The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-06-27
DEMAND MADE To-
GUST M'REYN0LJDs
FEDERAL AGENT URGES THAT At
TORNEY GENERAL BE
REMOVED.
CALIFORNIAN MAKES CHARGES
Hating of Trial of Two Fuel Dr.
rectors Explained BY Prose-
extraordinarily Re-
signs Position.

Washington, June %. - Attorney
General McReynolds will make a full
report to President WILSON at the
presidents request on the causes
which moved him to direct postpone
ments of the Diggs-Camineth white
slave cases and the trials of two di-
rectors of the Western Fuel company,
the basis of the resignation of United
States Attorney John l.. McNabb of
San Francisco, and his sensational
charges against the head of the de-
partment of justice.
Removal! is Demanded.
One of the days most remarkable
developments in the unusual episode
was receipt by the president of tele-
gram from Clay Harrington, special
agent of the department of justice
in charge of the federal bureau of in
vestigation at San Francisco, demand
ing the removal from Office of Attor-
ney General McReynolds, HerringtSns
official superior.
Officials declare that summary ac-
tion in Herrington's case probably will
be taken up by the attorney general.
The department of justice was in ig-
norance of the special agents pro-
test until it's publication in the after
noon papers. 1t was then called to
the attention of the attorney general.
Early in the day, before Herring
tons action became known at the de-
partment, officials were somewhat
mystified and later amused by the re-
ceipt of telegram from another spe-
cial agent applying for the vacancy
at San Francisco.
Assistant Attorney General Harr
has assumed full responsibility of the
order to Attorney McNab to postpone
the trial of Robert Bruce and Sidney
Fuel company, on charges of customs
coal frauds. This postponement, men
toned in Mr.. McNab's telegram of
resignation to the president, was or
| dered, declared Mr.. Harr, to prevent
possible miscarriage of Justice
THE trial of the entire Western
Fuel case was not ordered postponed"
| said Mr.. Harr, "but only the trials of
Bruce and Smith, who were indicted
pany. Bruce and Smith were only d.
rectors, while the other three defend
| ants were officials as we'll as direct
ors. Attorney Pringle, for the COM
pany, asked that the Indictments of
Bruce and Smith be dismissed on the
grounds of no evidence to connect,
them with the alleged frauds.
Had Studied Eviderce.
Il carefully studied the evidence in
the case submitted by United States
Attorney McNab and reached the con-
clusion that Bruce and Smith, who
seemed men of high character, proba-
bly, were innocent, as apparently they
were directors in the usual sense and
were unfamiliar with the operations
of the company.
in order to prevent a miscarriage
of justice I recommended, and Attor-
ney General McReynolds acquiesced,
that it would be better to try first the
three directors who were officials, be-
cause this trial undoubtedly would de-
velop the extent of the connection Of
Bruce and Smith with the alleged
frauds
"It seemed unwise to run the risk
of convicting two innocent men along
with three men who might be guilty
when the ends of justice would be
fully satisfied by later trials if the gov
eminent received evidence which it
did not then possess of the guilt Of
Bruce and Smith"