The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-10-15
SEIZE papers
IN ''DRY" OFFICE
Documents Taken From Me-
COnneII's Aide by Force.
WRESTLE OVER EVIDEHGE
New Associate Director Declares
Booze Situation in Pennsylvania is
"RaWest He Ever Saw"

HdWCSL ENGE SdWs
to get away with government papers,
which may prove of vast importance
in the prohibition cleanup, was frus-
trated by Harry L. Duncan, of Kan
sas City, assistant associate prohi-
bition director. who WAS sent here
from Washington to take charge of
the local office in the Nandam build
ing as result of the scandal con-
nected with the administration of the
office by Prohibition Director William
c. Mcconnell.
AS Duncan entered the office he
found McConnelrs secretary, ~ f.
Slater, of Shamok,n, in charge lie
Informed Slater that he was to have
charge of the office and that the sec
retary's presence there was 10 longer
necessary. Slater began parking up
his personal belongings to get ont for
good Duncan noticed that Slater
was placing into a brief case some
eminent documents.
Let me see those papers" Duncan
requested.
you can't have Them replied
Slater.
II certainly will have them, Slater;
they're government property and you
have 40 business with them. I have
been sent here from Washington to
take complete charge, and l VIII. Give
ne th"se papers," Duncan demanded.
Duncan. Who had been Standing be-
hIld the desk. walked around 10 the
CCn'rr of the room where Slater had
walked with the papers Without a
word. lie approached slater and grab
hHd tie papers. For almost Il minute
The TWO tusSlcd fer possession of the
d0c'mentS and almost came to blows.
Slater. realizing he had been trapped
in the act with making off with the
records and that Duncan meant bust
and lie acting head of the Office re-
PLACED them in his desk and placed
them under lock and key.
Just before he turned the papers
over Slater was heard to say: Don't
Won dare to lay a hand on me-" What
Duncan had done or said to bring that
remark from Slater could not be
learned. hut it evidently had its effect,
as Slater turned over the records.
After the papers were returned to
the desk Slater said. sneeringly: you
can have those l have the keys to
al of the files in. the office"
You have?" Duncan asked
NJ this point, newspaper men who
lad been standing at the entrance of
the room moved away. When they
returned half hour later Mr.. Duncan
had the keys in his possession and
Slater was packing his brief case
with personal belongings, such as rub
her bands, pencils and eraSers. first
showing the article to Mr.. Duncan for
approval. With the brief case packed,
he picked up his last belOnging-a
Bible-and walked out of the Office,
bidding good-by to two stenOgraphers
who had sat terrOr-Stricken during the
entire proceedings. All the time SIa-
ter was in the Office after the affair
Duncan watched him out of the cor
ncr Of his eye to prevent any further
effort to take any papers or files that
may he a big factor in the pending
prohibition scandal.
Slater has been connected with the
local prohibition office as secretary to
Director Mcconnell since the latter's
appointment in July. Before that he
70 T1,1 ut
Sunbury, who was instrumental in
having Mcconnell appointed and who
Is said to be Senator Penrose's candi-
date for governor.
Harry L. Duncan, the acting direc-
tor. who will remain in charge of the
Rutter. the new associate director, has
been in the government service for
tventy-one years and held positions
running from stOrekeepers and gauger
TO a departmental head.
For the past week he has been con-
ducting an investigation of the booze
situation through the state. "The
rawest thing I ever saw" he said.
"Conditions in Chicago at the worst
are not One-tenth as bad as the things
I saw pulled in small towns like
Sayre Pa"
Mr.. Duncan refused to go into de-
tails about the investigation as the
mission was a secret one and his
findings had been forwarded to Com
missioner Haynes, in Washington.