Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-06
SLEUTHS HIRED
IN BROWNSVILLE
CASE EXPENSIVE
PRIVATE DETECTIVES GIVEN
BIG SUMS FOR WORK
TAFT'S LETTER TO ROOSEVELT
is READ TO SoLoNs
United States Senate Hears Report of
Secretary of War Wright in
Response to Foraker's
Resolution

IA T ASHINGTON, Jan. Sit has cost
w the government $4,000 already
in the employment of a private
detective agency 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 Wan
Wright in response to the Foraker res
olution inquiring why and by what au-
thority of law Herbert j. Browne and
w. G. Baldwin were employed.
1t was the report of Browne and
Baldwin on which President Roosevelt
based a recent message to congress, de-
claring the guilt of certain of the dis
charged negro soldiers had been fixed
beyond a shadow of doubt, and this
report was attacked by Secretary For
aker in a speech on the floor of the
senate.
Attached to Secretary Wrights COM
munications were copies of the Vari-
Gus contracts entered into between re-
sponsible officials of the war depart
ment and the detective agency.
There was also a confidential letter
from President-elect Taft, then Secre-
tary of war, under date of April 16,
1908. urging the president to make the
original contract with Browne and
Baldwin.
Mr.. Taft's confidential letter to the
president follows:
Mr.. Taft's Letter
War Department, April 6, 1908:
My Dear Mr. President; The
Brownsville investigation before the
senate committee, while it 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 hn chnnTincr nY,X 1C
were accessories before or after the
fact
IF the bill now pending, introduced
by Mr.. Warner, passes, it will throw
upon you the duty of further exam
inatiOn into the evidence to determine
whether certain of those now dis
charged ought not to be restored on the
ground that they were not parties to
the shooting, did not know the per-
sons 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
innocence of as many as are innocent
among those discharged.
I'm pursuit of that purpose I have
had a conference with Herbert J.
Browne, who, under circumstances not
necessary to repeat, made an investi-
SdllOIl lllIO Tic CciUSCS VI IIlS GILL oy
and is journalist of considerable ex-
perience, and Mr.. Baldwin, the head of
a large detective agency at Roanoke,
Va, serving the three great railways
that pass through that town.
Il have written the presidents Of
three railroads, which Mr.. Balwin
serves to know whether he is con-
sidered by them to be trustworthy, re-
liable and skillful, and until have an
affirmative answer from them on the
subject I shall not sign the contract.
The contract has been prepared by the
judge advocate general.
What Detectives Thought
81 have talked with Mr. Baldwin and
with Mr.. Browne, and they think that
unless within thirty days the prospect
of success is bright it would be use
less to continue the investigation
further.
IF, however, their clews are found,
as they expect to find them, through
the use of the large force of detectives
in the employ of Mr.. Baldwin, then
thirty days further may be needed in
order to render the proofs satisfac-
tory.
There is, as you will see, in the
contract, the right to cancel the con-
tract at the end of thirty days and
thus save half of the expense, should
it turn out that the effort is wholly
useless. 4Ou Will nnQ written on the
back of the contract q formal indorse-
ment and authorization by you to sign
in order that the money may be with
drawn and paid from the appropriation
there mentioned.
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM H. TAFT"
The contract recommended by Mr.
Taft was for the payment of $4,000 in
four weekly installments and the sec
rotary of war pointed out that it could
be terminated before it's investigation
had been concluded if it was not sue
cessful.
Secretary Wright's letter covers the
employment of Browne and Baldwin.
He says that since the discharge or
der was promulgated numerous appli-
cations for re-enlistment had been
made by soldiers who asserted their
innocence Of participation in the
Brownsville affair
It appeared to the department, says
Secretary Wright, that some of the
members were innocent and for that
reason the contract was made with
Browne under which he was to asso-
ciate Baldwin with himself and I'M
dertake an investigation of the Incl
dent