The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-12
BURNS DETECTIVES MAKE
SENSATIONAL ARRESTS.
Senator Smith and Delegates
Rhodes, Duff, Asbury and Hill
Under Arrest.
Accused of Having Accepted
Bribes From William S. Ed
wards to Vote For Him.
Ihtslligencsr Bureau.
Charleston, W. Va, Feb. IL.


state Senator. Ben A. Smith. OF
Roane county and Delegates s. u. q.
Rhodes, OF Mingo: Rath Dun, OF Jack
son; II. +. Asbury. of Putnam and
David r. Hill. OF Mason county. were
placed under arrest this afternoon
charged with selling their votes to
William Seymour Edwards. one OF the
Republican candidates before the leg
islsture for the seat in the United
states senate now occupied by Clar-
ence w. Watson. The complaint was
made by 7. G. Townsend, Prosecuting
Attorney OF Kanawha county. All
were placed under bond of $4,000 each.
Asbury waived a preliminary hearing
but the other four will appear before
Justice Dering Thursday morning at
IL O'Clock.
The required bail was furnished by
Samuel stevens, acting as security
for Asbury and former Deputy 4. :.
Marshall Dan Cunningham Of Charles
ton for the others. All the accused
are Republicans. The arrests were
Consummated through evidence ad-
duced by the dictagraph and opera
tors from the William j. Burns Ma
ttonal Detective agency, with Mr..
Burns in personal charge of the work
The climax came shortly after the
noon hour today i'm "A highly dramatic
manner. 6. T.. Bcntly. one Of the
'leverest OF Burns Lietuenants who
ia" bFFu III dhAlNF AudIEf OF Alt IN
Nestigation leading up to today's SEN
sational disclosures and who has been
ma squeradng for weeks as an Ed
wards agent, called the five TO his
quarters at the Kanawha hotel and
gave into their hands the net sum OF
twenty thousand dollars Then. es-
Cor;ing them individually to another
room, obstensibly for the purpose Of
telling colonel Edwards that every
thing "A rfp hood
lers were pounced upon by Prosecu-
tor Townsend. Detective Burns. Sher-
I'M Bonner Hin ana score OF deputies
and the money which had just been
turned over to them. taken In charge
All N! the bills. which were Of one
Thousand dollar denomination were
marked. completing a chain OF appar-
entity impreRnable evidence.
Rhodes Caught.
Delegate 'ssug' Rhodes. who on the
ballot before the joint assembly today
changed his vote from Isaac T Mann
To William Seymour Edwards. with
the explanation that he had heard
from the people back home. was the
first of the accused sOlons 10 fall into
the trap laid by Burns operatives.
Rhodes was taken into "a room at
the hotel by Detective Bentley. and
fifteen thousand dollars in crisp new
gold certificates placed In his hands.
He was then escorted To- rear room
and turned over 60 the local authori-
ties. who Immediately placed him un-
der arrest. removing tho money jus,
given him ny the operative
Senator smith Vas the next 10 fall
into the trap The Roane county
Senator was handed on" thousand
dolilrs with the prpmis. that mor,
would be forth coming in few days.
Delegate Dun WAS given two thousand
dollars. while Delegate Ashury and
Iiill were resented with q thousano
dollars each. Magistrate ". q. Der.
ing. before whom warrants were
sworn out for the arrest ~ the i've
legislators, was present and assisted
IN searching and selzinC the money
found upon the accused men
Burns Makes Statement.
Later they were taken 10 his Office.
where an effort was made - secure
bond. William J. Burns. who came
here To-Day 20 witness the arrcst ~
tho Legislators against whom evidence
had been unearthed bv his operatives
made n short statement. lie said.
Some time ago Colonel William
Seymour Edwards came 10 my Office