New-York tribune., 1919-12-16
Department of Justice to
Investigate Story That
Spectators Used ssTips''
j" Wall Street Deals
Railroad Stock Is Cited
High Tribunal Attaclle and
Secret Service Man Are
Said TO Be Involved

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Announce
ment was made late tonight by the
Department of Justice that an inye,ti
cation was being made of reports of
alleged "leaks" on Supreme Court de-
cislons by which spectators had at
tempted to profit in stock market
transactions.
Captain Burke. of the bureau of in
vestigation of the Department Of Jus
tlce, issued the following statements:
"On November 90 Mr.. Marlin Pew,
manager Of the International News
Service of New York, came to Wash
ington and consulted Chief Justice
White of the Supreme Court in regard
to the alleged leaks in the Supreme
Courts decision on the Southern Pa
citic oil land cases.
"Chief Justice White then came to
Judge Ames and asked him to investi-
gate a report by Mr.. Pew that friend
had talked to him and had said that
he had been approached by a certain
man in regard to profting by tips
Oil Cupi cIlIc SOuFC ueClSlOnS.
Said He Had Tip"
This man told Pew's friend that he
had advance information on a Supreme
Court decision, that If Pew's friend
would connect him with financial agen-
c1es able to finance the proposition,
they would be able to play the market
on advance information on the Supreme
Court decision, and that much money
ri h0 81 -
time he mentioned some decision that
would be handed down, as proof Of
what he could do.
When this was brought to Judge
Ames's attention, he directed the bu-
reau of investigation to institute i'm
mediate inquiry.
THE man told Pew's friend that he
had been doing this for some time, but
he did not have sufficient funds to make
the profit he might make if he had
financial backing. The friend of Pew
insisted that before he could get the
finances which this man desired he
would have to be convinced that ad-
vance information on the Supreme
Court decision was absolutely obtain
able.
"He told him that on November 10
that the man who furnished him
WIS cIuploveu III Lue department OIL
Justice in Washington. Furthermore,
this second man was with the first man
in New York on Sunday November 16,
and that on Monday morning they went
downtown and played Southern Pacific
short, closing out when Southern Pa
ciiic dropped 3 points. They made some
money but they did not say how much.
Had Correct Information
They both stopped at the Waldorf
Astoria, but only one registered.
on Monday night At that time South
ern Pacific was being played the other
way, 80 obviously they had the correct
information.
"The man who had approached Pew's
friend was interrogated by William
Flynn, chief Of the bureau Of investi-
CATION of the Department of Justice,
to-day in New York.
"He stated to friends that the
Department Of Justice man from whom
he was getting his information was
attachS OF the Supreme Court. he
admitted he had played the markets,
but denied he had received advance
information. He said he had made his
deductions on the future movement of
the stock as any lawyer might have
done from the general information on
the Southern Pacific case. He denied
also that there was leak in the Su-
preme Court. He claimed that as
others were putting up the money
for him he had nothing to lose.
Denial by Court Attache
"The man in the Department Of JUS
tice implicated holds minor position
and upon interrogation by Department
of Justice officials denied that he knew
any one in the Supreme Court who
would give out any such information
as had been stated or that he had
been in any such deals as were charged
"The attache Of the Supreme Court
denied also that he had any connec.
tion with the affair and there is moth
ing to show that he did.
"The investigation is not completed
and it is very unfortunate that the
matter has gotten in the papers at this
time. However, the investigation will
be continued"
Captain Burke, in giving out the
statement, verbally said that the man
had seen the Supreme Court attach6
only once.
Tax Dodger Fined $4,000