The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-17
KERRY BOUNCED
BY BALL|NCER|
Stenographer Who Gave |nfor::
Inatioa is Called Unfit.
| HE TOLD TOO MUCH
Says Taft's Letter Generating Bal
inger Was Dictated by Assistant
Attorney General LaWIer.

IInSer was dictated ny ASS'Seai's
Attorney General LawIer.
Washington, May 17.-Frederick M.
Kerby, the interior department stem
ographer 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 16, 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 the interior; in
communicating that information to
those whom you are bound to 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 I'M
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
specially,
"R. A. BALLINGER, Secretary"
Kerby Not Surprised.
Kerby, who received the letter OF
dismissal by special messenger, said
he was not surprised at it. He made
this comment:
"Of course, when issued my state
ment realizedy that the secretary
would take some SUCH action.
Gas to the charges made. by -Secre
tary Ballinger against me, I am per
fectly willing to leave to the judg-
ment of the people of the country
whether 1 acted treacherously Tor pa
triotically, and 1 feel entirely certain
that the general verdict will bet,in my
favor. !.
'At any rate, think that Secretary
Ballinger is not an excellent judge of
ethics"
Young Mr.. Kerby, who divulged in
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 it, W as for
mer Secretary of the Interior Garfield,
of whom he is a protege, 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 generating 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
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 If he were
president" The president. explaining
that the pressure of work preceding
his western trip. which was then about
one week off, made it impossible fol
him to give his attention to it.
Stenographer Kerby, in addition to
furnishing statement, it is believed
also furnished a note book to 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. eff Score
tary Ballinger sees fit to fire me- he
said, 81 have been assured by certain
parties that they will get me another
job"