The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-07-11
THIRD DEGREE"
POLICE METHODS
CHARGES CONSPIRACY EXISTS
BETWEEN U. S. PoSTOFFIcE IN
SPEcToRs AND DETECTIVES.

Washington, July l0-Charges that
a conspiracy exists between United
States postoffice inspectors and the
w. j. Burns detective agency, the
conspiracy being aimed al the de-
struction OF their business, was made
today in a petition filed by the Per
kins detective agency of Philadel-
phia Pittsburg and indianapolis, with
the select committee appointed by
the senate to investigate the third
degree" methods OF the police.
Charles A. O'Brien, city solicitor
of Pittsburg, tomorrow will ask that
the commiNee undertake an inNesti-
CATION OF the circumstances surround
ing the raiding of the Perkins agency
offices in the three cities and the
seizure OF its papers by postoffice in
spectors and operators from the Burns
agency.
G. B. Perkins. Walter w. Perkins
and \. Thomas were accused recent
ly of having written TO c. Strong OF
Erie, Pa. that unless $4,000 was
forthcoming, the Strong house and
Mausoleum would be blown up.
The letters were alleged 10 have
been anonymous and forwarded to
Mr.. Strong with the idea in view, it
was contended, that the Perkins
agency would gain employment IN
ferreting out the authors and pre-
venting the carrying out Of the threat.
The Third Degree.
The petition sets forth that raids
were made on the Perkins agency in
all three cities by postoffice in
spectprs and Burns detectives, and
that the former. acting under federal
law. seized valuable papers and per
sonal records. In addition the Off
GERS and employees of the Perkins
agency. the petition further charges,
were subjected to third degree
methods to eXtort evidence or con
fessions.
i'm asking Tor an investigation, the
petition says their case is not an
isolated one, but that they are pre-
pared to prove that like conduct on
the part of postoffce inspectors is
not an intrequent occurrence in other
parts of the country.
Your petitioners further believe
and therefore aver the petition pro-
ceeds, that some, if not all OF the
aforenamed United States postoffice
inspectors engaged in the conspiracy
in this petition particularly set forth,
are peculiarly interested in the Burns
detective agency and are prostitutlng
their offices and exercising assumed
and unwarranted powers hereunder
for the purpose of furthering the in
terests Of said agency, to the great
peril of the rights and liberties OF
the citizens and the scandal and de-
basement of the public service
The petition concludes with the
request that the committee inquire
fully into the matter of alleged perse-
rution Of the Perkins agency and also
as TO whether there is any unlawful
cooperation or connection between
the Burns detective agency and GER
ain inspectors of the postoifice de
partmcnt,
W. j. Burns, head of the Burns
agency. was former secret service
official in the treasury department.
He achieved considerable reputation
for his work in connection with the
lnti.eraft crusade in San Francisco,
and at present is in the limelight as
/, result of his work in the dynamiting
plot which caused the destruction Of
the Los Angeles Times plant. 1t was
under his direction that the labor
leaders, now being held for that af-
fair, were arrested.