The San Francisco call., 1909-03-28
TRAITORS FEEL
THE HAND OF
OUTRAGED LAW
Luther Browns Arrest Follows
That of Betrayer of
People
Scurry for Bail Money as CAL
hOun's HenehElen Are
Brought In

yesterday. In Abbott's desk
were found stacks OF reports
stolen from the office of William
J. Burns. In Luther Browns
possession were also found
masses of incriminating evidence
of the same sort, and Brown was
interrupted in the very act of at
tempting to burn some of these
papers.
OF the other FIVE men under
arrest, Rex n. Hamlin was the,
first 10 confess his guilt and tell
the complete story of the crimes
in which he was involved. Ham
lin has been for two years the
confidential secretary OF William
q. Burns, and it was he who
stole the documents which were
delivered to Calhoun's attorneys.
Ruef's Forces Involved
From Hamlin's hands these
documents went TO Al Mckinley,
an employe of the United Rail
roads detective bureau, who was
the actual go-between in all the
transactions. Mckinley dealt
with both the Calhoun and Ruef
forces, though Hamlin did not
know that Ruef was also the
gamer from his treachery.
Mckinley transacted his business
with william NJ Abbott, Luther Brown
and J. Il. Handlon through Jerry Van
Wormer, an employe of Luther Brown
and the United Railroads The business
with Ruef and Frank J. Murphy was
handled By Mckinley through the me
oium OF William Corbin, who was en-
ployed by the convicted boss All these
men have >been arrested and Hamlin,
Mckinley and Corbin have confessed.
The eighth man under arrest is E. A.
Platt an enploye Of the district at
torney's ofice assigned to investigate
jurors in behalf OF the prosecution
DUPLICATE COPIES SOLD
Platt was not connected with the plot
in which Hamlin was the central figure,
but sold duplicate copies of his official
reports 70 John Helms. head OF the de-
tective agency which Calhoun employed
during the early stages of his trial
Plstt also has made a full confession.
The arrests were brought about
within few hours yesterday afternoon
and evening. and so thoroughly was the
matter handled by Burns and his as
sstants ths; not a loophole has been
left for the escape of any one directly
implicated with the wholesale robbery
plot
Hamlin sold himself last October. The
deal was arranged through Mckinley,
who was formerly employed in Burns
department and who afterward went
over TO the side Of the grafters.
Weekly Salary Paid
Mckinley had originally secured
15amlin his place with Burns and had
no difficulty in arranging the bribe.
The plan. according TO McKinIey's con-
fesEion. was for a weekly payment of
$50 by william n Abbott and his as
sistants. Luther Brown and J. II.
Handlon, TO Van Wormer or this
amount Van wormer retained $50 and
an equal amount was given TO each Nc
kinley and Hamlin. Hamlin contracted
10 furnish everything that could be
stolen by him which might be of any
interest TO the defendants
The United Railroads payments have
been regularly made. At first Hamln
objected to the amount he was to re-
reive and was told by-McKinley that it
would be doubled when Calhoun ar
rived IN San Francisco and his trial
actually began.
Double Game Played
Mckinley said that Van Wormer told
him the amount could not be raised un-
III Calhoun personally reached this city.
In the meantime Mckinley was playing
= QOuDlG game OL MS OWL lie ola not
stop with the delivery OF the stolen
property to Calhoun's agents alone, but
sought q larger source OF income.
Through COrbin he contracted with
Ruef and Frank J. Murphy to furnish
them with copies OF the same docu-
ments and TO give them the knowledge
OF the same Office secrets for So. .00o
Not only did Ruef and his attorneys
lump at this chance 10 secure the
offered papers. but s2.940 OF the con-
tract price was actually paid over IN
cash There was still due s5l0 when
the Ruef trial came TO an end with
Ruefs conviction. Then further payment
was refused b. Frank Murphy. with
whom Corbfn dealt. Corbin's confess
sion in this respect bears out in every
detail the confession Of Mckinley.
Burns Suspected Plot
Burns first suspected the existence
OF q plot and gthe implication of Ham
lin about two months ago, but took
no steps TO bring about any arrests.
Instead he gradually removed Ham
Inns power 10 injure the prosecution
by keeping all matters OF real tmpor-
tance away from him. He continued.