Evening star., 1928-10-04
Campaign Matte "of High
est Importance" Taken
by Thief.
MISSING DOCUMENTS
CALLED IRREPLACEABLE
Office of Harry J. Brown, Assistant
Publicity Director, Is
Entered Twice.

Valuable campaign correspondence
and other confidential data are mysteri-
ously missing from secret files of the
Republican national committee, in the
Barr Building, The Star learned today.
The desk and personal files of Harry
J. Brown, assistant director of publicity
for the Republican campaign, have been
rifled on two different occasions.
Correspondence and campaign mat
ter regarded as of the highest impor-
tance to the Republican cause have
disappeared from Browns desk. The
data are described as irreplaceable.
Reports of the alleged thefts came to
The Star from most reliable source.
Advised of this, however, Chairman
Work of the Republican national COM
mittee. declared:
II know nothing about such reports.
If The Star has any real information
to give me about reported thefts at
these headquarters, I would appreciate
having it."
The Stars informant, who request
ed that his name be withheld from pub
lication, declared that private detec-
tiveS have been put on duty at night At
the Republican headquarters. The po-
lice have not been called into the case,
it was learned from Inspector Henry
G. Pratt, chief of the Detective Bureau.
When asked if detectives had been
posted on the fourth floor Of the Barr
Building, where the campaign officeS
al tNaf afypAN rWlp fakl
that a might watchman'' has been on
duty there ever since the offices were
opened He denied that any inveSti-
gators had been assigned to conduct an
inquiry.
Investigation Ordered.
Brown, it Is understood, reported the
loss of his papers to higher ups" who
ordered an investigation. Brown is as-
siStant to Henry D. Allen, former Cover
nor of Kansas and national director of
publicity for the campaign. Aliens
other assistant is Alfred Kirchofer, for
mer vice president Of the National Press
Club.
Aliens offices are near the rear of the
main floor corridor of the Barr Build
ing. There is a small reception room,
always open during the daytime to
newspaper correspondents and other
visitors. Browns Office Is at the rear OF
the reception room. Entrance during
the day to Browns Office is by appoint
ment only and secretarial staff OF
four young women always meets all
callers. It is therefore regarded as cer-
tain that the intruders operated after
the headquarters had closed for the
day. ......
1t is reported that other Offices thar
AL-aA - .I-
by uninvited persons, and documents o1
varying importance taken.
Occupants of various campaign ofices
are said to have noticed suspicious
looking" persons lettering around the
corridor during the daytime, and other
strangers have been seen In the hall
ways at night. 1t Is known that the
activities of several of these persons
aroused the curiosity of one official to
such an extent that he conducted an
inquiry of his own. He failed to find
any good reason to assign for their pres
ence around the headquarters.
Strangers Now Scrutinized.
There is no doubt but that careful
scrutiny is being made of every stranger
who calls at the Republican headquar-
terS nowadays. He is met at the ele-
vator by information clerks, who insist
politely but firmly on knowing his blsi-
ness. When the purpose of the visit
is stated, he is conducted personally to
the particular Office concerned.
The exact nature of the documents
which have disappeared from the Re-
publican headquarters could not be as
certained today. 1t was said, however,
that they were very important to the
Hoover cause and very hurtful to the
campaign of his opponents" They
were characterized as valuable weapons
for use against the opposing party. but
incapable of being turned against the
Republicans"
Brown is we'll known in the news
paper world, having served as Wash
ington correspondent for a number
of leading dailies. He is president Of
the Gridiron Club.