Evening star., 1901-10-10
HEMP INQUIRY ADJOURNED
POSTPONEMENT BY THE COMMITTEE
UNTIL NOVEMBER IS.
Facts Brought Out at Yesterday
Afternoons Hearing-Col. Hefs-
tand Makes Denial.

The Hawley committee. which has been
investigating the charges preferred by
Erastus L. Hawks against Col. H. Q. s.
Heistand of the army in connection with
project to form a company to manufac cture
hemp in the Philippines, adjourned yester-
day afternoon to November 1S. Upon re-
convening the committee, which consists
Of Senators Hawley, chairman; Proctor,
Burrows Harris and CockreIl, will hear the
testimony of Louis B. Blackwell, one of the
alleged promoters Of the hemp project, and
Major Duncan B. Harrison, who were un-
able to attend meetings thus far, and will
then consider the case and formulate re-
port. The hearing, which began week
ago last Monday has been notable for the
wide range the various witnesses, and par
ticularly Mr.. Hawks, have been permitted
to take and the fiat contradictions whlcn
several witnesses have made of each others
statements. An interesting rumor was prev
aient at the inquiry yesterday to the effect
that Mr.. Hawks had intimated to several
persons his determination to bring suit
against Col Heistand, Gen. Corbin Dudley
&, Michener, Mr.. Meiklejohn and Secretary
Root for alleged defamation of character
regardless of what the committee might
report.
Observation-Disclosures Conversation.
Mr. Walter H. Allensworth, former clerk
to Col. Heistand, was sworn, and. after The
Stars report closed yesterday, said he oc-
cupied deck in the coloners room during
the summer Of 1899. Major Hawks was
visitor from time to time. Asked by Mr..
Needham If he had ever heard any con-
yerSations between Col. HeiStand and Major
Hawks, he said he had. but could only
recall them In general way, as he was
very busy. Witness knew they were on
the subject Of the projected hemp company
but never heard anything about any div-
pf however
names Of Gen. Corbin Mr.. Meiklejohn and
Mr.. Dudley mentioned in connection with
the company. Witness occupied desk. he
said, Immediately at Col. Heistand's left in
the Office Persons talking with the latter
were within six or seven feet of witness.
He never knew Of but one talk when Major
Hawks and Col. Heistand used confidential
tones. All others were conducted in or
dinary tones. Had witness heard anything
about stock being given to Gen. Corbin or
Mr.. Meiklejohn it would have impressed
him. The whispered conversation occurred
about six weeks before Col. Heistand sailed
lations seemed to be cordial between them,
but after 1t witness did not remember that
Major Hawks called again.
At the close of the whispered conversa-
ton, which was lengthy, witness said he
heard Hawks say, Il have not been fairly
treated" and gained the impression that
he was dissatisfied about something.
There might have been conversations be-
tween the two men when witness was not
present, he said in reply to a question of
Judge Mackey's. Witness did not know to
whom Hawks referred when he said he had
been unfairly treated Hawks seemed to
be very much agitated when he used the
words, and his manner impressed the con-
versation en- witness.
Mr.. Hawks, in rebuttal Of Mr. Aliens
worth, declared he was sick in bed at the
Y. I. hotel six weeks before Col. Heistand's
departure. Furthermore, he said, Col
Heistands relations with him were cor
dial until the colonel left for Paris, and he
did not remember having said he was un-
fairly treated
Mr.. L. T. Michener was recalled. He
said that In neither of the meetings. at his
office did Col. Heistand represent that Gen.
Corbin, Judge Boyd or the others were be-
ing represented by him, and at no other
time did The colonel make such represen-
tationS