The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Former Governor Issues Scorching Statement on
 Work of Chairman Mer-
 ritt and His Committee
SAYS DETECTIVE
 SENT TO FLORENCE
 BY INVESTIGATORS
Committee Acting Without Authority and Without Ethics, Says Mir. O'Neals Formal Statement
-EMMET O'NEAL

Montgomery, June 25.--t tSpeciaI.1 In n sensational statement issued to- day former Gov. Emmct o'>eaI charges that the legislative investigatine com miftce of which Henry F. Merritt K chairman has established n system of espionage over the private affairs of Alabama citizens and that hts com mittee sent to Florence several weeks of spying into the private affairs of the former governor, Further than this the governor asks the direct question as to where the committee gets it's authority to send out such spies and detectives and wants to know If the state of Alabama Is paying such eN- penses.
 Beyond this the governor makes public a copy of letter which he wrote to Chairman Merritt. this being the third epistle sent to the chairman without a reply being returned in which he charged that Adolph Abraham, alias Bull Abraham, tH' utitNllNt Oi tue NbulihlNNt'f iH HoN under indictment by the federal grand jury on various serious charges.
 An Odious System
 'The issue I raise is whether even so arrogant and powerful body as the legis- lative Investigating committee can estab- fish in Alabama an odious system Of secret spies and informers to do their bidding-spes whose occupation Is in gathering and circulating base slander-- spies who pry into the private affairs and invade the home of the citizen whom the committee may mark as victim of their hate" declares the governor.
 In his statement the governor declares that Adolph Abraham, the alleged detec- tive employed by the committee. visited Florence several weeks ago and investi gated all private business affairs of former Governor O'Neal searched court records and assessment books. made an inven- tory of the former governors real and personal property, inspected the former governors residence, walked over his pri- vate grounds and searched his rooms. The detective Is alleged to have told per sons in Florence that he was assisted by two other detectives and that they were employed by the legislative Investigating committee, of which Mir. Merritt is chair man.
 Another interesting question is whether the expense of employing these spies is paid from the state treasury or by that secret political cabal which the press has st frequently charged as being so power full as to dominate even the legislature itself, says the governor.
 Following is the statement of former Governor O'Neal and a copy of the letter sent by him to Chairman Henry P. Mer- ritt.
 Three times l appeared before the legis- latiVe Investigating committee. Although knew that the joint resolution under which that committee was acting, had not been approved by the governor. and tha t hence, by the expressed terms of tho con stltntion they were acting without any authority of law, l waived all legal objec- tions and willingly answered every ques- tion they propounded. I reviewed and demolished. even to the satisfaction of my enemies every islander and falsehood which that Irresponsible. interruptions newspaper, the Montgomery Journal, had manufactured and circulated.
 Spies at Work
 After the committee had completed It's investigation at Birmingham received in- formation from gentleman of high char acter at Florence that certain spies claiming to act under the employment and by the authority of the Investigating committee, had spent several days in | that city prying into my private affairs, 1 making inventories of my real and per sonal property. and as l was advised .l .lx,. residence.
 | Mir A. Abraham, who seemed to be in charge of the spying force. overlooked | the fact that the people of Florence were | my friends and undertook to indulge in some coarse and malicious abuse, which | my friends were quick to resent, and foi which he thereupon as quickly apologized | Immediately upon receiving this infor- l mationeI addressed a letter to Hon. Henry P. Merritt, In his official capacity. re- uuesting him to promptly advise me i whether the reports from Florence were
 true. Although this letter was mailed to | him both at Montgomery and Tuskegee he failed and refused to make any re-
 sponse. Accordingly, on Wednesday ot ] this week. l mailed him another letter a | copy of which l now furnish the press | "If this was matter which only con cerned me personally I would be silent I am amply able to defend my character and to protect my home from invasion
 The unprecedented conduct however of | this legislative Investigating committe, raises an issue more of a public than Q private character. That issue is whether even so arrogant and powerful q body
 as the legislative Investigating committee can establish in Alabama an odious sys-
 tenn of secret spies and informers to dc l their bidding spies whose occupation is
 a gathering and circulation of base slan- der-spies who pry into the private af- fairs and Invade the home of that citizer
 who the committee may mark as the vic l tim of their hate.
 Interesting Question 1 Another interesting question |! whether the expense of employing these
 spies is paid from the state treasury oi by that secret political cabal which thu ] Iar fro .hal. .ad h..