Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-24
Facts Are Explained to
Officials by Attorney
General M M'RsynoIds.
TO ISSUE A STATEMENT
Latter viii Be Given Out by
President Furnishing En-
tire History.

Washington, D. c., June 24.-United
States Attorney McNab's resignation,
wired Saturday TO President Wilson
with startling charges that Attorney
General McReynolds had ordered de-
lays in certain criminal prosecutions
in San Francisco which threatened to
defeat justice, still lay unacted upon
before the president today. The situ-
etion was taken up by the cabinet
meeting. When the cabinet meeting
broke up, the only announcement on
the McNab case came from Mercy
nolds.
The president will issue a state
ment on the subject in due course of
time" he said.
1t is understood McReynolds' re-
port, presented at the presidents di-
rection, was an oral one, and that
Secretary Bryan, a friend of the elder
Caminetti, new commissioner general
of immigration, whose son is indicted
under the white slave law, and Sec
retary Lane, familiar with the affairs
of California, participated in the dis
Cussion, which was general.
The house judiciary committee, at
hearing Thursday, will investigate
the delay ordered by Attorney Gen
eral McReynolds in the federal prose
cutions at San Francisco of Maury
Diggs and Drew Caminetti, indicted
for white slavery, and officers OF the
Western Fuel company, indicted for
conspiracy to defraud the customs.
ASKS OUsTING OF McREYNOLDS.
One CT the days most remarkable
Developments in the unusual episode
was the receipt by the president of
q telegram from Clayton Harrington,
special agent of the department OF
justice in charge of the federal bureau
of investigation at San Francisco, de-
manding the removal from office OF
Attorney General McReynolds, Her
rington's official superior. Officials
declared the question OF summary ac-
ton in Herrington's case probably
would be taken UP by the attorney
general.
Assistant Attorney Genera. Harr as
Eumed full responsibility OF the order
10 Attorney McNab to postpone the
trial OF Robert Bruce and Sidney V.
Smith. directors of the Western Fuel
company, on charges OF customs coal
frauds. This postponement mentioned
in MIR. McNab's telegram of resigna-
ton to the president was ordered, de-
clared Mr.. Harr, to prevent possible
miscarriage of justice.
CASE NOT POSTPONED.
The trial of the entire Western
Fuel case was not ordered postponed,
Mr.. Harr said, but only The trials
OF Bruce and Smith who were indicted
with three other directors OF the CON-
pany. Attorney Pringle for the com.
pany asked that the indictments Of
Bruce and Smith be dismissed on the
ground OF no evidence to connect them
with the alleged frauds. l carefully
studied the evidence and reached the
conclusion that Bruce and Smith prob
ably were innocent.
1T seemed unwise TO run the risk
OF conyicting two innocent men along
with three men who might be guilty
when the ends CT justice would be
fully satisfied by later trials if the
government received evidence which
It did not then possess of the guilt OF
Bruce and Smith"
White House officials stated that
the character OF the new district at
torney to be appointed for San Fran
cisco would show whether or not there
could be any manipulation OF the
cases OF the department Of justice
through political influences, as had
been charged by District Attorney Nc
Nab
McREYNoLDS WORRIED.
The attorney general is greatly wor
ried by the trouble in which he has
involved the administration. A re
porter calling at the Caminetu resi-
deace yesterday was informed tha
the Commissioner general was ava!
for the day. A few minutes la:er Mr.