Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-12
JOHNSON MYST|F|ED
BY SECOND LOOT|NG
Office Ransacked Again De-
spite Watch by Capitol
Police.

The ransacking of the Office of Sena-
tor Hiram Johnson, Republican, of Cali
fornia, a second time within two days
remained mystery today as. Capitol
police and local detectives continued
their investigations.
The second intrusion was discovered
yesterday morning, and, as on the previ-
Gus occasion, file cabinets containing
correspondence were disturbed, but ap-
parently nothing was taken.
THE whole thing is puzzle to me.
Senator johnson said today. He was
ut a loss to understand what the
object of the intruder or intruders
could be.
Capt. Gnash of the Capitol police ex-
pressed the belief today that 1t would
have been possible for some one to
sons ONCE by walking along a ledge
from the balcony on the west front OF
the building The Office is on one of
the lower floors in the central portion
Of the Capitol building.
Investigators working on the case
indicated they have not obtained any
clues that might prove helpful in solv-
ing the case.
After the Office was entered the first
time, between Friday night and Satur-
day morning, Senator johnson said
the evidence was conclusive that some
one sought and read correspondence
in the file cabinets. On that occasion,
patches of letters and office records
were found opened and disarranged.
The same thing occurred the second
time, although they were not so much
disarranged as on the first occasion.
Installation of burglar alarm sys-
tenn in the Offices of members Of Con-
gress was suggested by police today
following the second mysterious raid.
Thought More Effective.
The police did not want to be placed
in the position of telling members Of
Congress how to protect their Offices
from nocturnal visits such as those
which have disturbed Senator johnson
and three other Senators in the last
week, but they believe burglar alarm
system would be more effective and
less expensive than an extra police
guard. The offices, it was said, could
be wired at small expense.
Despite the close watch kept on SEN
ator Johnson's office as a result Of the
first raid Friday night, the visitor re-
turned Saturday night and went through
the contents of six unlocked file cases.
AS in the first case. nothing was re-
moved from the Office.
On both visits the intruder left no
clue which might lead to his identifl-
cation. Fred Sandberg, Bertillion ex-
pert of the headquarters Detective Bu-
reau, and Detective Harry Cole have
both searched the Office in vain for
fingerprints. These officers were as
signed to the case at the request of
Senator johnson. 1t was explained at
the Police Department that since the
Capitol and Senate and House office
buildings are outside the jurisdiction of
the Metropolitan Police Department,
officers are never assigned to cases there
unless requested.
Prior to the first raid on Senator
Johnson's Office, Senators Mcclellan and
Brock of Tennessee and Smoot of Utah
reported that some unauthorized person
had entered their Offices. Nothing was
stolen, however.
Windows to be Locked.
Oficials at the Capitol were making
arrangements today to place locks on
the windows of Senator Johnson's Office
and also to place In his Office new file
cabinets equipped with locks.
Senator Hale, Republican, Of Maine,
acting chairman of the committee In
charge Of the building, continued to
confer today with other officials at the
Capitol regarding precautions to be
taken against further intrusion on
offlces in the building.