The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-04
CHRISTMAS
 DISCREDITED Attorney Hansen Gives
 Testimony. THE CHARGES ARE ABSURD Danish Agent Was the Victim
 of Sharpers. Melville E. Stone Protests Against the Impertinence of Dragging the Associated Press In-
 to the Investigation.

Washington, April 3.--The inquiry by the House Committe into the charges or bribery said to have been made by Wal ter Christmas, against members of Con- gross and press associations of the United tates in connection with the sale Of the Danish West Indies to the United States, was resumed today. Fischer Hansen was one of the witnesses.
 MT. Hansen gave his business as an att torney at New York. He said Christmas told him in 1899 of the movement to sell the Danish Islands to the United States and of Dcnmark's willingness to pay iio- erally in case of sale. Christmas had desired Hansen to act as counsel. Wit ness called on Abner Mckinley and ask ed him if he would become associate counsel MT. Mckinley replied that he tHansen) ought to know that he tMcl<in- ley) would not he retained on any ne- eotiation in which the Government was concerned. MT. Mckinley told him also of showing man out Of his office who had sought to bring up question or Government appointment in connection with legal business. Mir. Hansen said he had urged that the acquisition of the isl- ands was in line with this Governments s policy, but Mir Mckinley would have nothing to do with the matter
 Mir Hansen then related what Christi mas had told him of coming to Washing ton and meeting President Mckinley, Secretary Hay and Admiral Bradford. and later of going to Copenhagen with Mir White, the United States Secretary of Embassy at London. Later MT. Han sen said he refused to stand sponsor for Christmas, and witness learned that the President desired no further dealings with Christmas.
 Senator Lodge testified that Chris. mas had spoken to him about the Danish transfer Mir. Lodge told Christmas that there was no use staying hero as the Danish minister would attend to the ne- ,sotistions. The Senator specifically de- nied language said to have been used by him, according to the Christmas report
 Resuming his testimony. MT. Hansen told of learning later that Christmas had been clothed with authority by Denmark. Christmas wanted him to guarantee 6 contract of s50O00 to MT. Evans. the amount to come out of Chrstmass ex- pectcd compensation. Hansen lendorsed the contract, the expecation being that Evans would act as counsel at Washing ton. explaining any details that might arise. Later, MT. Hansen said. Christ mas wrote Evans the following letter. repudiating all connection with him:
 New York, March g. Richard P. Evans:
 Dear Sir-Althought it is hardly neces. ssry for me to add anything to what already have said to you in my conversa- ton last Saturday in the presence of my attorney. Fischer Hansen. nevertheless. in view of the fact that l am dealing with a bunch of scamps and swindlers. Of which you seem to be the ringleader. l feel it is a duty to emphasize that under no conditions will I have anything what soever to do with you or your gang I hereby expressly repudiate and cancel any and all agreements that l may ever have entered into with you. l shall not dwell on all the many details of the gi- gantic fraudulent scheme to which have been subject. Suffice 1t for me to men, ton only d few of the abomnable fea- lures of the case that. but for the wide awakedness of my attorney. MT. Fischer Hansen. would have led me to everlast- ing ruin and despair.
 Thus for example, you were introduc- cd to me as former United States Con- gressman. You stated to me that you were acting for the administration and that it was in compliance with the wishes of President Mckinley and Secretary Hay and for the benefit of my plans that a certain bill was introduced in Congress by Congressman Gardner looking to the purchase of the West Indian Islands.
 You told me further that you were one of the leading spirits in the Associated Press and that as the country demanded the islands you would permit your bureau to express that sentiment. On the basis of all this. you succeeded in extortng from me q 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 my contract with you, but to proceed against you crlminally. l do the first now or rather affirm my repudiation to you of last Saturday; the latter l am prevented from doing by reason of the fact that 1 leave for Europe in the course of few days"
 In reply to MT. Hit. Hansen said he had never received anything from Christmas and had lent him $500 when he was hard up which had not been repaid. There was much laughter and the inquiry tok rather ludicrous aspect as Mir. Hansen told of Christmas's promises to various persons. On one occasion Mir. Hansen said, Christmas met c. w. Knox
 
 some Islands to sell. Mir. Knox said he knew man who knew Senator Hanna. As 8 result Christmas was to pay Knox s5O OOO In semi-humorous vein. MT. Han sen told of 8 being paid on this promise.
 On another occasion. MT. Hansen re- lated. Christmas met in d saloon one Netkiny Wolburg and told him he had .some islands for sale" Hansen said Wolburg replied that was just in his line" Later Hansen said Christmas let Wolburg have small sums, $40. $25 and s5 MT. Hansen said he did not know Wolburg and knew nothing of his con nections with an International press asso- cIation. Representative Hut asked If this was supposed to he the basis of charges affecting the American press.
 Mir. Hansen said 1t was; that Christ mass only connection with the press was with this Wolburg.
 Mir. Hansen also told of contract with Mir. Rynert. hy which the latter was to receive sloooo for services ss counsel He produced recent letter from Christmas dated March :. stating