New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-04
Refused to Sign "Clean Bill
Of Health" for the
Publisher
Agents Of Editor
Offensive, He Says
Attorney General Asserts
Whitman Had No Part
in Spy Inquiry

Attorney General Merton e Lewis
candidate against Governor Whitman
IN the Republican primaries. in an in
+erview yesterday denied that the
Governor is entitled to any credit for
sY,osing the activities of Bolo Pacha,
the traitor executed as German spy
he the French government, following
his operations in this city. He also
declared that after the investigation
disclosed that William r. Hearst had
had a conference with Bolo Pacha, two
of Mr.. Hearst's agents, Lawrence j.
o'Reilly. now Commissioner in the
Board Of Water Supply, and William
A. Deford. Of counsel for Mr.. Hearst,
called on him at the Murray Hill Ho-
lei and tried 70 obtain a signed state
ment from him generating Hearst
from any blame in connection with the
German spy. Afterward, he said, ne
received telegram from Hearst again
attempting to obtain from him q
4clean bill of health as the Attorney
General put 1t, all without avail.
"The visit Of Mr.. O'Reilly and Mr..
Deford took place after the New York
newspapers had printed the doings Of
Bolo Pacha, taken from sworn testi-
mony," said Mr. Lewis I've had had
an exhaustive invest CATION of materi-
al witnesses, including Pavenstedt,
Schmidt ana others. and the testimony
was spread before the newspaper men,
with the result that great publicity
was given 20 the matter. 1t was on
the day following this expose that l
received a visit from Mr.. o Reilly and
Mr. Deford. who said they represented
Mr. Hearst,
Their Manner Offensive"
They called at ny room "A the Muir
ray H. Hotel and brought a state
men sch 'h they had prepared exon
Grating Hearst and assuring the pub
he there lad been nothing n the n
vestra nat III any manner reflect
cd upon Mr. Hearst. They We're often
awe in their manner refused 10 sign
their tt-te menf and ther wanted 20
know me reason ! to'd hem that the
record noke for Itself told them
tad drawn no inference whatsoever
concerning NJ Harefs meet NIX xIth
Holo pacha. ar1 that ~ T had rot
charged Hearst with any offence. was
nor -ailed upon te give Mfr Hearst an
exonerauon
What did Hearst want 80
They wanted clean = % health
FOR Mr. Hearst"
The morning '1I, ON rE my refusal
"t ne request from Nesrs o. III iY
ard pefora. cont 11ei Mr Lev a. IAN
attack WAS made orr NO in Tine Nea
Fork American .N ugred article in
Wsich Hears. sA he Nuuia have me
INDICTED for crimIne hhe. and that he
YOU'D sue ne personally for damswos.
ne mas never had ne Indicted. nor has
be sued me
! made oat q pre- m uar,, report Of
ne inves'iga en - Boio and cent ~
~ me French govern mont week m
sdVancs Of Che preparation o. tho full
'TPofl. II VA un the strength ~ thIa
Pre- n nary report fraf Hnlo Nas ar
rested by he French government.
noticed IN so~e ol the papers 20.
GAY 8uezf* uu frat tho Governor
Gag osen ass"t .rnF+ef parties go
"a M e" ln tre invest yeflon ~ 9cl8
ne Hovefnor .reH nothing about the
findings OF me invest CATION uutIl theg
ser" pAJ ttHt - Ia rrr fNr 10 SAY
VS. ,he 1ofnrn0r never .nterfercd ar
a'. Z don INK he was ever asked 20
eal' ms or