The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-25

his father early in March wal asked by
the Burns people 'in a roundabout way
II he would tap telephone wires lie
also said his father had sold one tele-
phone tap a contrivance for tapping
telephone wires. for SIS.
Was this device installed in the Sey-
mour 4 Seymour ofiices?" asked Mr..
Swami.
II don't know" answered the witness.
1T would have been a very simple thing
to set up"
Has Installed a Hundred.
did you think there was anything
wrong-what did you think when you
were asked to put a d~etectaphone In
the inc ofiiccs?' asked MIR. Swami.
II don't think when a man hires me-
answered Smith, and when some laugh
ter had died down he continued:
There Is nothing unusual about In
stalling a dectectaphone in an Office. l
have installed. l suppose. a hundred OF
them. all at the desire OF the
There are a great many detectaphones
to-day in lawyers and brokers' offices,
and in private homes where there is sus-
p.cion OF d~isloyaIty or theft. l always
take II for granted when | install one
that II Is with the owners consent
When he had flushed testifying Mr.
, Smith came Eagerly to Frederick Sey-
mour TO assure him again that his only
thought was that Mr.. Seymour himself
wanted the detectaphone installed In his
office-not that 1t was being Installed 10
spy upon MIR. Seymour.
why he said. II have put in detec-
taphones for IA great many brokers and
Ia wyers and business men who would not
talk to "A woman alone In their offices
without having a stenographer at the
other end OF a d~etectaphone to take down
every word that was said. That woulo
prevent blackmail."
VALVES Immunity.
When Frederick Seymour was called
10 the stand MIR. Swami presented a
typcwritten waiver OF immunity from
prosecution. which he insisted MIR. Sey-
mour must sign. -.
IL know Of no reason why l shoulo
be required to sign a waiver. but ! VIII
do so freely" said Mr.. seymour. ana
signed the waiver.
Mr.. Seymour said he had first heard
from Val O'Farrell on April 3 that a
detectaphone was in his office and his
telephone wire was tapped. ana tha'
William ]. Burns did II. This, he said
was told by two men from Val oFar'
rell's agency, who searched for the de-
t~ectaphone. but could not ind II.
Have you any doubt hat a detecta'
phone was installed in your ofhceY
asked Mr.. Swami.
NO substantial doubt" said Mr.. Sey-
mour.
Have you ever asked Mr., Burns
about it,
NO. l was Interested. but 1 didn',
think he would tell me"
Consents TO Make Complaint.
Hearing the evidence given here to-
day that the instrument was installed
your office entered. papers taken from
your desk. yourself grievously injured
would YOU not like to make a com
p'" ~ should like yoS to do that. Juds,
swarm" answered NJ. Seymour.
"You are The citizen whose privacy
has been intruded upon ny William J
Burns and Sherman Burns. why do yo,
hesitate TO make a complaint" You ar,
the one | look to 20 make a complaint
! Why don't YOU do your part. as Col
Roosevelt calls ito
"t. seems that when the evidence Il
in the District Attorneys possession
he knows 80 much. and | So little-an'
when the case has had such wide nuh
a.. licity. the District Attorney should pros
ecNt", Slli MT Soy nionr, can n
charged with using criminal proceeding
In aid 81 a contemplated ctvil action
hut II you say 4, Is necessary for me q
sign a complaint I'll do So
Later In the afternoon MIR. Seymour
said he would give IN all idea Of bring
ing civil actions against Mr.. Burns. an,
would lend all his energy to the prose
cution of the case AGAINST Burns. "
|, decided To defer issuing the length,
!, statement which he had planned to issu
until after tho termination of Chief Mag
istratc McAdoo's inquiry.