Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-08-24
DETECTIVE BURNS
ISPO|SONED IN
CITY OF DENVER
Report Reaches New York That
He Is Dangerously Ill
HIS OFFICE REFUSES
ANY INFORMATION

Three Separate Tribunals Are Probing
the Rosenthal Affair--5urns Illness
May Halt neutrality-suspicious.
Promised Immunity and viii Not
Be Prosecuted
New York, Aug. 22.-The triple in
auiry into the murder of Gambler Ros-
enthal and the alliance between the
police department and the underworld
is being held today before three sepa-
rate tribunals.
Coroner Feinberg is holding an in
quest to inquire into Rosenthals
death. The General Sessions Court is
in session. Police Lieutenant Becker,
"Dago Frank, Cirofici, William Shap-
piro, Frank Miller and Jacob Reich
were arraigned before Judge Null
queen on the indictments returned
Tuesday by the grand jury.
Grand Jury at Work
This morning the grand jury resum-
ed it's Investigations, and it was ex-
pected that Detective Burns would
testify, and that he would reveal the
names of the police officers who have
been receiving graft.
BurnsTa AIKEN III
A report from Denver says that De-
tective William Burns is dangerously
i'll there. The report said that he had
been poisoned, and when it was re-
ceived it caused a great sensation, as
it was thought he would appear before
the grand jury His illness may halt
the proceedings.
He Was Followed
Since Burns became connected with
the Rosenthal affair, he was warned
to carefully guard himself as he was
being followed by the sympathizers of
the men he was trying to run down.
been caused a great deal of worry by
being trailed in all of his travels by
He has exercised much care, and has
parties who were seeking his death in
a way that would not bring any New
York gamblers into the affair. 1t is
now thought he was followed to Den
yer, and in some manner poison was
placed in his food.
Report Denied
At his Office today the report was de-
MED, although Superintendent Dick
son of the agency admitted that Burns
is in Denver. Mr.. Dickson said he had
received a telegram from Burns, but
refused to divulge it's contents.
Libby Discharged
Louis Libby part owner of the gray
murder car" was discharged today
after the coroner's inquest of the muir
der of Rosenthal. The jury found that
the gambler was shot to death by "a
person or persons unknown to this
jury"
Immunity for Schepps
Sam Schepps has been promised full
immunity in the Rosenthal murder
case. Before testifying before the
grand jury where he furnished corrob-
Grafton to the confession of Bald
Jack" Rose duplicating Police Lieu
tenant Becker in the killing of Rosen-
thai, Schepps obtained written agree
ment from the district attorneys office
that he was not to be indicted.
This agreement was signed by Ber-
nard Sandlor, counsel for Schepps and
an assistant district attorney. When
Schepps appeared, before the grand
jury he did not waive his immunity
rights, as was done in the cases of
Rose, Vallon and Weber.
District Attorney Whitman confer
red with Detective William ]. Burns,
going over plans for the graft investi-
cation which is to be started by the
grand jury. The word has gone out
that Burns has supplied Whitman with
startling information and this report
has been verified by man in touch
with the district attorney.
John Doe, police graft inquiry, is to
be undertaken several weeks before
the calling of the trials of those in
dicted for the murder of Rosenthal.
Burns To Resign
Washington, Aug, 22.-William ].
Flynn, chief of the New York division
of the United States secret service,
plans to resign his federal position
temporarily to assist the committee of
New York aldermen in their sweeping
investigation of police conditions. In
New York revealed by the scandal
growing out of the Rosenthal murder.