The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
PROBE COMMITTEE USING SPIES TO PRY
 INTO AFFAIRS OF
 PRIVATE CITIZENS
tContipued from Page One,

leBlS1dtufe 1tSelf.
 Tn any view of the matter the action ] of this committee and of it's chairman | but proves the high handed contemptible | and cowardly methods of warfare which | bitter partisan and political hate may 1n- spire. The methods which they have pur- | sued against me personally are without precedent in the political history of this
 stat methods which are execrated in
 every state where the rights of the indi-
 vidual citizen are regarded and protected l since MT Merritt, by his silence, has | admitted the truth of every statement which I have made in the letter herewith
 attached, I have deemed it my duty to l present the matter for the impartial judg- ment of the people of Alabama, and l am | convinced that his action will receive as 1t deserves, the condemnation and con 1 tempt of every decent and self-respecting 1 citizen of this state, regardless of party or factional utilization.
 l MT. O'Neals letter follows:
 | Hon. Henry P. Merritt, Chairman l Legislative Investigating Committee. 1 Dear Sir: Since you concluded your investigation at Birmingham, a man by the name of A. Abraham, alias Bull | Abraham, who is in the employment of your committee made a visit to l Florence, my former home He dili-
 gently searched the court records and | teX assessment books made an inven- | tcAS oi ny iedl dlu pefSOIal property, | inspected my residence, walked over my private grounds and, l am in- | formed entered and searched my home | He seemed deeply interested in all my private affairs visited the tax assessor,
 made Inquiries as to my investments,
 the amounts l expended for repairs
 on my residence, the number of acres
 of land l owned and what property
 had purchased in the last seven yeaps.
 He said he was assisted in his arduous
 labors by two other spies or detectives
 in your employment and that all this
 he was doing by your authority and
 under the employment of your com
 mittee, with whom he claimed to enjoy
 the most intimate and confidential re-
 lations From the course of his con
 duct at Florence, it seems that he was playing the part of a spy or informer, r, gathering all rumors or hearsay that might be detrimental to myself or any person connected with my administra- tion. It is to Abrahams credit that inc seemed so ashamed of his mission that he registered his name from Birmlng- ham instead of Montgomery. his real residence. About March 25, I had 3 friend interview Mir Abraham and as- certained whether his alleged investi- gations at Florence were made under your instructions or those of your com mittee.
 Was Sent to Florence
 He informed this friend in the pres ence of two other witnesses, that he was sent to Florence by your con- mtttee to investigate and report the
 amount of property I owned, what pur- chases I had made during the last seven years and to interrogate all per sons that might prove to be un- friendly to me personally, with the hope that he might hear of some
 rumors or gossip that might be used by your committee basis of attack on me personally. On March 27 I wrote you a letter asking whether Mir. Abra-
 hams statements were true. This let ter was sent to you at Montgomery by special delivery and an immediate answer was requested. Again on Marcl 29, learning that you might be in Tus
 kegee, I addressed you the same com. munication. To neither of my letters did you do me the courtesy of making
 reply and hence I am justified after
 this long delay in assuming that Mir Abraham's statements were true. I have been unable to find any law in Alabama or any provision in the joint resolution under which you art acting, which gives you or your com mittee the authority to pry into the af : fairs of private citizen, to make in ventories of his property. or to employ spies and informers to gather up fol your use idle hearsay and loose. tongued rumors. In fact, the joint res olution only empowers you to emplo, clerk who shall be stenograph CT had never supposed that your com rittee was arrogating itself authorit, to establish in Alabama a system o espionage, and to employ eavesdrcp. ; rers, spies and informers to dog tn, footsteps and shadow the movement: O. private citizen, whose only offenst ! is that he opposes your political fac tion.
 l The constitution of Alabama pro. vides that the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers ant possessions from unreasonable searche. and seizures" and If the search yo, . have caused to be instituted at Flor
 ence by your hirelings is not onl, | unreasonable. in violation of law. bu insulting and offensive as well, thei am unable to construe the plain Ian
 e'iage of the constitution mandate. I have three times appeared befor, your committee and if you had eyei , suggested that any public interest: could be subserved by my furnishing
 your committee with a list of my req
 and personal property, as we'll as tn
 investments I have made, would hav
 waived any legal and constitutions
 cbiections. and cheerfully complies
 with your request.
 Dealing Not Open
 1t would seem. however, that l al
 not to be dealt with openly an
 frankly. but that you prefer method
 that arej devious and offensive. an