New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-27
Egan Says He Put Burns
and Police on Case When
Told to Find Leak
DIDN'T ASK TAPPING;
NO PLOT UNCOVERED
Lord Asserts Wires Revealed
Nothing-InSists Burns Never
Listened In" on Talks.

The inside story Of how representa-
tives Of J. p. Morgan & Co.. negotiated
with the Police Department and with
the Burns Detective Agency to spy on
the Offices Of the law firm OF Seymour
& Seymour. at 100 Broadway, in the
hope OF detecting the Teak" of Euro
pean orders from the Morgan Office, was
told yesterday by witnesses who were
called TO the John Doe inquiry before
Chief Magistrate McAdoo.
Throughout the hearing nothing was
presented 70 show that the firm Of j. P.
Morgan & Co. had authorized any wire
tapping, detectograph planting or Of
fee breaking to trap its unfaithful
employees. The dickering was done by
Martin Egan, sometimes called thu
firms publicity man, but generally
recognized as the banks general utility
man. who conferred with Burns and
Frank Lord. the Deputy Police Commits
sioner. who had charge of the police
overlapping.
Documentary and verbal evidence
thought to show that crime was in
cubating was put in Egan's way by the
firm. and II was left to his discretion to
find the best way TO get the offenders.
Nothing to Imperil L. S.
Facts which are believed to be the
international secrets" spoken Of by
Mayor Mitchell and Police Commits
.ioner Woods were revealed yesterday.
but there was nothing in them 20
startle the nation or imperil its inter
ests. They had TO do with the ship
mcnt Of cartridges to Mexico. MI
Eran said Burns informed him that he
had run across this information in his
espionage upon Seymour & Seymour
and probably had turned it over to the
Department Of Justice. Egan declared
Burns told him he had stumbled on
the name Of Means, presumably over
the detectograph he had installed IN
tho Seymour Offices. and that informa-
lion also went to the Federal authorl-
tics Means was once the confidential
agent in the Office of Captain Boyd,
The recalled naval attache Of the Ger
man Embassy
Mr.. Egan recited the occasion for the
cavesdropping on Seymour & Sey-
mour's Office. In the course Of his mar
rative he told of the alleged methods
employed by four men with desk room
in the Seymour Office to negotiate their
Durloined information to prospective
bidders for trade with the French gov
eminent: how they had been shown up
10 the Morgans by Mr.. Jarren, presi-
dent Of the Anglo-American Cotton
Products Company, OF Tennessee, who
had been approached by them as a
likely client. and how arrangement had
been made for a slush fund TO bride
French inspectors IN this country 70
pass on the products offered for ship
ment.
Egan Engages Burns.
Mr.. Egan said he had been informed
that ono Of the four men with desk
room in the Seymour ofhces nad sug-
rested paying the slush fund money
10 the French inspectors /. Gar
,ington Weems. of the munltlon de-
norfment Of ]. p. Morgan & Co., and
a p Prindlc. also Of the Morgan
firm. Nh. Egan said. were the two men
who informed him of the entire situa-
ion. and put the detection WORK IN
his hands. u.y ii
Mr. Eran. came from Mr.. Prlndle ana
Mr. Darlington on March II. They
told mo that the Anglo-American Cot
ton Products Company had been ap,
nroacted by William Hills, Jr,. and
Worto, suffer, Of the Seymour once
The company had negotiated the SAFE
Of bOOC tons Of cotton llnters. Messrs'
Weems and Prindle told me Mr.. Hills
bsd rcrresented that he had a pull
18Th I =. Morgan & Co. and wanted
- intervene. An appointment was
~ede Sultzer appeared and proposed
tLat tho Humboldt Fibre Company pay
him and his associates a compassion
If one-fourth of a cent pound.
Mr.. Egan said that after getting
clear idea OF the situation from
Weems and Prindle. decided 70 see
Burns. After outlining the entire SIT
nation. Burns told Egan he wouIo nave
10 have the cooperation Of the Equi-
table people.
Didn't Order Tapping.
81 then called on Mr.. Mortimer
president Of the Equitable Building
Company." said Egan, land told HIM
What had happened. ! told him that
Il was TO his interest TO know whether
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