The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-19
KERBY DISMISSED
8alIinger Gusts Man Who
Told Too Much.
CALLED UNFIT FOR JOB
Stenographer Declared Lawler and
BallingeI Dictated Mr. Taft's
Letter Exonerating the
Secretary

Washington. May l7.-Frederick NJ.
Kerby, the interior department stem.
ogTapher who furnished the attorneys
for the prosecution in the Ballinger.
Pinchot investigation with information
concerning the formulation Of the
Lawler memorandum upon which Spe-
cial agent Louis r. CLAWS was dis
missed from the service. was sum
marily dismissed from office.
Following is Secretary Ballinger's
letter TO Kerby dismissing him:
May i6. 1910.
"Sir-You are hereby discharged
from the public service because you
are unworthy to remain in IT, In di
vulging information obtained by you
In the confidential relation of stenog
rapher to secretary OF he interior: in
communicating that information TO
those whom you are bound 10 know
are wrongfully seeking to bring re
proach upon the administration and
TO injure me: and IN deliberately mis-
stating material facts as TO what you
did treacherously communicate YOU
show that you are unworthy and un
safe. The fact that your treachery is
futile cannot mitigate the character
OF your offense. For the good OF the
service you are hereby dismissed Re
spectfuliy.
'R A. BALLINGER. Secretary"
Kerby Not Surprised.
Kerby. who received the letter Of
dismissal by special messenger said
he was not surprised at it. lie made
this comment:
"Of course. when issued my state
ment realized that the secretary
would take some such action
"As to the charges made by Secre
tary Ballinger against me. ] am per.
fectly willing to leave to the judg-
ment OF the people OF the country
whether I acted treacherously or pa
triotically. and feel entirely certain
that the general verdict will be in my
favor
AT any rate. I think that Secretary
Ballinger Is not an excellent Judge Of
ethics"
Young Mr.. Kerby. who divulged iu-
formation with reference TO the prepa-
ration OF matter generating Secretary
Ballinger Of the CLAWS charges. will
be taken care OF by the persons TO
whom he divulged the Information. This
he admitted on Saturday night: but
he declined to say whether II was for
mer Secretary Of the Interior Garfield.
OF whom he Is a proteSe. or former
Forester Clifford Pinchot Mr.. Kerby
said that In divulging the information
he was actuated by his conscience.
because he did not wish to become a
party. as stated by him. Ito the hood
winking and deception OF the Ameri
can people"
Statement Caused Sensation.
Kerby's statement on Saturday that
the presidents letter exonerating Sec
reary Ballinger from the CLAWS
charges in the Cunningham coal cases
and dismissing CLAWS from the public
service was prepared by Assistant AT
torney General Lawler and Secretary
Ballinger himself caused something OF
a sensation. President Taft stated in
a letter to Senator Nelson that he in
structed Mr.. Lawler. after Secretary
Ballinger and Mr.. Lawler had con.
ferred with him at Beverly and had
placed before him documentary proof.
and that after considering the proof.
to prepare an opinion. 'as II he were
president" The president. explaining
that the pressure OF work preceding
his western trip. which was then about
one week OF. made II impossible for
him to give his attention TO Il.
Stenographer Kerby. In addition to-
furnishing a statement, IL is believed.
also furnished a note book 10 the
prosecution for the purpose Of being
photographed. to be exhibited when
Kerby is called as a witness. On Sat
urday Kerby said that he had no ap-
prehension as TO his future. IF Secre-
tary Ballinger sees fit to FIRE me-" he
said. 81 have been assured by certain
parties that they will get me another
Job"