Title
Connecticut Council of Defense: The search for detectives to work for the Navy and investigate reports of suspicious activity.
Subject
Investigating disloyalty
Description
Connecticut State Council of Defense
Dear Sir:-
Sometime ago you received from us Town Bulletin #3 requesting you report to the Council instances of disloyalty or utterances of a seditious or traitorous nature, etc.
We have received a request from the Navy Department to furnish them with the names of men in some of the towns of the State whom they might wish to use for exactly this same purpose. They desire to have a man, when the occasion arises, to run down a rumor or investigate suspicious circumstances or secure information for them.
It seems to me that the work for the Council and for the Navy Department, while of an analogous nature, does not conflict. I am writing to inquire, therefore, if you would be willing to serve if requested to do so by the Navy Department in your town and if not, will you send me the name of someone who will agree to do so. The principle requirements for this service are discretion and secrecy.
Will you give this your immediate attention and let me hear from you at the earliest possible moment?
I wish to have the name, home address and telephone, business address and bussness telephone of the person.
We will then submit this name to the Department for their information.
Yours very truly,
Thomas Hewes
Secretary
Dear Sir:-
Sometime ago you received from us Town Bulletin #3 requesting you report to the Council instances of disloyalty or utterances of a seditious or traitorous nature, etc.
We have received a request from the Navy Department to furnish them with the names of men in some of the towns of the State whom they might wish to use for exactly this same purpose. They desire to have a man, when the occasion arises, to run down a rumor or investigate suspicious circumstances or secure information for them.
It seems to me that the work for the Council and for the Navy Department, while of an analogous nature, does not conflict. I am writing to inquire, therefore, if you would be willing to serve if requested to do so by the Navy Department in your town and if not, will you send me the name of someone who will agree to do so. The principle requirements for this service are discretion and secrecy.
Will you give this your immediate attention and let me hear from you at the earliest possible moment?
I wish to have the name, home address and telephone, business address and bussness telephone of the person.
We will then submit this name to the Department for their information.
Yours very truly,
Thomas Hewes
Secretary
Creator
Connecticut Council of Defense
Source
Thomas Hewes, 6 Sept. 1917, RG 30 Box 56, Folder M19, Council of Defense, 1917-1919, Connecticut State Library Archives.
Publisher
Allen Kozloski
Date
Sept. 6th, 1917.
Format
jpeg
Language
English
Type
Typed Document
Original Format
Typed Letter