The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-06
SLEUTH|NG
PROVES COSTLY
VENTURE
GOVERNMENT SPENDS $4,000
FOR DETECTIVE WORK ON
BROWNSVILLE AFFAIR.".

! Washington, Jan. Sit has cost the
government $4,000 already in the en-
ployment of private detective agencies
! to investigate the Brownsville affair
and the contracts with these agencies
are still in force. This information
was received by the senate today from
Secretary of War Wright in response
to the Foraker resolution inquring
when, and by what authority of law
Herbert ]. Brown and w. G. Baldwin
were employed. 1t was the report of
Brown and Baldwin on which Presi-
dent Roosevelt based a message to con-
gress declaring that the guilt of GER
tain of the discharged negro soldiers
had been fixed beyond shadow of
doubt, and this report was attacked
by Senator Foraker in speech on the
floor of the senate.
Attached to Secretary Wrights COM
munication were copies of the various
contracts entered into to be RESPONSE
BILE to officials of the war department
by different detective agencies.
The Taft Letter.
There was also a confidential letter
from President-elect Taft, then sec
retary of way, under date of April 16,
1908. ugring the president to make the
original contract with Brown and
Baldwin.
Mr.. Tafts confidential letter to the
president follows:
War Department, April 6, 1908 (con-
hdentiaD.--My Dear Mr.. President:
Brownsville investigation before the
senate committee, while 1t establishes
beyond any reasonable doubt the cor
rectness of the conclusion reached by
you on the report Of the inspectors
and other evidence, has done nothing
TO identify the particular members Of
the battalion who did the shooting
or who were accessories before or
after the fact.
Further Examination.
IF the bill now pending. introduced
by Mr. Warmer, passes, it will throw
upon you the duty of further examina-
tion into the evidence to determine
certain of those now dis
charged ought not to be restored, on |
the ground that they We're not parties
to the shooting, did not know the |
persons who did it and were unable |
to give any clew to the perpetrators |
1t becomes your duty, therefore. and !
that of the department to make every |
effort possible to identify the men who |
did the shooting and to establish the |
of as many as are innocent |
among those discharged
Holds Conference.
In pursuit Of that purpose | have |
had a conference with Herbert J.
Brown, who, under circumstances not
necessary to repeat, made an investi-
CATION into the circumstances of the
lffray and is journalist of consid-
erable experience, and with Mr.. w. C.
Baldwin, the head of a large detective
agency at Roanoke, Va, serving the
hree great railways that pass through
hat town. l have written to the pres
dents of three railroads which Mr..
Baldwin serves, to know whether he
S considered by them to be trust
worthy, reliable and skillful and un-
II l have an affirmative answer from
hem on the subject 1 shall not sign
he contract. The contract has been
prepared by the Judge advocate gen.
,ral.
Useless to Continue.
Il have talked with Mr.. Baldwin and
With Mr. Brown and they think that
lnless within 80 days the prospect of
success is bright 1t would be
Useless to continue the investigation
urther If. however their clews are
ound, as they expect to find them,
through the use of the large force of
detectives in the employ Of Mr.. Bald
vim, then 30 days further may be
eeded in order to render the proofs
Continued on Page Four)