Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-07-13
BURNS ACCUSED
RIVAL DETECTIVE AGENCY NOW
SEEKS TO GET HIM INTO
TROUBLE.
SECRET SERVICE INYOL YED
Affair Grows Out of Breaking Up o.
Gang Accused of slaekmailina
Strong Estate of
Pittshurg.

Washington, D. C. - Charges that 81
conspiracy exists between United
States postoffice inspectors and the
w. j. Burns Detective agency, the
conspiracy being aimed at the destruc-
tion of their business, was made in
pei.ssE5n filed by the Perkins Detec-
tive agency of Philadelphia, Pittsburg
and indianapolis with the select COM
n1ittee appointed Ey the senate to in
vestigate the third degree" methods
of the police.
Counsel for the Perkins agency ask
that it undertake an investigation of
the circumstances surrounding tbs
raiding of the Perkins agency Offices
in the three cities and the seizure of
the papers OF that concern by post
office inspectors and operators from
the Burns agency.
G. B. Perkins, Walter w. Perkins,
and A. Thomas were accused recently
of having written to c. Strong of Erie.
Pa, that unless $4,000 was forthcom-
ing the Strong house and mausoleum
would be blown up. The letters were
all alleged to have been anonymous
and forwarded to Mr. Strong with the
idea in view, it was contended that
the Perkins agency would gain en-
ploynent in ferreting out the authors
and preventing the carrying out Of
the threat.
The petition filed with the commit
tee sets forth that raids were made
on the Perkins agency in all three
cities by postofce inspectors and
Burns detectives and that the former,
acting under federal law, seized valu-
able papers and personal records In
addition, the officers and employees of
the Perkins agency, the petition fur
Their charges, were subjected to third
degree methods for the purpose of
extorting evidence or confessions from
them.
Investigation Asked.
In asking for an Investigation at
the hands of the senate committee, the
petition says that their case is not an
isolated one, but that they are pre-
pared to prove that like conduct on
the part of postoffice inspectors is not
an infreauent 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 postofice
inspectors engaged in the conspiracy
in this petition particularly set forth.
are pecuniarily interested in the Burns
Detective agency and are prostituting
md
and ..nWarranted powers Hereunder
for the purpose of furthering the in
terests of said agency, to the great
peril of rights and liberties of the citi-
Zens and the scandal and debasement
of the public service"
The petition concludes with the re-
quest that the committee inquire fully
into the matter OF the alleged perse-
eution of the Perkins agency and also
as to whether there is any unlawful
cooperation or connection between the
Burns Detective agency and certain
inspectors of the postoffee DEPART
ment.
w. j. Burns, head of the Burns
agency, was a former secret service
official in the treasury department. He
achieved considerable reputation for
his work in connection with the anti
graft crusade in San Francisco and
at present is il the lineIight as 2
result of his work in the dynamitins
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 affair.
were apprehended.