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1 FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD WASHINGTON ADDRESS OFFICIAl.. CORRESPONDENCJi! TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD X-6285 April 9, 1929. SUBJECT: Improper methods in obtaining confessions of violations of bankint; laws. Dear Sir: There are enclosed for your information copies of two letters addressed to the Comptroller of the Currency and the Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, respectively, by the Attorney General of the United States with reference to the actio~ of a private detective agency investigating apparent violations of the national banking laws which obtained a confession 11 by promise of irmnu.ni ty and with considerable coercion. 11 You are requested to call this matter to the attention of all of your examiners and to warn them not to use such methods, since they are likely to interfere with the due administration of justice and perhaps to prevent a subsequent successful investigation by the authorized agencies of the Department of Justice. Very truly yours, E. M. McClelland, Assistant Secretary. :Enclosures. TO AGENTS OF .ALL F. R • :BANKS • 338 ! 339 X-628'5-a DEPARTMENT OF .nJSTIOE WHR:DOK WASHINGTON, D. C. ORL-WHR March 29, 1929. 29-36-37- The Governor, The Federal Reserve Board. Sir: . This Department has received from the Comptroller of the Currency ~ copy of a report made to the United States District Attorney at Boston, MassaChuse~ts, by Chie£ Natib~l Bank Examiner F. D• Williams, concerning il.pparent violations of the national banking laws by one Ralph L. toung, an amployEie of the Brockton National Bhnk of Brockton, Massachusetts. The co:py of the report of Chie:t' Examiner Williams is accompanied by; a co~'Y of a teport dated the 21st instant addressed to the 1i'e'diral R~serve Bank at Boston, "Attention: l4r. WilliWnl, Chief itttt:i.onal Bank Examiner" and signed by G. 0. Breach as Ct~inal Manager of the William J. Burns International Detective .Agency. The latter report contains certain statements whieh have attracted the earnest attention of this De~artment and which are referred to in a letter of this date to the Comptroller of the Currency, a copy of which I am enclosing herewith for your attention and such action as you deem proper. Respectfully, For the Attorney General, (S) O. R. LUHRING, Assistant Attorney General. Encl, 110643. 340 X-6285-b WHR:DCK 031..- 29-36-37- March 29, 1929. The Comptroller of the Currency. Sir: ... I desire to aCknowledge your letter of the 25th instant, enclosing two copies of a. re'9ort made to the United States Attorney at Boston, Massachusetts, by Chief National Bank Examiner F. D. Williarus concerning apparent violations of the national banking laws by Ralph L. Young, an employee of the Brockton National Barik of Brockton, Massachusetts. A copy of the report of Chief Examiner Williams is accompanied by a copy of a report signed by G. o. Breach, Criminal Manager for the William J. Burns International Detective Agency, Inc., in whiCh the writer states that an effort was made to obtain an admission from the accused without promising immunity or compro~ising himself in any way, but adds that this effort was unsuccessful and that 11 seeing that there was no possibility of obtaining an admission under these circumstances, I socured a full confession by promise of immu.ni ty and with considerable coercion." This quotation is presented for your earnest consideration and for such action or suggestions as you deem proper, with a view to discouraging and suppressing such methods on the part of this and any other unofficial organization which are so likely to interfere with the due administration of justice and perhaps to prevent a subsequent successful investigation by the authorized agencies of this Department. Respectfully, For the Attorney General, 0 • R • LUHRUTG, Assistant Attorney General. Copy to; The Governor, Federal Reserve Board.
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