The Washington times., 1920-07-24

, who characterizes the conspiracy as
zone OF the most revolving crimes that
ever came 10 my notice.
/ There is no safety In the Night OF
! the accused or the suspected, accord
| ing TO Chief Moran. who has informa-
| tion about the intention of number
/ OF young college men to flee to Mex
| leo. At least two who planned TO
escape the penalty by fleeing the
| United States have already been ap-
| pretended.
WOMEN IN CASE.
The inevitable part of a woman in
! the case" has developed, and two
! young women arc under suspicion.
| Two have been taken to headquarters
| of the secret service and closely ques-
! toned about their suspected COM
plicity, as they took part in Joy rides
and in other ways helped the defend
ants spend some OF the money taken
from the disabled soldiers.
One uyoung woman employed at
the War Risk Bureau was taken into
custody by the Secret Service on the
Information OF one of the young men
arrested, but she proved she had
taken n part unwittingly in several
transactions. having been merely a
tool
A remarkable feature of the in
vestigation is that a majority of the
young men already arrested are
former college men, number OF
them taking law courses in Washing
ton schools while working for the
Government. Most OF the men ar
, rested come from what are described
as good families" their fathers be-
ing prominent in their home towns.
NO IMMUNITY BATHS.
Several OF the defendants have in
dicated a desire to "squeal" on their
alleged accomplices. but the Govern
ment authorities believe they have a
strong case against the gang and are
not inclined to listen to any pleas for
| mercy. The authorities say there
has been an eagerness on the part of
the defendants to shift the RESPONSE
bility, and that at least half the ganS
is ready to turn states evidence
1t is expected that a pathetic spec
| tacle will be presented at the court
house Monday when the thirty.five
alleged victims Of the conspirators
appear to testify before the grand
jury. Many of the former soldiers
come from hospitals where they arc
still undergoing treatment Among
the witnesses summoned are veterans
wise permanently crippled. Several
who lost their eyesight are on the list
OF those who were swindled
SEEK BLIND VICTIM.
Two soldiers who had their jaws
shot away by shells in France ar
rived here today from Columbus bar
racks to testify. More than a dozen
crippled men from Walter Reed Hos
pital are among the victims to tes-
| tify.
The Secret Service operatives are
making a nationwide search for one
| soldier who is totally blind and is
believed to have been swindled out
of 81 400 just a week before the Gov
ernment took up an investigation of
the conspiracy This man disappear
ed soon after he had been paid a part
of his claim, and every effort is now
being made to locate him.
In the course of the investigation
it has developed that a number of
the defendants have alleged false
claims against the Government, and
have drawn sums as high as $500
each for bogus claims.
This is a phase OF the inquiry that
will be taken up next week, and ii
is expected this will add to the counts
against them after a full investigation
by the grand jury.
sMOOT PROMISES PROBE.
Word has been received in Wash
ington that Senator Reed Smoot of
Utah will urge a thorough investiga
ton Of the War Risk Insurance Bu-
reau as soon as he returns to Wash
ington. Col. r. G. CholmeleY.Jones,
director of the bureau, also is maxi
ing a searching investigation In order
to be prepared for the avalanche of
criticism expected soon after Con-
gress convenes.