Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-27
RAUM CALLED A LIAR.
An Exciting Episode in the Pension
Office Investigation.
Mr.. ENLOE GETS INTO A PASSION
And Tells the Commissioner Several Times
That He Lies.
no BLOWS ALLOWED TO BE STRUCK

WASHINGTON, April 26-There was a
remarkable scene to-day in the room where
the Raum investigation was proceeding
Representative Enloe, one of the prosecu-
tors in. the case, called Commissioner
Raum liar, and attempted to make per-
sonal assault upon him, and was only pre-
vented from carrying out his purpose by the
interference of other members of the COM
mittee. The utmost excitement prevailed,
and was quelled only by prompt adjourn
ment The trouble began with an inquiry
as to whether or not Commissioner Raum
had furnished Special Examiner Green
walt with SIS to be used for the purpose of
entrapping on attorney named Foote, of
kalamazoo, Mich, suspected of being en-
gagged in buying forbidden information with
reference to pension cases.
The Commissioner said he had not given
Mr.. Greenwalt the money.
Mr. Enloe asked if, after an adjournment
of the committee on a previous day, Mr..
Raum had not, right at the table around
which they were sitting, SO stated to him
(Mr Enloe).
The Commissioner replied that he had
not. for such was not the fact.
Mr.. Enloe repeated the query several
times, which led Mr.. Payson to inquire if
Mr. Enloe didn't already have sufficiently
square denial from the witness.
The Lie in Raum's Very Teeth.
Commissioner Raum, turning round in
his chair, added: ''Do you want another
denial?" addressing himself to Mr.. Enloe.
That gentleman flushed quickly at the re-
mark, became intensely excited on the in
slant, and holly exclaimed: "You are
liarl you did say SOL" rose to his feet, and
in his excitement grasped small glass
sponge cup on the table in front of him,
and made forward movement to get at the
Commissioner, who was sitting in the wit
ness chair Immediately across the table and
about six feet away.
The suddenness of the violent turn given
affairs took all hands by surprise. The
Chairman, Representative Wheeler, of
Michigan, Representative Cooper, of In
diana, and one or two others were seated in
chairs between Mr. Enloe and the witness
They rose as hastily as possible, as did Com
missioner Raum who became almost as ex-
cited as his opponent. = The members of the
committee and Mr.. Cooper seized Mr.. Enloe
and held him before he could get around
the corner of the table. They .forcibly pre-
vented him from proceeding further, aud In
the confusion Mr.. Enloe exclaimed: ''Hou
did say it!'' to which the Commissioner re-
torted, 81 say didn't"
The Commissioner Not Afraid.
As Mr. Enloe, at this, made fresh effort
to free himself the Commissioner shouted:
81 want no difficulty, with you or anybody
else; but the man doesn't live that fear"
Mr.. Enloe renewed his struggles, but his
efforts to get away were unavailing The
Commissioner reiterated, ''The man don't |
live that fear, and then, to avoid trouble,
he took up his hat and marched out of the |
room, Chairman Wheeler, just as he was
going out the door, calling out that there |
was no need for the witness to leave, as he |
would be amply protected.
Judge Payson remarked that the witness |
had right to leave when he was so treated. |
To which Mr. Wheeler replied that the |
committee had protected and would protect |
the witness.
To Mr.. Enloe Mr.. Wheeler expressed his |
regret at the scene. telling that gentleman
that he could go on the stand and contradict |
a witness when he made a statement that |
he (Mr. Enloe) thought untrue, and the |
committee could judge between witnesses,
and added that it was improper that violence |
should be manifest in such place.
No Physical Developments Wanted.
Representative Little, of New York, said: |
GAS member of the. committee protest |
against any physical developments.
Chairman Wheeler again expressed his |
regret at the occurrence. He said the Com
missioner was present as a witness, and had |
a right to be protected from violence. He |
was sorry the affair had happened
Mr. Enloe said he thought the committee
would bear him out in the statement that
he had conducted the examination fairly, !
and treated witnesses in the manner in
which they were entitled to be treated, to
which the Chairman signifed his assent.
Mr.. Enloe said he did not intend that the
Commissioner of Pensions, the President,
or anybody else should treat him as the
Commissioner had. He was entitled to be
treated with respect. Commissioner Raum's
manner he thought very offensive, indeed.
Mr.. Payson asked in what respect. The
Commissioner had simply. said he did not
say what Mr.. Enloe said he did, and Mr..
Enloe kept insisting on It,
Mr.. Enloe retorted that the manner of
witness was something, and the Commits
sioner's manner, when he last spoke, Was i