The Washington times., 1909-04-10
Oscar w. Lawler Admits
Getting MisSive-Is Not
Scared.
RESULT OF WORK
IN THE FAR WEST
AS Federal Attorney He Incurred
Enmity of Mexican Revo-
1utionists.

Oscar W. Lawier, Assistant Attorney
General. whose work is 10 conduct the
legal operations OF the Department OF
the Interior. who k.as been a Washlng-
ton official but q few weeks. has in
that short time received several letters
threatening him with destruction and
death.
If had the writer in a corner" said
Mr.. Lawler this afternoon, 7 would
soon settle the matter with him. Pcr-
soDally. 1 am not a bit alarmed at the
letter-or letters-but 90 not desire
that it shall be generally known that
l have received such communicated
or communicatiOns-beca ny family
in Los Angeles will be worried about
my safety
Admits Getting Letter.
Mr.. Lawler would admit but little. He
did get a letter about six weeks ago,
he said. while be was in Los Angeles.
from some anonymous writer. In which
ne was threatened with destruction
This letter followed. he SAID. the prose
cution Of Mexicans who were engaged
in the so-called Mexican revolution last
fall.
The feeling against him among Mexi-
although in his Official possfion. United
States district attorney for the South
ern district Of California, ne was the Of
fetal who must conduct The cases
Beyond this fact Mr.. LawIer preferred
to say nothing, although il was appar-
ent that he hsss received more than ona
such letter, and that they nave come 10
him since be took up the werk n the
Interior Department All through mis-
con verSation with a reporter he was ll-
ways careful 10 qualify any statements.
so that he might De taken 70 be refer
ring 10 one letter or more.
Investigation Begun.
The one letter he did admit receiving
is in Los Angeles. but the others wnIch
he did not admit receiving, bEt which
it is known he did set. are probably
in the hands Of officials OF the De.
partment Of Justice or have been turned
over by thai 0ep..runen. 10 ti.e proper
persons for investigation
Beyond the facts I have given you,S
said Mr.. La - Ter, and the infornat ion
that 1 am not at all worries, am not
anxious 10 get any notOriety, am am
aware that many other offic ais probably
get similar letters, I can sav nothing.
II my SuperlorS wish to say anyth ne
about the mat er, tnat is all right, but
can say nothing more. II 1 had the
man who WrOTe tie le I. rs Ia l.
luAAh couAu slIdiShIen OUT matters
Immediately.
Department Cautious.
Officials Of the Department Of Justice
reached over the telephone this after
noon refused to give out any informa-
ton about the letters When first
asked about them the answer was given
that the department cannot talk about
such matters"
After q consultation with some other
official, however, the one who answered
the telephone said the department knew
or no such communications When the
reporter insisted and said he did know
of the letters the official returned 10
his first statement and added that no
information would be given out ahaut
them unless given to all newspapers al
once in the form Of q statement"
Attorney General WickerShdm. the Of
fetal said. would not receive newspaper
men today so that no authority could
be obtained 10 see the threatening mis-
sives.