The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-04

When was he appointed?" asked
Walsh.
Before. came in in August.
1921"
1.-THE new administration came in
in March, 1921, and he must have
been appointed before August"
Asked to tell about this CONVEX
sation with Mrs. Duckstien, Burns
said:
II sent for her and told her one
of our boys had told me that one
of our lawyers had told him that
inquiries were being made regard.
ing Mclean being an agent for
the Bureau.
1T suggested that she might in
form her husband and let him
suggest to Mclean that he resign
because he might embarrass the
Attorney General.
II said not to suggest 1t to
Mclean.
But her husband could suggest
it. How else could do it?"
"You could have communicated
directly"
well. didn't want to do it that
way"
''Who told you that an investiga-
ton was being made OF whether
Mclean was an agent?"
wv. H. Grimes, a lawyer in our
department" 49,.
"Why didn't you communicate
with McLean?"
ST didn't have the right to ask
Mclean to resign, but could sug'
gest it. There's nothing mysterious
in my actions"
"WeM have to draw our own con-
clusions," retorted Walsh. why
did you do it circuitously?"
IT wanted to save the Attorney
General embarrassment
"Why didn't you do 1t directly?"
IT didn't want to do 1t that way.
That's all can say. You call him
and he'll tell you all about it."
eyes, I know that" Walsh re.
torted. But thought YOU could
tell u.s."
mo; I can't"
Burns could not assign any reason
for McLean's appointment.
What did Mclean get?"
zone dollar year"
"How many one-dollar-a-year men
have your"
About eight-the last administra-
ton had thirty"
The, crowd broke into prolonged
laughter.
s.s1'What services did Mclean ever
perform for the Department." asked
Senator Din.
Get went ,sto him several times, -
Burns said, @"and got information
from him that the Government
wanted" -r; -,
-"Were Sinclair and Doheny agents
for the department."
"Not that I know Of"
Asked If; the Burns private de-
Itective agency, Of which he for.
merly was the head, ever had made
any investigations for Mclean,
Burns said, Eyes, once"
He had made no investigations
for Sinclair or Doheny. he said.
"Have you a man in your bu-
reau named Castor B. Means?'
Dill asked.
1--WE did have until a few months
ago."
"Was he a good MANI"
Can "Only Recommend"
zone Of the best in the country"
Burns said loudly, shaking his
head emphatically.
"He was about the best I've ever
KNOWN" Burns added.
did he do any special work for
President Harding?"
HE may, I don't recall IT,"
"Why didn't you have any right
to request Mclean to resign?" asked
Adams.
Burns explained that that duty
was assigned to the Attorney
| General.
"I can only recommend"
"Why did you think 1t would be
embarrassing to the Attorney Gen.
| eral to keep McLean?"
IT knew that the newspapers
would shrek and try to connect the
Department Of Justice In the Teapot
Dome mess"
Burns explained that the code
used by Mrs. Duckstien was dis
carded by him shortly after he came
into office, but that ''it is still in
use to some extent" He said he
had prepared a new code but lit
will be some time to get it into
use."
Mclean Has Old Code.
Mclean has the old code. he
HAS Mclean resigned?" asked
Adams.
mo; not yet"
"Did you see the message Mrs.
Duclxst1en sent?" Senator Walsh
asked.
NO." Burns replied.
Burns said he later asked her why
she did not communicate the resig.
nation suggestion to her husband.
She said she thought they'd take
the hint"
Apparently they didn't" Walsh
commented.
Apparently not" Burns respond
ed crisply.
Burns halted the examination for
several minutes to defend attacks
made upon the bureau of investiga.
ton. Speaking directly to Walsh
he said the agent assigned to
cover" Fall from Ell Paso was zone
OF our best agents having been in
the service for seven years."
HE is a Democrat but not with.
standing he Is good man."
1--WE are ready at all times" ha
said. I'VE were criticised for not
taking up this investigation. we
weren't asked. Had we been we
would have investigated, and II
would have been an honest and con,
scientious investigation. We have
the best force In the world. No mat.
ter who we were called upon to in.
vestigate II It were the Attorney
General himself we would make an
honst investigation"
who could have asked your
asked Adams.
ANY OF you Senator'S" Burns
shouted.
"Would ron have diucio.,a n A