New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-25
BARES 'WIRE-TAP' SECRETS
AMID CHEERS AND KISSES
TELEPHONE TAPS
STORY In BRIEF

Evasion or process servers, payment
Of money in order TO aid the persons
sought as witnesses in Commissioner
Strong's investigation of charities TO
escape service, and methods OF making
away with papers described as dam
aging" are chief topics of discussion
between Father William B. Farrell and
DR.. Daniel C. Potter, as disclosed by
the cryptic telephone taps" given out
by Mayor Mitchell yesterday.
An entry on March 21 credits Potter
with saying TO Secretary Dineen:
"I spoke to Hebberd and he told me
that everything was In wild alarm.
They're trying to get into the game
there by exposing me, but had very
carefully all the papers removed this
morning from my Office and put into a
safe place"
Dineen-Do they know where
you are!
Potter-Pm in Philadelphia and
all over, but still I'm at home.
Dineen Have they served you
with a subpoena!
Potter No; there's nobody here
and there was nobody around here,
either. Hebberd fears the identif-
cation Of the pamphlet, bat no fear
Of that; he is incommunicsdo.
Potter is recorded as telephoning 10
Father Farrell on the morning OF
March 2l and uttering this warning
about the papers in his desk;
Potter heard from Hebberd this
morning and he said they are going
TO make further investigation. Iney
are going deeper, and he said |
should get everything out Of sight at
home and in the Office and remove all
the stuff. don't know how | am
going to get back into my place. /
have the papers all locked in the
desk, but that will not hinder them
from obtaining a warrant under false
pretcnces and get all the papers.
Farrell-Are they of any value to
them!
Potter-Certainly.
Farrell-Suppose l send Mike Mi
chael Riley, Father Farrell's secre-
taryl over to you and you give him
instructions and he can go to the Of
flee and bring all the stuff out of
there.
Potter-we must stick tight, be-
cause they are going through this
thing desperately. | really don't
know what | am going to do about
those papers in my desk in the Office.
Farrell-We will stay indoors all
day.
An entry on March % shows Potter
giving Father Farrell this warning TO
evade process servers:
Potter-Well, this is Potter.
Person (who answered from 1887,
Farrell's telephone)-I knew who it
was.
Potter-You tell him to keep out Of
the way, as the process servers were
Just here looking for US.
Person-They didn't get you, did
they?
Potter-No, I'm in Philadelphia.
Father Farrell's alleged efforts to aid
Potter in getting out of the city are re-
vealed in this conversation, dated
March "a:
Farrell-Pll send you $50 and you
slip away this afternoon. I'll send it
over with Mike, and I'll send the ad-
dress of my sister and you will write
there, and she will bring the letter
over to me.
Potter-Yes, guess It's kind OF
dangerous to stay here.
Farrell-Yes, you take q trip TO
Atlantic City, or some other place
and I'll look out for you.
On the same date Potter is alleged to
have received this promise OF Sl0O from
Monsignor Dunn to be used for the
same purpose:
Dunn-well, I'll tell you what I'll
do. I'll give you 500. Can you send
some one up for it?
Potter-Yes, guess so. Where
will send for il!
Dunn-Up at the ehancellery.
Later in the day Monsignor Dunn
Is shown to have told Of some mys-
terious He" otherwise unnamed, who
was said TO be going TO see the Cardi-
nal. The conversation, as recorded, Is;
Monsisnor Dunn-Hello! This is
honsignor.
Potter Hello!
Dunn-Hes going to see the Cardi-
nal, and he's likely to stay there all
afternoon. so don't suppose can
see him before night.
Potter Well, suppose we'll have
to wait. ] heard from Farrell, and ne
says that Higgins advises me to leave
the state and get out Of the way.
Father Farrell's departure to the
Staten Island retreat is given a new
significance by this conversation, re-
corded as taking place on March rs:
Farrell-I'm going away Tuesday.
Other party-What for Did they
call you again'
Farrell-No; but you can't tell
when they might.
Other party-How long are you
going TO Stay7
Farrell-That don't know. |
can't tell you the reason over the