Evening star., 1924-05-09
W.I.BURNS RESIGNS
AS HEAD Of BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION
Has Been Storm Center of
Several Senate Inquiries
in Recent Months.
BORE BRUNT OF ATTACK
AIMED AT DAUGHERTY
Retirement Often Reported Since
Passing of Chief, Who Named
Him Three Years Ago.

William j. Burns, whose activities
nave been storm. center in several
Senate Investigations, has resigned as
chief of the Justice Departments bu-
reau of investigation.
Selected for the post three years ago
by Attorney General Daugherty, the
world-famous detective has borne the
brunt of much of the criticism leveled
at the administration of the chief he
now follows into retirement.
Under Fire Repeatedly.
Not only before the Daugherty COM
mittee, but in the oil and Wheeler in
dictment Investigations of the Senate
as well, Burns has been under fire re-
peatedly.
He was before the oil committee
TO explain references to his activities
In the famous Mary Duckstein tele-
grams relating to efforts to prevent
the appearance of Edward B. Mclean
on the witness stand, and was also
asked about McLean's enrolment as a
ment
Before the Daugherty committee
ne has been questioned several times
about charges made against the
secret agents under his supervision in
relation to liquor and other cases. and
on wednesday he was grilled by that
committee about reports that large
number of department agents were
sent to Montana to get something on
Senator Wheeler" He was asked, too,
about the disappearance of CASTOR B.
Means famous diaries, but denied
tnat the department detective who
was shadowing Means had anything
TO do with the incident
Ever since the resignation of At
torney General Daugherty, who ap-
pointed Burns three years ago,
there have been reports that he
would follow his chief into retire
ment.
Burns letter of resignation, laid be-
fore Attorney General Stone today,
asked that his retirement from office
De enecttve Immediately. The resig-
nation was accepted by the Attorney
General on those terms.
Sought to Resign Before.
The bureau chief said he had in
formed Mr.. Stone when the latter
came into Office that he wanted to
quit upon the conclusion of several
important Investigations now com
pleted. He also had asked former At
torney General Daugherty to be re-
lieved of his duties on two occasions,
he said. but Mr.. Daugherty requested
him to remain.
He declared he had realized a life
ambition in organizing a division Of
Identification and information in the
bureau, which he predicted would stand
as monument to his services.
Text of Letters.
The correspondence between the At
torney General and Mr.. Burns bears
today's date. Mr.. Burns letter of resig-
nation follows:
"As indicated by me in our previous
conversation, desire to be relieved of
the duties Of director of the bureau of
investigation, and L hope you will be
able to make it effective Immediately
II also desire to express my ap-
probation for the courteous treat
ment l have received at your hands
and hope that you will always feel
at liberty to command me if / can
be OF service to the bureau or the de-
partment at any time.
Il feel that / can very frankly
state that the bureau of investiga-
ton is today functioning at the high
est degree of efficiency in its his
tory. My one great hope and wish
has been gratified in the organiza-
tion OF the bureau of Identification,
and L know that under your adminis-
tration 1t will continue to flourish
and become a monument not only to
the detection but to the prevention of
crime.
II wish for you very successful
administration
Reply of Stone.
The Attorney Generals reply said:
Il beg to acknowledge recent of
your letter of even date confirming
our previous conversation and in
which you express a desire to be re-
lieved Of the duties of director of
investigation and the hope that I
Will be able to make your resigua-
ton effective Immediately.
In accordance with your desire, I
accept your resignation to take effect
Immediately.
Il appreciate and thank you for
your expression of good wishes and
your offer of corporation, which l
shall feel free to avail myself of if
occasion arises. 1 desire to thank YOU
for your service to the government
and to wish you all future success
and happiness"
Under Fire in Senate.
The bureau chief has come under
fire successfully in three Of the Sen
ate inquiries, and much of the recent
criticism of the Justice Department
has been directed against the force
Of secret agents over which he pre-
sides. He was called as a witness in
the oil inquiry after references to
him had been found in the Mclean
kilograms; several times he has been
on the stand before the Daugherty
committee, and recently the charge
has been made and denied by him
that his men were active in Montana
in searching for evidence against
senator Wheeler.