The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-04

country demanded the islands you
would permit your bureau to express
that sentiment. On the basis of all
this you succeeded in extorting from
me contract, not to speak of moneys.
that your co-conspirators have gotten
away from me at various times. OF
course my plain duty would be not only
to repudiate any contract with you,
but to proceed against you criminally.
/ do the first now or rather affirm my
reputation to you of last Saturday,
the latter 1 am prevented from doing
by reason of the fact that | leave. for
Europe in the course of a few days"
Mr.. Hansen said this letter, which he
placed in evidence, was in Capt.
Christmas handwriting.
Hansen said he had never received
anything from Capt Christmas. Mr..
Hansen said Capt. Christmas saw c..
w. Knox in a dining room and told
him he had some islands to sell. Mr..
Knox said he knew a man who knew
Senator Hanna, and Christmas was to
pay Knox $4,000. Hansen said S. was
paid on this promise.
Mr.. Hansen related that Christmas
met in saloon one Nelkin Y. Walberg,
and told him he had some islands for
sale"
Hansen said Waldberg replied that
was just III MS ilIcs IldhoCiA
said, Christmas let Walberg have
small sums, $40, $25 and SIS Hansen
said he did not know WaIberg and
knew nothing of his connections with
an International press association.
A Small Foundation.
Representative Hit asked if this
was supposed 10 be the basis for
charges affecting the American press.
Mr. HanGan said xxyoe hot wi =
mas only connection with the press
was with this Walberg.
Mr. Hansen also told of "a contract
with a Mr.. Rynert by which the latter
was to receive $4,000 for services as
counsel. lie produced letter from
Christmas, dated March 2. stating that
he had offered to make a public
declaratf ton that no one in Congress
was interested in the sale. The wit
ness said he was positive that no SEN
ator or representative ever had any
personal interest in the negotiation,
or was ever approached. and he made
this disclaimer broad enough to cover
every one in and out of Congress ex-
cepting the specific cases heretofore
cited.
Melville stone Testihes.
Melville E. Stone, general manager
of the Associated Press, then testified.
x
of all news matters of the association
and had full knowledge of all con-
tracts and business affairs.
In response to Mr.. Dalzell's inquiries,
Mr.. Stone said he had never met
Christmas, had never seen him and his
only knowledge of the man was from
the general gossip on the subject re-
Gently appearing.
Mr.. Dalzell asked If Christmas had
arFa ha1 81 H.
citation.
Mr.. Stone answered that there was
no such contract, there could not have
been anything of the kind without his
knowledge; the idea of such a contract
was absurd.
He desired to protest. Mr.. Stone adj
ded, against the Juggling in of the AS
ISOLATED Press, which he.& considered
most impertinent. He also showed the
committee cablegram from Copen-
hagen saying an official note was is
sued to-day stating that the Danish
ministry had no connection with
Christmas, and refused to see him or
to receive n copy Of his report.
August Rynert, a New York attorney.
testified that though he agreed with
Christmas to act as counsel, he neither
did any work nor received any pay
Evans Tells of His Contract.
Richard p. Evans, an attorney of this
city, was next called. He said he first
met Christmas through Walberg, who
was described as music teacher,
newspaper man and translator Christ
mas desired to employ Evans in this
matter, and Evans made contract,
which was produced, reciting that a
contingent fee of $4,000 was to be paid
Evans on the successful conclusion of
the negotiations.
The witness said he had never offered
any inducement to any one in Congress
in this connection.
Asked what he was to do for the
specified fee, Evans said it was for
ordinary expenses in advancing the
interests of the matter. Certainly, he
said, there was no element of bribery.
Mr.. Richardson inquired as to Wal
berg and the International Press
News Association"
The witness said he was a stockhold-
Ell in the association and he thought
it probable this was the press associa-
ton Christmas claimed to have bound
to him.
Niels Gron made d brief supplement-
airy statement, saying his sole mission
was to place the facts before Congress
and the public, not to make bribery
charges.
The committee then adjourned until
Monday.