New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-02
Burns Admits Breaking
Into Law Office and
Copying Papers.
SAYS HE WAS TRACING
ARMS DEAL LEAK
Didr't Listen In" on Phone, lie
Declares-Seymour Explains
10 Swami.

After signing waiver Of immunity
William J. Burns, the detective, yester-
day told Chief Magistrate McAdoo, at
the John Doe proceedings into the tap
ping of Seymour e. Seymour's telephone
wires. that he had been engaged by
Martin Egan, OF J. ?. Morgan's Office
10 locate the leak" in Morgan's mu-
nitions transactions.
"Mr. Egan told me-" said BURNS
chat a man named Morton Sultzer IN
the Office of Seymour & Seymour mao
called on a corporation in New forh
and had endeavored either TO sell IN
formation or to get the corporation 70
give him commission for the sale oil
some of their commodities on the rep
resentation that he was to get the IN
formation in the Morgan Offices.
"Mr. Egan also told me that Suffer
was associated with an o. b. Philips
another man by the name OF DE wiz
and another by the name OF HIS l
learned that Sultzer was under indic'.
ment for passing bad checks, and triea
TO shadow him, but my men reported
that he would frequently run half
block to escape them, and so | deter
mined TO install detectaphone in the
Offices OF Seymour & Seymour
Burns told how, with the coopera-
ton of George L. Mortimer, president
of the Equitable Building Corporation
he engaged the rooms of the Belgian
Relief Commission, next door to the
Seymours.
Found Door Unlocked.
"Bv the way" said Burns, 81 forgot
20 state that when we first entered the
Belgian Relief Offices we found the
door leading from the first entrance
room in Seymours Office unlocked on
Mr.. Seymour's side, due TO the fact, l
think, that stenographers in the offices
had been friendly and had been passing
back and forth"
Burns testified that he found the let
ters which his stenographer later
copied on top of the desk apparently
occupied by Phillips. although he said
he believed it was used by suffer lie
Witt and Frederick Seymour also
81 think Mr.. Seymour will tell you
that we never took a scrap or paper
from his office nor searched his desk,
said Burns. =,
eft might be informal but | would
like 70 ask the Seymours If they have
any contrary statement - make, said
District Attorney Swami turning in
the direction of Frederick and John u
Seymour, who were seated close 70
the witness stand.
"No papers were taken from my
desk" replied Frederick Seymour
quickly.
Denies Tapping Phone Wires.
Burns testified that he was unable
10 get the evidence that Mr.. Egan
wanted. so the matter was turned over
10 the police. Burns said he never
tanned a telephone wire in his life
and never listened in on the Seymour
wire.
At his own request. Frederick Sey-
nour took the stand TO explain how
Morton Slutzer was allowed TO have
desk room in the Seymour offices on
account of the recommendation which
% b. Phillips, former vice-chalrman
of the State Progressive committee
"Two Of these letters from the
Humboldt Fibre Company. speak OF
getting grapevine information as to
what ]. p. Morgan Co.. were
Going TO order" said the District At
tornev. "Now what does that mean :?
~ suppose it means the method of
Getting information of brokers from
dav to day and then passing it On from
one to the other; that's the impression
have Of its meaning" said Mr.. Sey-
mour. 81 never heard the expression
before It was used in the Humboldt
letter Of February TO o. B. Phillips,
"In your letter signed by you and
addressed to the Humboldt Company
of February Ia. you said: For your
confidential information l may add
that J. P. Morgan E. Co. are author
lied TO buy 400 tons of cotton llnters
a month. If you are in position to
increase your capacity TO that extent
will negotiate with them for the en-
fire amount How did you know that
J. p. Morgan & Co. wanted TO buy 400
tons a month";"