Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-07
BURNS AND RANECY
CLASH At INQUIRY
Questions by Attorney Raises
Detectives Ire.
MCGOWAN LETTER Is READ
Young Canadian Declares He Made
Hines People Come Across
After Threatening Them
With Exposure.
MCGOWAN LETTER IS READ

Washington. - William j. Burns,
who was a witness before the
Lorimer investigating committee, I'M
Ger cross-examination by Attorney
Hanecy, counsel for Mr.. Lorimer, out
lined the evidence which his detect
ives have unearthed to prove that
Charles MCGOWAN, the young Cana
dian, had committed perjury before
that body last summer.
My operative, Mr.. Bailey, told me
the young man had committed perjury
before the committee said Mr..
Burns. "He said he had letter from
him making such admissions and also
a dictagraph record. He said the
young man stated that a witness here,
Burgess think that's the name
had told the truth and that the other
had not told the truth"
Had you any right to promise him
immunity" asked Attorney Hanecy.
mo, and l didn't intend to promise
it; but l felt" continued Mr., Burns
with rising voice, that this com
mittee would take into consideration
that this young man had been bribed
by lot of bribers and that there
were extenuating circumstances.
mir. Bailey said MCGOWAN had been
at his room in the hotel" continued
Burns, 'and admitted he got money.
In the letter he acknowledged he had
shaken down Mr. Hines or the Hines
crowd"
Did he tell you MCGOWAN had ad-
mitted to anybody that his testimony
here was not true?" asked Attorney
Hanecy.
Throughout the lengthy cross-ex-
animation, Mr.. Burns engaged in fire.
Quent clashes with Attorney Hanecy.
At one time the attorneys questions
caused Burns to lose his self-control.
He rose from the witness stand and
shook his fist in Hanecy's face.
Il don't want you to insult me again,
sir" shouted Burns. I'm not here for
that purpose. You ask me fair ques-
lions and you'll get fair answers.
A few moments later the lawyer re-
ferred to a man who had called Burns
"the big detective"
"He didn't call me that" Burns cor
rected the lawyer. "He called me
great detective"
"And you admitted it?" asked Han
ecy, sarcastically.
81 did," Burns replied, and the sena-
tors laughed.
Detective Bailey was brought in
with a bundle of McGowan's letters
Another fight before the committee
followed. Mr.. Burns identified one
dated November, 1911, as the one in
question. A long wrangle preceded
Its introduction. 1t said in part:
Eating, sleeping or smoking is all
have to do. A day or so after l re-
turned home the Hines people wired
me to meet one of their men in To-
ronto. l wired them to come to Flora.
They would be shown what forced
hospitality was. The old shotgun
would be taken down and loaded with
a couple Peters No. 2. l made them
come across at that Not all expect
ed and had a - of a time getting
1t, too. l had to threaten Hines with
all kinds Of exposure"
MCGOWAN was the strongest witness
I introduced to refute the testimony of
William M. Burgeson of Duluth, who
said he heard G. F. Wiehe, brother-in-
law of Edward Hines and secretary of
the Edward Hines Lumber company
of Chicago, make the following state
ment in the smoking car of a train be-
tween Duluth and Virginia, Mimi, on
March Z, 1911:
There was Jackpot raised for Mr..
Lorimer's election. l know what l am
talking about because l subscribed
$4,000 to it myself"