The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-26
PAPERS IN OIL
CASE STOLEN.
BURNSCHARGE
Famous Detective Asserts
His Rooms and Those of
Aids Were Looted.
REPORT WOMAN BEATEN
Witness Slugged, Bound
and Gagged, Letter Taken,
Court Told.
By United Press

DJ tHtttu fFC6S
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-William
j. Burns, famous detective charged
today that his hotel room here and
the rooms Of many of his operatives
have been rifled in the last few
days.
Burns said document in connec-
ton with the Burns-Sinclair con-
tempt trial was missing from his
room. His statement followed an
nouncement to the trial judge that
Mrs. Jeannette Lantz, 81, a defense
witness, had been beaten, bound and
gagged last night.
The letter allegedly was stolen
after Mrs. Lantz was beaten in her
hotel room, concerned William J.
McMullin, now on the stand in the
trial.
Charles A. Douglas, attorney for
William j. Burns, related the attack
to Justice Siddons in court at the
opening Of today'S session, adding
that he made no charges.
Called Inappropriate
United States Attorney Peyton
Gordon objected that introduction
OF this information was entirely in
appropriate" and near insinuation."
Justice Siddons said he assumed
the police would handle any matter
OF a criminal attack and he had
no doubt the courts would do their
duty, but he would take no action.
Douglas said the assault was made
last night while Mrs. Lantz's hus-
band was at dinner.
She was feeling i'll. so Lantz went
away, locking the room as he left.
Someone entered, appa. emily with a
pass key. Douglas said and i'm
mediately commenced striking her.
She was taken to a hospital for
treatment. but is understood to be
in the hotel now.
Burns detectives witnesses In the
present trial. said she would have
Strangled to death had the gags not
been removed shortly after her hus-
band found her lying between the
twin beds in the room.
Called to Impugn McMullin
Mrs. Lantz is one Of several wit
neSses called, 1t is understood, to
impugn the character of McMul-
lin, who, while serving as a Burns
agent in shadowing Fall Sinclair
trial jurors, kept the Government
informed of his activities. She is
the wife Of Milburn (Pa) traffic
officer.
Washington police said no report
Of the asserted attack had been
made to them and they would not
investigate unless called on to do SC.
Burns lawyers charged at the
trial today that McMullin was a
bigamist and perjurer. After get
ting him to admit he had been mar
ried three times. they charged he
wed his second wife before his first
wife divorced him.
They also charged he Swore 10
false statement-that he had not
been married before-in applying
for license to marry his third wife.
yHe married the first two women in
San Antonio while he was in the
army, they said.
SubpOenas for Dozen
SubpoenaS for a dozen new wit
nesSes in the Senate Public Lands
Committees renewal of the Teapot
Dome oil scandal investigation were
issued today by David Barry, SER
geant-at-arms of the Senate.
The witnesses are expected to ap-
pear when the committee resumes
its hearing next Tuesday.
The new list Of witnesses is ur1-
derstood to include Department Of
Justice officials who conducted an
investigation of the $3,000,000 Lib
erty bond profits Of the mysterious
Continental Trading Company of
Canada, organized by oil men for
some purpose yet undisclosed.
Harry F. Sinclair, the oil man
charged with turning over $233, ,0GD
In bonds to former Secretary OF
Interior A.. B. Fall soon after Fall
leased him the naval oil reserves,
will not be called by the commit
tee for the present.