Evening star., 1921-09-29
INCOME TAX bR|BE
ATTEMPT CHARGED
Revenue Official Accused in
Case and Another Man
Held as Associate.

Charged with attempts to obtain
bribes, revealing confidential infor-
nation and thefts of Office records, +.
&. Rickmeier. assistant chief of the
personal audit section. income tax
unit, bureau Of internal revenue. and
Garnett Underwood Of 1905 l. street
today were taken into custody By spe-
cial agents of the intelligence service,
bureau of internal revenue.
The formal charges against the men
were to be placed when arraisned be-
fore q United States commissioner
to the bureaus action was furnished
by taxpayer at Duluth. Mimi, with
whom the men are alleged to have
attempted TO enter into negotiations.
Other taxpayers. residing in Califor-
mia. Oklahoma and Texas. also fur
nisned information in connection with
the case.
in the bureau Of internal revenue
March l. 1919. at $1,000. and was
promoted successivefy to $500, $3.50,
aud ON January l6. 1921. TO $500.
He was appointed from Sheboyga an.
Wis. Underwood WAS formerly an
employ of the War Department. and
recently has been engaged in in
surance business here. It was stated
at the Treasury Department.
Treasury Statement.
\ statement issued at the Treasury
today said: In January, 1921. Under
wood addressed to the taxpayer ~
letter adv ising him that an assessment
in excess of s2s0,060 shortly would be
made against him. -,.7.,--
Underwood said he would visit the
taxpayer il his, travelling expenses
were paid. with a view to entering
into negotiations by which the tax
payment might be avoided He sug-
gested as an alternative that the tax
payer come to Washington. The infor-
nation with reference to the taxpay-
er's return, Underwood said, was given
him by friend in the income tax
unit in Washington that this friend
was handling this particular case, and
would be willing to take such neces-
sary action as TO avoid payment of the
tax.
Receiving no reply from, this let
ter, Underwood addressed to the tax
payer in February a similar com
munication. In March letter advfs-
ing the taxpayer OF an additional as
sesament of S253,o00 was prepared in
sent to the taxpayer. Later a repre-
sentative of the taxpayer called on
Underwood and asked him to outline
the propositions made in his letters.
Negotiations We're entered into. with
the result that an offer was made to
return to the taxpayer his return and
the returns of three other taxpayers.
two of whom had pending against
them additional, assessments of $685.
900 each and one an additional assess
mcnt in excess of $35G.600. together
with all the correspondence In the
cases. if each of the taxpayers would
agree to pay to Underwood, through
their representative, $4,000. or a to-
! tai of $1s0.00e.
Meeting Arranged.
"On the evening of September 81
1921, a special agent of the bureau
of internal revenue, posing as rep
resentative of the taxpayers with
! ing registered at downtown hotel
A meeting. wasfa-ranged with Under
wood for $3.50 O'Clock on the following
| morning Underwood appeared at the
appointed time. and agreed TO return to
| the hotel between 2 and 2:3(
! o'clock of the same day with the re.
| turns and papers. lie appeared or
time, but said his friend in the in.
| come tax unit was reluctant abou,
getting the papers out of the Office
| during the day.
He also said that his friend in
Structed him TO ask the representative
| Of the taxpayers to show the $160.00t
| in cash. This request was refused
/ and Underwood left, saying he wpult
! return between and $50 and wouI,
have with him all the returns ant
papers which. if they were destroy
! ed. would leave no record in the bu
| reau of internal revenue as to the taa
| liability of the men concerned.
, During these two interviews a sec.
ond special agent was concealed be.
; hind the dresser. and heard all of the
| conversation between Underwood ant
! the supposed Representative of til,
! taxpayers. Inderwooa returned &C &C
and at that time produced the corre
I spondence in the case, but said he wa.
un[ble to secure the returns of the
| four taxpayers. The supposed repre-
| sentative of the taxpayers stated tina
CONTINUED on Page 2S.)