New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Brings Suit to En-
join Officials from
Interference.
ASSERTS MALICE
CAUSED TROUBLE
Declares Hatred of Its
Officers Motive of
Persecution"
CALLS ACTS ILLEGAL
Complaint Tells of Series OF
Improper Demands from
Controllers Office.
From no Tribune Bureau


Washington. April 12.-William G.
McAdoo, Secretary OF the Treasury,
and John SHELTON Williams, Controller
of the Currency, are accused of con-
spiracy in an attempt TO wreck a ma
tional bank, and personal malice and
spite are assigned as their motives, in
a suit filed in the Supreme Court for
the District Of Columbia late this af-
ternoon by the Riggs National Bank Of
Washington.
A temporary injunction restraining
the Treasurer of the United States,
John Burke, from transferring to the
United States Treasury $4,000, being
interest on government bonds owned
by the Riggs Bank, but on deposit to
secure circulation, was granted by the
court.
The court also served notice that
Secretary McAdoo, Controller Williams
and Treasurer Burke must show cause
by April Is why other injunctions
asked by the bank should not be grant
ed. The banks bill was fled by ex-
Senator Joseph W. Bailey, Of Texas,
and Frank j. Hogan.
Louis D. Brandeis, OF Boston, has
been retained by the Department OF
Justice as special counsel to push
charges of irregularities against the
officers of the Riggs National Bank,
Controller Williams said tonight. Mr..
williams declared so many irregulsri-
ties and unlawful practices had been
discovered by the Treasury Department
that the whoe question had been re-
ferred several weeks ago to the Depart
ment of Justice.
Filing Of this suit is the climax OF
a long feud existing between Williams
and McAdoo and the officers OF the
Riggs National Bank, which happens
also 10 be the Washington representa-
tive Of the National City Bank of New
York. Incidentally, Milton f. Allies,
vice-president of the Riggs Bank, sue
ceeded Mr.. Williams on the board OF
directors OF the Seaboard Air Line
when Mr.. Williams was bowled out.
Blamed for Tribune Articles.
Coming down to a more recent date.
Mr.. Williams blamed the officers of
the Riggs Bank for the accounts pub
lished in The New York Tribune in
December, 1918, with regard TO the alb
sorption of the United States Trust
Company of Washington BIZ the Nun
sey Trust Company, in which r. Lam
caster Williams, a brother Of the Con-
troller, was q director.
This phase of the controversy IS
brought out in a lively manner in
letter 70 Controller Williams, given out
by the bank this afternoon. In which
the causes of the suit are rehearsed
and which says in part:
"On December 8. 1918. The New York
Tribune published an article severely
crticising you with respect to GER
tain transaction conducted by you rs
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury,
and when another article Of similar
import appeared in the same paper on
the following day. c. c. Glover. the
president Of this bank, received re-
quest TO call at the Office OF the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. Mr.. Glover
promptly compiled with that request.
though he had not the remotest idea of
why it was made, and he had hardly
more than entered the Secretary's Of
fee when he was charged in the most
offensive manner with having inspired
those publications.
"Mr. Glover emphatically denied
that charge, and the Secretary then de-
clared that if he Clover was not him.
self responsible for those articles they
we're instigated by some OF his assoc-
ates in this bank. Mr.. Glover de-
manded TO know who of his associates
were supposed 10 be responsible, and
the Secretary named the vice-presi.
dents. Mr.. Flather and Mr. Allies.
Thereupon Mr.. Glover replied that be-
fore accusing those gentlemen the Sec
TtldTN OF tnt treasury snOull bcUu lOf
them and hear what they had TO say
about the matter.
accordingly, Messrs. Allies and
Flather were summoned to the Treas
ury Department and there, in your
presence and the presence of Mr.. IL
lott, the Secretary proceeded TO ques-
ton them about the newspaper articles.
He first questioned Mr.. Flather, who
declared that he had not been con-
nected with the articles in any way,
and had not known anything of them
until his attention was called 10 :hem.
Secretary Violent in Language.
"The Secretary then turned 10 Mr..
Allies and charged him with having in
stigated the articles. Mr.. Allies as
serted distinctly and unequiyocally that
he was in no way responsible for them.
hut the Secretary grew increasingly
violent in his denuncistion, and finally
exclaimed, with an oath, that he would
order Mr.. Allies out OF his office, and
turning to Mr.. Glover, said: Mr..
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