
President Roosevelt wanted Perrin indict-
ed"
Smells anadavit, in which Senator Nor
gan was mentioned, grew out OF con-
vsrsatfon which he overheard between
Perrin and Benson. IN which the former
spoke OF the Alabama senator only as a
friend and not as legal adviser. and the
impression conveyed was not justified. ac-
cordIng 70 Williams. and was malicious
In this connection the Arizona man
states verbally that the Investigation
rev out Of a desire on the part Of the
president TO implicate Morgan because OF
MorEan's persistent fight against the Pan
ANA canal
Paid $4,000 To Testify?
II f. charged By Williams that the
records OF the secret service VIII show
that about 1900 was paid to Smell BY
the government and his only services con-
sisted Of testimony against Perrin.
Smell had previous TO his employment
by the secsrt service been PERKINS, law
yer.
The statement charges that SHELLS
sworn evidence against Perrin on trial
Of the case has since been proven BY
Smells confession TO have been perJured-
williams claims that in spite OF Smells
confession 70 perjury. the government re-
fuses TO indict him for the offense. He
Claims that Perrin was notified only last
week in San Francisco at the door OF
the grand jury room that no indictment
would be returned against Smell, unless i
was ordered by Attorney General Bona
parte. no matter what evidence might b'
submitted This statement. he claims wal
made BY Assistant District Attorney A
p Black.
- williams statement is subdivided under
nineteen heads, and after each allega
ton he cites references. letters, afida
Wits and court records TO Substantial
them. II the investigating committee goes
into the matter. much time will be re
CURED TO investigate the citations unless
Williams has certified copies of all thu
records as he claims to have I'm the SAT-
at the Raleigh hotel