San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-04
UNITED States
SECRET CODE IN
LEANS HANDS
Messages Sent to Publish
er at Washington Are
DECIDED.
"MARY" TAKES STAND
Claims kilograms She Sent
to Palm Beach Were
CARRIED.
"MARY" TAKES STAND
Washington, ID. ca March A.

Washington, ID. CA March A.
There was another series of bomb ex
plosions today in the oil scandal.
Here are some of the things the oil
committee was told when it resumed
its hearings:
That Edward B. Mclean, publisher
of the Washington Post and central
figure in the oil scandal, has been
carried on the government rolls as a
secret agent of the Department of JUS
tice.
That Mclean had a copy of the
Department of Justices secret code
and some of the messages sent him
and his employees in Florida were in a
cipher once used by the department.
The testimony regarding Mclean
was given by William J. Burns, chief
of the departments secret agents and
Mrs. Mary Duckstein, formerly Burns
secretary. They both confirmed that
the publisher had been enrolled on the
force of the bureau of investigation.
Burns said Mclean was appointed
before he became director of the Blu
reau of Investigation, but added that
he "must have been appointed in this
administration"
MARY" on Stand.
Mrs. Duckstein testified that the
famous MARY" code message she sent
to Florida was intended TO convey the
information that McLean's connection
with the department was under inves-
tigation. She said it had no other con-
nection with oil.
Burns told her, Mr.. Duckstein said.
that Mclean might wish to resign if
he thought his position would be en-
barrassing to Attorney General Daugh-
erty.
When Burns took the stand he was
asked by committee members why he
had not himself sent the message to
Mclean.
Il have no right to ask Mr.. Nc
Lean to resign"
Messages Are DECIDED.
Francis G. MeAdoo, son of William
Gibbs McAdoo, was called TO the wit
ness stand and stated that in 1919
the firm Of which he and his father
were members, was retained by Nc.
Lean in relation to the will of the pub
fishers father, John r. Mclean. He
stated that this relationship ceased
two years later. He denied the state
ment that he and his father had been
McLean's counsel for seven years.
A War Department code expert
gave the committee TRANSACTIONS of the
cipher messages found among the tele-
grams, and William J. Burns, chief
of the Justice Departments investi-
cation bureau and Mrs. Mary Duck
stein, an agent under him, were sum-
moned TO explain how code once
used by Justice Department represen-
tatives came to be employed in some
Of the Mclean messages.
At the beginning of the session the
cipher messages, as decided at the
War Department, were presented by
w. Z. Friedman, cipher expert of
the Army Signal Corps. They fol-
low:
january IS, 1924, SIT ?. m.
"John F. Major, care Washington
Post, Washington, D. c.
"This is a hypothetical question.
John Doe draws check for $4,000.
On the back of the check is written
endorsement as follows:
@'John Doe for purchase of house.
Does bank simply keep a record of
the amount of cash drawn or does
1t keep a record Of explanation writ
ten on back of check" (Unsigned)
january Q, 1924.
SEdward Mclean, Palm Beach, Fla
Y Zevely Is Mentioned.
sZevely thinks trend Of investiga-
hon favorable to you. Not impressed
with Walsh as cross-examiner. Thinks
you need have little apprehension
about Forthcoming Interrogation
Zevely had conference with Lambert
regarding your answers to questions
which may arise, Of which Lambert
will advise you, Walsh leaves sea-
board tonight. Due Friday morning
eight. W. o. D."
AJanuary 8, 1924. 4:35 p. m.
edward Mclean, Palm Beach. Fla.
sWalsh leaves Coast Line 10 80
tonight instead of Seaboard. Lam
bert on same train. W. o. D."
january II. 1924
Edward Mclean, Palm Beach. Fla.
"Papers in Frazer and your joint
safe deposit box Commercial Bank,
pursuant Lambert's instructions. Do
you want them where they are avail
able to me. At post all day. W.
o. D."
"February 1, 1924.
"Mr. W. o. Duckstein, the Break
ers. Palm Beach, Fla.
"Burns sent for me and told me
communicate Mclean inquiries being
made special agent Department Jus
tice. Think this important informa-
ton. Mary"
January 80. 1924, 4 :37 p. m.
aFrom Los Angeles, Cal.
Doheny Is COmplimented.
"Edward L. Doheny, Pan-American
Petroleum and Transport company
$40 Woodward Building, Washing.
ton. d. c.
Compliment you on able presen.