During the three months I was in Boston, it was my custom to make daily visits to the public library for the purpose of scrutinizing the columns of the Portland Oregonian, that I might keep in touch with affairs on the Pacific Coast, and more particularly, that I might learn if there was anything new in my case. In looking over its columns, about the first of February, 1906, I noticed an article stating that Francis J. Heney had instructed W. J. Burns, the detective, to apprehend Horace G. McKinley and myself, and bring us into camp forthwith. I had realized for some time, because of the search made of my house in Berkeley, that I was being wanted by someone, but had no positive knowledge, until reading the article in question, that the Government officials were concerning themselves as to my whereabouts.
As I was under $8,000 bonds to the Government, and had no thought of running away from the Federal charges, my first impulse was to wire Mr. Heney to that effect, and to state, in substance, that I would be on hand when wanted. However, as I had not yet heard from those to whom I had written with reference to the State land trouble, and believing that the Government was not yet ready to go to trial on cases in which I was concerned, and as I considered myself reasonably secure from detection and was desirous of securing additional time in which I hoped to adjust the other difficulty, I decided to remain in my present state of seclusion for awhile longer. Meantime, I continued in correspondence with my family and others as usual, and concluded that so far as my method of postal communication was concerned, there was no danger of my hiding place being discovered.
