The Washington herald., 1912-06-29
PROBERs CLEAR
SECRET SERVICE
Gotham Grand Jury Report Ex-
coriates Klinke, Chief
Wilkes Detractor.
FRIENDS CONGRATULATE
NEW YORK OPERATIVES
Charges Found to Be Malicious,
Mendacious and Vindictive
in Report.

Special to Ths Washington Herald.
New York, June ss.-Capt W. j. Flynn
and his associates attached TO the local
once Of the United States Secret serv-
ice Division, held an informal recep-
ton in the Secret Service offices in the
Custom-House to-day. The callers in
cluded oficisls representing nearly every
branch Of government activity and per
sonal friends OF the agents. Congratu-
lations were extended fonowing the un-
precedented action Of the Federal grand
jury yesterday in connection with what
has grown to be known as the ''EClinke
case"
The unanimous report OF the grand
jury not only cleared the Secret Serv-
ice, its oficIals and operatives, OF all
the charges brought by Klinke, but
branded them as 'hagrantly mendacious,
seemingly malicious In motive and con-
ljecturally prompted by indicative i'm
pulse
Klinke, who was formerly attached to
the local ONCE, was detected in making
false report and presenting a false
charge in connection with his ohicial
work. The facts were transmitted 70
Chief John z. Willxie at Washington,
and Klinke was Immediately suspended
pending an investigation. Rlinke inter
lested some local politicians in his case
and started a campaign OF vllication d.
rected Principally at his immediate su-
perior. Capt Flynn, but incidentally en-
bracing in his charges the entire serv-
ice, Chief Wilkie, and the chiefs son,
a young business man OF Philadelphia.
Klinke secured the temporary support
Of a newspaper which gave wide pub
licity TO Klinke's charges. He alleged
the use OF stool pigeons" for the pur-
pose Of melting the commission or
crimes against the Federal statutes, al
legged that innocent persons had been
''railroadeu to the penitentiary by con-
spirators among the Secret Service
agents, and asserted that the agents or
the Service had been directed 10 secure
Information In their oficial capacity for
the personal profit and benefit OF Chief
| wilkes son.
Service Asked Investigation.
The Secret Service officials brought the
matter oficially to the attention Of United
States Attorney Wise, Of the Southern
District Of New York. and requested that
these charges be investigated by the
Federal grand jury. The suggestion was
followed and Klinke was called before
the grand jury to present his charges
under oath. Witnesses whom he said
/
| subpoenaed and Chief Wilkie, Donald
Wilkie. his son. and a number Of Sec
ret Service agents. several attaches Of
the oflce Of the United States Attorney
and lawyers in New York were called
before the grand jury and questioned at
length. The grand jury concluded its in
vestigation after having devoted one-haIf
Of the present term OF court to the -ex-
animation Of the witnesses and Of docu-
mentary evidence submitted and yester-
day submitted a report to Judge Hand,
Of the United States District Court This
report, after briefly outlinEing the charac-
ter Of the charges preferred by KlInke.
concludes as follows:
The grand Jurors further desire 20 re-
port that the only evidence Of miscon-
duct that the grand Jurors have been
| able to discover, the result OF such
| investigation, was that Of the gross mis-
conduct Of said Otto F. KIinke while he
was in the government service, which
led TO his resignation from the service
and which would have warranted his
summary dismissal
Believing that the United States Sec
ret Service deserves the high measure
| Of public confidence which II has hereto
| ofre enjoyed. and that II is Of public
| Importance that this confidence should
not be impaired by charges which. on
| investigation. have proved tn be with
4
the Southern District OF New York.
| therefore, respectfully request that this
court spread this presentment upon its
minutes"
Chief wiIkIe Gratihed.
Chief wiIkie. who was seen at his
| once in the Treasury Department.
confessed that he was gratifed at the
outcome OF the Kllnke case.
Es
that the reckless charges Of a dis
gruntled employe should have been
given such wide publicity in a form
calculated to inJure the service as a
whole and to reflect upon the integrity
OF its officers and relatives Of its Of
ncers. An ingenious twisting Of facts
and a little deliberate misrepresenta-
tion were sufficient to enable Klinke's
publicity agent to get some stories be-
fore the public in a way to bring dis
credit upon all OF us. During the near
ly fifteen years that I have been identl-
fed with the Secret Service my one |
aim has been to increase its efficiency, |
and. at the same time, maintain the
highest possible standard OF Integrity |
and practice. The service never has |
tolerated anything which even remotely !
resembled a 'frame-up;' and there are |
numerous instances in our records |
where we have frustrated attempts Of |
individuals to secure the conviction Of |
innocent persons, and have convicted
the instigators Of such schemes.
Il am grateful to Judge Hand and |
to the gentlemen Of the grand jury for
handling the case in such a manner
as permanently to record the action Of /
the investigating body I teIephoned
my congratulations to Capt. Flynn and
the agents Of the New York ONCE this
morning. The report of the grand fury
properly characterIzes the unjustifed al
legations Of Rlinke and discloses the
pitiful weakness Of the foundation upon
the service and to its methods. . Cant.
Flynn. who was directly attacked by
Klinke in some Of his newspaper state
ments, has sued Klinke for defamation
OF character and will push proceedings
against his former subordinate"
VIII Represent Academy Here.