New Britain herald., 1916-05-25
:TOPROSECUTEBURNS
 FOR TAPPING WIRES
Lawyer, Urged to Bring Action,
 Finally Gives Consent

New York, May 25.-Reluctart to the last to take any action against William J. Burns for spying on his office by means of detectaphOIe, Frederick Seymour of the firm of Sey- mour & Seymour finally consented yesterday to sign a complaint which would enable District Attorney SWann to present the case to the grand Jury.
 Despite his admission that he was wronged by Burns, the munitions law yer manifested no desire to hasten criminal prosecution of the detective. Only after a great deal Of pressure from the district attorney did he finally agree to make complalnt which would charge Burns with un- lawful entry.
 District Attorney Swann reconclled Seymour to this step at hearing De- fore Magistrate McAdoo in general sessions The hearing was in the na- ture of a John Doe proceeding against Burns and others to ascertain wheth- CT there was sufficient evidence to justify a grand jury investigation of the eavesdropping in the office of Seymour & Seymour in the Equitable Ou1lOlnS. boIOTS TSuSI1Ch oCS 1iA' LII took the stand District Attorney swann asked him to sign waiver of immunity, which he did, although he said he saw no reason for it.
 Will Bring Civil Suit.
 Under examination by the District Attorney Seymour said he was reluct- ant to sign a complaint at this time because he did not want to nreJud1ce the civil suit which he intended to bring against Burns and persons who employed the detective to spy on n1s office. After he had agreed to make complaint, however he declared that he would drop the civil proceed ings for the time being and give all his attention to- the criminal prescott tion of Burns.
 Among those present at the hear ing before Magistrate McAdoo was Deputy. State Controller William Boardman. He was especially anx- ious to ascertain whether the caves dropping on Seymour's office did not constitute sufficient grounds to re- yoke Burns license He lntimatcd plainly that he would make in inves- tigation of his own after the John Doe proceedings were over and call upon Burns to explain why his license should not be revoked.
 Three witnesses were called to the stand by District Attorney Swann to tell of the installation of a detecta- phone in Seymour's office. They were Bartlett Smith and his father. Gail lard Smith, the latter being the in- ventor of the detectaphone which was used by Burns in the Seymour case, and c. T. Coley, engineer of the Equitable building. All three prac- tically repeated the testimony which they gave before the Thompson in vestigating committee. Bartlett Smith not only told of the insta11a- ton of a telephone tap, but he also testified that he saw William J. Burns open a desk in the Seymour office. re- move papers md cards, and have shorthand memoranda taken from them by his stenographer, James Lynch.
 Inventors Business Ruined.
 Bartlett Smiths testim ony was fully corroborated by his father, who showed deep resentment because the use of one of his inventions had occa- stoned such a widespread scandal He said on the stand that his business had been practically ruined by the af- fair, and that he had to shut up his office and establish himself under a new firm name. Said Mr. Smith to Seymour. "As matter of fact, I thought the detectaphone was being installed with your knowledge and permission. You know there are many lawyers in this city who insist upon having a detectaphone in their office with a stenographer listening on the other end whenever they have a woman in their office. It is a pre- caution which they take to prevent blackmail. I thought you might have the installation of a de- tectaphone for some such reason"
 c. T. Coley, engineer of the Eouit- able building, testified he had been to Burns by George T. M ortimer, president of the Equitable Building corporation, with the under that he was to give the de- tect1Ve access to the Seymour office Acting under this impression, Coley said he opened the doors of the Sev- mour suite to Burns and allowed him