The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-05-05
GOVERNOR BREWER STATES THE
SCANDAL WILL BE PRoBED
TO THE BOTTOM.
OTHER ARRESTS ARE
|, EXPECTED TO FOLLOW
Confession of Secretary of Board Of
Prison Trustees Is Thought to lmpIi-
cate "Higher Ups"--Evidence OBJ
talned With Detectaphone.

Jackson, Miss, May 5.-Who, If
any, of the higher up" men connected |
with the penitentiary department of |
the state, or among purchasers Of cot |
ton raised on the convict farms in |
Mississippi, will be the first to be |
arrested following the arrest and con-
fession of Laurence Yerger, secretary
of the board of prison trustees, late
Saturday, when he admitted to
charges of embezzlement of funds of
the department, and altering books
and records to cover up his defalca-
tions,is the question now being asked
on every side in Jackson.
In this connection it is interesting
to know Of the method employed in
the securing of evidence against
Yerger, aside from his confession, and
of alleged evidence against others,
who, it is said, may be taken into GUS
tody at any moment. The detecta-
phone, recently put into use by the
VIM. ]. Burns Detective agency, in
place of the dictagraph, played a very
prominent part in the work of the
Burns sleuths, who, at the instance of
Gov. Brewer, have been trying for
months to get at the bottom" Of al
legged shady transactions connected
with the penitentiary department of
the state.
1t is rumored that before the inves-
legations set in motion some time ago
by the governor are finished there will
be sensational developments to show
that the treasury vaults of the state
have been cheated Of hundreds of
thousands Of dollars during the past
few years.
Gov. Brewer still refuses to allow
newspaper men to see copy of the
full confession made by Yepger, and
it is matter of conjecture whether
the secretary of the prison board i'm
plicated others. Regardless of what
Yerger had to say Gov. Brewer re-
mains firm in his determination to
probe the affairs of the penitentiary
department, until he proves or dis
proves the truth of many sensational
reports and rumors regarding opera
tions that have reached the executive
ear.
Soon after Yerger was arrested Sat
urday night the governor stated that
the detective of the Southern division
of the VIM. ]. Burns agency, in New
Orleans, had been instructed to probe
without fear or favor to the end that
every man guilty of wrong doing may
be brought to justice, regardless of his
standing in the state, friendships or
relationships. The governor says
matters have reached the point where
there has to be a show down, and he
intends to bring to light every crooked
transaction, if any, that has occurred
According to his statement the arrest
of Yerger is. "just the beginning"
There now seems to be but little
doubt but that the detectaphone was
placed in the office of Yerger mum
ber of times, and the Burns detectives
admit it was used in other points In
Mississippi besides Jackson, as vel
as in Memphis, Tenn, while they have
been trying to unearth evidence II
their Investigations into the sale o.
the states cotton.
Yerger today maintained his atti
tude of silence and still refuses to dis
cuss his arrest, simply saying he tool
the money and was ready to pay thu
penalty. He refuses to make an!
statement regarding possible connec
tioAs of others with his defalcations.
Don l.. Lehon, general manager o
the Southern division of the Burni
agency, and who came from New Or
leans early Sunday morning, accom-
,btniHeL hY, Detective H. A, Pagan, o
the same agency, is still in Jackson
These two men have been in the fore
front in he Investigations, Lehol
having PERSONAL charge Of the worl
for the gvernor. and Pagan carwtnl