The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-25
|SWANN TURNS INQUIRY TO
THE EMPLOYER OF BURNS
Frederick Seymour Makes Formal Complaint Against
Detective for Tapping Telephone-State Comptroller
to Hold Hearing for Revocation of License.

The John Doe inquiry into the tapping
Of telephone wires in the office OF Sey-
mour & Seymour and of William J.
"urns's espionage on that Office was 30
far successful yesterday that Frederick
Seymour. having under protest first
sented to sign a complaint against Burns.
! This much accomplished. District At
torney Swami turned TO a consideration
OF what, II anything. should be done
about whomever employed Burns, and
that Is the line the investigation will
tomorrow morning before Chief Magis-
trate McAdoo.
Thus far there has been no evidence
that, Burns's employers knew exactly
what steps he was taking to ascertain
II. as was suspected. the contents cf
cabiegrams about war orders were being
diverted from the office Of J. p. Morgan
& Co. to the Seymour offices n the
information sold as tips.
The testimony thus far has been that
Martin Egan. connected with the Nor
gan Arm. employed Burns. The inquiry
tomorrow will try to find out II II
one added or induced Burns to commit
any unlawful &C = in seeking desired In
formation from the Seymour offices.
b Three Appear Against Detective.
Before Chief Magistrate McAdoo yes
terday was given the testimony Of three
witnesses before Frederick Seymour took
the tand and consented to sign "A com
plant against Burns. This testimony
District Attorney Swami said afterward,
justified considering a charge OF unlaw-
full entry into the Seymour office. third
degree burglary or malicious mischief
against the detective.
Deputy state Comptroller william
Boardman. after hearing the evidence,
for which purpose he had come to Part
vi. Of General Sessions in the Crimina
Courts Building. said that after the com
pletion OF the John Doe inquiry he would
hold a hearing to determine whether
William J. Burr should not be de
prived Of his license as a private de-
tective.
Nothing will be don't against Burn.
himself by anybody. however. until afte'
he has had an opportunity to be hearc
I'm his own defence, X anything Is done
District Attorney Swami said yesterday
afternoon that the complaint against hin
which Frederick Seymour promised Il
sign would not be drawn for some time
and mat before an Indictment is asked
against Burns he will have a chance q
appear before Chief Magistrate McAdo'
and the Grand Jury. II that is neces
sary.
Burns Expected Here Saturday.
burns Is now on his way here iron
Los Angeles and Is expected TO arrive IL
New York on Saturday. He prohabl.
will appear at the John Doe proceeding
on Saturday.
To-morrow's witnesses are Mart!I
Egan OF J. y. Morgan q Co. and Georg
r. Mortimer. president of the Equ!tabl
Building Association. which controls III
Equitable Building. In which are tn
Offices of seymour & Seymour. Test
mony Yesterday before Chief Magistrat
NcAdoo and earlier before the Thomp
son committee was that Mr.. Mortime
aided Burns to investigate the Sey
mour office.
Wher. the Mi Doe inquiry bega
at II o'clock before Chief Mag's'rat
NcAdoo there were present besides Dis
rrict Attorney Swami. who forsook In
Waite trial to go into the Seymour cas'
I Deputy Comptroller Boardman and job
D.. Lindsay Of the Law firm or N'rol
AnaOle. Lindsay a Fuller. Mr.. l.indsa
denied that he was representing j. !
Morgan & 60.
n The first witness called was Rartlet
Smith. an electrician. whose fathe,
Gaillard Smith. Is president OF In
E American Detectaphone Company. whtc
: had offices at 1888 Broadway until tn
I notoriety Of this case forced II to re
. organize and move.
smith told chief Magistrate Meade
substantially the same story u" t"l
before the Thompson committc' lac
/ Friday about accompanyl Ing William .
Burns. his son sherman Rurns and
4 sicnographer to "A room In tn" Elutta
hi. Building next to the seymour offic
n and seeing a detectaphone installed. III
rcpeated his assertion that he saw vii
: lam 7. Burns open a rolltrp desk !
= the office and take from II papers an
. cards which "A st%cnographcr copied AN
. then returned.
q Abou, telephone tapping Smith sal
7