The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-04
THE CHRISTMAS CHARGES.
Danes Story Is Now Being lnvesti-
gated in Committee.
SEVERAL WITNESSES ON THE STAND.
Some Of Them Acknowledged knowing
Him, but All Denied that There Has
Seen Bribery.

Washington, April 3-The Investigation
OF charges in connection With the Danish
West Indies negotiations was resumed to-
day by the house committee having 1t In
charge. Those present when the hearing
began we're Abncr Mckinley. Colonel w,
{. Brown, Carl Fischer Hansen and Repre-
sentative Gardner Of New Jersey.
Mir. Mckinley was the nrst witness tic
gave his residence as New York. his husi
NESS that Of lawyer and Ia response to
Chairman DalzSlls inquiry he said he WAS
a brother or the late president. Asked as
to whether he knew Captain Christmas
! the witness said he had met him once In
the most casual way In the lobby Of the
Manhattan hotel, New York. He never
held an, conference with him OF any Kind
or character.
MAS there any talk Of the Danish West
lndiesi' asked Mr, balncll.
None whatever, either remotely or other
| wise. answered the witness
Mn Mckinley went on To say that he had
| poter mentioned the matter 20 the proSi
dent lie had no meeting win christmas
/ beyond this casual one. when there was
morning except the exchange Of the courtc-
elps ot the day.
Representative Richardson asked the wit
[ ness h he knew Mir Hansen,
MIR Mckinley said he had known Han
! sem fci some tiulr, nud previous to the
/ casual meeting With Christmas Hansen eN.
! pressed desire to retain him IN this mat
IN reply the witness said be toll NJ
/ Hansen he coulh have nothing 20 do vita a.
( subsequently Wneu he mel christmas ne
/ passed the time of day and that was the
Sir. Richardson asked Il MIR Mckinley
/ had ANY talks with tha Soligmans ON the
NJ Mckinley said he had never had any
/ conversation With them on this transaction
on wul anybody eNcept with Hansen Us
Representative Garducr followed with
statement discamiug all knowledge or
/ christmas except of the most casual chnr
actor Someone, h. sald had asked per
mission To prrseut lady aud gentleman
al his tGHrduar'sl room. There waa briri
Of thmymHs. lhot was the extent OF his
acquaintance with ChriSuuss
Nil Gardner also disClaimed EoiUg over
the subject with Mi EVANS. who mad hcen
mentioned In the matter. except iu a side
walk conversation when Inquiries We're
made aN TO the prospects o. a sale of the
Colonel ". &. brown testified thar he
met Christmas once az the Manhattan holol
in New York He had ND conversation
with him except the usual interchange ~
cuurtcsies He had no business relations
vita him none WAS spoken Of at hat meet
ing, which was the only one. To Mr. tlch.
ardsous questions Colonel Rrown said bee
had no contract with christmas or Hansen
a.. anyone in connection with the Danish
Mr Hansen. the next witness. gave his
business as an attorney in New York Nc
detailed his early acquaintance with thri-i
mas, WIN told him IN $500 OF the noycmehl
60 sell the Danish islands 70 tho United
States and Of Denmark Willingness 10 pay
literally in case Of o sale.
A!r Richardson's crosse questions sought
F, 10 develop what services were to be per
formed for the various contracts The
witness explained TINT II was tho service
I ~ explaining pnd assisting along the trans
Tor by every Legitimate means and NJ leAd
from the contracts To show that this WINS
e tho object He stated with emphasis In
reply 90 MIR init that from all his knoNl
q edge Of the subject he was positive that
. no senator or representative ever mad amy
4 personal interest in tho negotiations of
70 ever was approached, aud he made tIs
g disclaimer broad enough TO cover every
4 one In and ont Of congress excepting the
r specific cases heretofore cited.
q Melville T.. Stone, general manager on
, the Associated Press, testified thal nc
% had general charge Of al news matters ni
f. iuc association aud hHd fun knowledge
% ol di contracts aud business nnai7. I'D
@ response 10 Mr. Dalzeus Inquiries, Nj.
Stone snid hc had never met thriSlnas'
, mas never seen him ANA hiN only knowledge
n, or thr man was FROM the general go%ir
=, uu the subject recently appearing MI
~ DalzclI asked " Christmas ever had amy
~ contract with the association Mr.. Stone
a answered that there was no such cnnirhri,
j" tucrc could not have been anything of
~ ~" Kind without his knowledge; the ldet
OF such contract WAS absurd
III He desired To protest. MI stone added
RI against the Juggling in Of the Associated
's Press, which he considered most lmprrti
~ neat lie also showed the committee
( cnMcTam from Copenhagen saying an Ufh
70 rial note Wus issued today stating thai
H. the Dauish ministry had no connection
u with Christmas and refused to see him o.
@. I receive . copy OF his report,
30 Richard =. Evans, an attorney Of tint
,r rify testified that he first met Christina
al through WulborE, who was described ~
4. "a music teacher. newspaper man ard trans
M latrr. Christmas desired TO employ Evnus
oe service in connection with the Danish mat
4, Ter aud Evans said that coutract wa
made Just ms in any other matter. A cop
Of tho contract was produced rectlng la
u contingent fee Of S5OOUO WIS 30 be pni'
Evans ON the successful conclusion Of ma
negotiations The witness said he hnl
le never offered any inducement 10 any On
DO congress n connection with rhe matte
aud M twenty five years experience IA
TX never knew such thing to he done.
ds There was absolutely no truth, tine vii
he ness said n the Christmas report stJtlu
4, that be- Evans represented tongrcssna
~ Gardner
" Asked by Mr.. Richardson as 90 what h
Al WAS 10 do for the specified fee, Evan
w. said n was for ordinary services ln sd
~ yauring the Interests Of the matter Gen
n t9inIr he snid there was no element 81
a t.g.aru 90 fine fraW-npt