The Sentinel=record., 1912-01-04
BOOKWALTER'
 IS ACCUSED
DEFECTIVE BURNS MAKES OPEN ACCUSATION AGAINST MAYOR
 OF INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Says He Was Negligent in Not Prose- outing McNamara Two Years Ago When He Had Evidence of
 Explosives There.


 William J. Burns, before leaving late today for Philadelphia, openly charg- ed former Mayor Charles A. Book walter of this city with negligence in not having prosecuted John J. Me Namara two years ago on evidence Tn his possession indicating that officials of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers had caused dynamite explosions here.
 Burns declared the prmer mayor dropped the Investigation and not long afterwards was invited to become a member of printing firm doing much work for national labor unions and in which already Samuel Gompers. president of the American Federation is reported to him as being interest ed.
 Bookwalter, in an interview today denied that Gompers at any time had been concerned in the printing firm or that he knew him intimately but said that the partners in the firm were Geo. Rappapert, counsel for the in- ternational Association of Bridge ana Structural Iron Workers. and Hugo Thorsch, long time friend of Comp CTS,
 Bookwalter admitted that two years ago he had told score of prominent national labor leaders that he was convinced of the guilt of John J Me Namara and tine iron workers union in connection with the four explosions cn property of Albert von spreckles in October 1909.
 "Why didn't Bookwalter pursue his investigation queried Burns, 'eith- CT as mayor or as private citizen after he retired from office shortly afterwards If he knew. as he says he did, that John ] McNamara and the iron workers were dynamiting the property of non-union contractors, it was his duty to prosecute or tell the public what he knew. If he had done so. scores of subsequent explosions might have been prevented
 The detective asserted that he could not at this time discuss the details of Bookwalters alleged relations with Gompers or the printing establish ment but said that all information developed in his investigation would be turned over to the government prosecutors.
 The federal grand jury resumed it's inquiry into the alleged dynamitng plot of national extent.
 Hugo Thorsch. partner of Bcokwal- ter, declared he would give Detective Burns free access to the books and records of the company.
 q never have had business reis- tions with Samuel Comp lr9" said Thorsch, though have obtained large printing contracts with labor unions. It is true that before l came to this city from Philadelphia, seven years ago, edited labor newspaper. l cannot imagine the source of allega- tions that l have been associated with Samuel Gompers. I have never even been successful in getting a printing cointract from him. Mr. Bookwalter came into this firm be- cause he wished to engage in the bus mess. and he was desirable part ner''
 Bookwalter. in turn. stated that his reason for dropping the dynamiting investigation was that he personally had financed 1t and when his term of office. as mayor. expired. he felt that his public interest in it was ended
 A conference was held late today I'll WHItut pditittp phNCu fChAtSN oNe'eSs District Attorney Charles w Miller in charge of the governments inquiry here; Oscar Lawler. special govern ment prosecutor; District Attorney J. D. Fredericks of Los Angeles county 1 Cal, who prosecuted the McNamaras and Walter Drew, counsel for the Ma tional Ereetors Association 1 II Is understood the governmenta ease against the alleged conspiratort was mapped out A number of wit. nesses are expected to testify tomor row
 Defective Burns will return hers Friday to give his testimony while Mir Fredericks probably will be called q