The Republican., 1924-05-15
". ]. BURNS QUITS
SECRET SERVICE
Chief Of Investigation Bureau
Says His Work Is Done and
His Health Affected.
CALLED IN SENATE HEARINGS
His Disposal of Detectives in Wheeler
Case and Others Aroused Sena-
torial Criticism-Was Chosen
by Daugherty

Washington.-William ]. Burns, Di-
rector of the Bureau Of Investigation
in the Department OF Justice for the
last three years, rendered his resigna-
tion from that Office. The resignation
was accepted by Attorney General
Stone, to take effect at once, as re-
quested by Mr.. Burns.
In his letter of resignation Mr..
Burns said that the Bureau of In
vestigation is functioning at the high
est degree Of efficiency"
A statement issued by the Depart
ment of Justice said Mr. Burns had
been in ill health for some time. No
specific reason for the resignation
was contained in Mr.. Burns letter.
1t was said he would probably take a
rest for few months, and then re-
sumo charge of the Burns Detective
Agency.
Attorney General Stone said in his
letter accepting Mr.. Burns resigna-
ton:
81 desire to thank you for your
services to the Government and to
wish you all future success and hap
piness."
In a statement given by the Depart
ment of Justice to the press it was
said that when Mr.. Daugherty re-
signed it was the intention of Mr..
Burns to retire, but he felt that he
should remain in office until the new
Attorney General had familiarized
himself with the details Of the Bureau
Of Investigation. 1t was also said
that owing to the condition of Mr.
Burns health for many months his
family had urged him to relinquish
his office, but he had remained to
complete many important investiga-
tions, which were now concluded.
Mr.. Burns has appeared several
times as a witness before the Senate
Committee engaged in Investigating
the conduct of the Department Of
Justice under Harry NJ. Daugherty.
His last appearance was on Wednes-
day, when he testified that Mr..
Daugherty, while Attorney General,
had instructed him to send an agent
of the department to look into the
record of Senator Burton X. Wheeler,
Of Montana, prosecutor" of the De-
partment Of Justice Investigation.
The statement issued by the De-
partment of Justice reads:
civilian ]. Burns, for the past
Of tbO op
Investigation of the Department Of
Justice, today places his resignation
as head of that bureau into the hands
of Attorney General Stone, and the
latter, at Mr.. Burnss request, accept
ed it, to take effect Immediately.
"In severing his connection with the
department Mr.. Burns terminates a
service in behalf of the Government
| covering nearly a quarter of a cen
| tury, for prior to assuming the direct
crship of the Bureau of Investigation
| Nh Burns for years was identified
with the secret service of the
| Treasury Department, though for an
| interval he left the Government SER
vice to organize the Burns Internation-
al Detective Agency, which today has
| offices and branches in all the import
ant cities of the world
while the former Director of the
Bureau of Investigation has not in
dicated what he will do now that he
| is free of governmental responsible
ties, it was said to be likely that he
would take a rest for few months
and subsequently re-assume the direct
i orship of the great detective agency
which bears his name.
In accepting Mr. Burns resignation,
Attorney General Stone stated that he
he desired to thank you for your SER
vices the Government and to wish
you all future success and happi-
ness.
Burns was asked about the disap-
! pearance of CASTOR B. Means famous
diaries, but denied that the depart
ment detective who was shadowing
Means had anything to do with the
! incident