The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-17

It was close to midnight last night when a small well built man with an eye of steel and a body built for ac- ton took his pace at the speakers able at the Stratfield hotel where the manufacturers of Bridgeport had gathered for their annual dinner. Ills coming had been heralded and Ire quent telegrams were received indi eating the progress of tho trains which had been carrying him here during the day from the west. Although the banquet had been enriched by orations by two fine orators there was reel ing of expectancy that after all the thing that would tell most would be Burns.
 And so it proved to be. Toastmas- ter Willis F. Hobbs quickly introduc- ed him. There had been slight commotion shortly after his arrival ! for there was a letter waiting Tor nm; He tore open the envelope and found it to be one of hundreds of a similar nature he ha5 been receiving telling him that he was doomed for an early grave, that he had better prepare to meet his God, etc. This particular missiVe was posted in East Bridge port yesterday and was signed A. E. P. It is said that he was marked for death and that the only reason he was now alive was because the williams in the plot were dickering over the piece of change they ought to get for doing the job.
 Burns paid no more attention to it than if it had been sent by one of
 
 adding spice to the occasion. What he told the manufacturers here is pre- cisely what he has told 'other man. ufacturers in other cities and the text of which has appeared from time to time in this newspaper. He rehearsed the doings of the grafters in San Francisco, told how he finally land ed the political boss Abe Ruef now in the penitentiary and other dishon- est officials. While the story has many times been told it never loses interest and to hear it. from Burns own lips is indeed treat.
 Burns surprised his hearers. He proved to be a most interesting speak CT. He spoke for upwards of ? hours and when he was ready to close al- though the hour was 2 a. m. there were cries for him to continue.
 He told of the difficulties which be- set the fnvestiga tion in San Francisco because the reformers could get no as- sistance from the big public service corporatio The lawyers employed by these corporations he said would not aid the cause and when they re- fused to inform the authorities who were trying to drive out the grafters Burns said he told them that he would get them before the finish came.
 He said the political boss and the ilk. He said Providence was always with those who were fighting for right He learned that the lawyers employed by the public service cor
 
 political boss to beware of Burns and his men. He paid his respects to some of the private detective bureaus. He said he didn't blame courts for not taking their word. He said some of these detective agencies were gangs of blackmailers.
 He admitted that he himself em- ployed 'Yeggs.% He said it was part other fellows and in that way he was able to get the gangs that were blow ing safes and robbing people.
 He soid he also knew lawyers who that they could procure certain papers that would help in bolster1ng up crooked case.
 He said that the role of detective required only application. intelligence, honesty and common sense. Every thief he says leaves a trail. They are not as difficult to get as some seem to imagine. Speaking of Samuel Gompers he said. By the way did you see how he handed himself a clean bill of health yesterday in speak ing of the indictments which have been returned against a number of corrupt labor leaders. Take it from me that this man Gompers had bet ter not pat himself on the back too soon. We are not done with him yet.
 "He told the press right after the arrest of the McNamaras that I had planted the dynamite where it was found and that the whole thing was
 
 bor. He insisted they were not gull ry. Has he ever had the decency to acknowledge in the light of their con- viction based upon their own admis- sions that it was no plan of mine?"
 Then he told how the evidence against the McNamaras was obtained through access to a secret vault in the apartments Of the McNamaras.
 He said Ortie McManigal gave them the clue to that vault and the com bination was in James McNamara's own hand writing. After they had searched the vault and got the dyna- mite and other damaging evidence the