◆ SpookStack

=2- I returned to the Kansas City Division Office and imme ' Alately prior to Mr. Conroy leaving the city for Fort Smith, Arkansas, on a matter concerning this case, he advised me that I should personally call upon Dick{Smith, Managing Editor ef the Kaneseae City Journal Post and endeavor to effect similar arrange- mente with his paper as those effected with the Kaneas City Stare . Sheriff Thomas Bash, of Kansas City, Missouri, who wae then at the office preparatory to leaving with Mr. Conroy, volunteered to call Dick Smith, known to him peracnally, and advise Mr. Smith that the undersigned was coming immediately to see him about an official matter. Accordingly, Sheriff Bash did call and thereafter I proceeded to the Kansas City Journal Post Building end talked to Kr. Dick Smith, Managing Editor of that paper, thie being at approzi- mately 10:35 or 10:40 A.M. Mre Dick Smith advised me he thought an article had already gone into the noon edition of the paper in thie matter, and at that time went to his city deak and obtained a proof copy of the articie ’ gpd read the same to ma, At that time I told Mr. Smith that the erticle absolutely should not be printed as it would materially intere fera with the Government's investigation of this case. I conferred with Kr. Smith for perhaps ten minutes concerning this matter, ene deavoring to point out the reasons why we did not want the article in the paper. However, he etated that the paper had gone to press; that it would be impossible to kill the article; hence, the article would be run in the noon edition of the Journal Post. He volunteered to kill the article in the later editions of the paper. | Immediately upon returning to the Kansas City Office I found that some 17 of the Government's witnesses had assembled, ready to proceed to Leavenworth to view the above bamed suspecte. I imme- diately endeavored to get in touch with the Division, but at the time I wea advised kr. Nethan was out of the city, end Kr. Hughes and yourself were out to lunch. After my conversetion with you at about 1:05 P.hi., Central Standerd Time, I followed your instructions by calling the prospective witnesses together, advising them the trip would be cancelled in view of the unfortunate publicity which was given to the contemplated trip. The witnesses seemed to be satisfied and seemed to think that the course being puraued was the dest. No arrangements at that time were made for the witnesses to return. However, pursuant to your inatructions, the witnesses wil] be taken in the immediate future to Leavenworth to view the auspecte in groups of two or three at a time, ie eee ee ree pn re rr ee eee