The age-herald., 1902-04-04
Witnesses p|IOfthG Character of
 Christmas, ''the Bribet'f-
ABNER M'K|NLEY A WITNESS
Evidence Before Congressional Com. mittee Shows Christmas to Have Made Many Promises Con-
 cerning His" Islands.

Washington, April 3.-The investigation of charges in connection with the Danish
 West Indies negotiations was resumed to-
 day by the House committee having it in
 charge. Those present when the hearing
 began were Abner Mckinley, w. c.
 Brown, Carl Fisher Hansen and Repre-
 sentative Gardner of New Jersey
 MT. Mckinley was the first witness. He
 gave his residence as New York, his bus-
 ness that of a lawyer, and fin response
 to Chairman Dalzells inquiry he said he was brother of the late President Asked whether he knew Captain Christmas, the witness said he had met him once in the most casual way in the lobby of the Man fattan Hotel, New York He never held any conference with him of any kind or | character.
 Was there any talk of the Danish West Indies?" asked MT. Dalzell
 None whatever, either remotely or | otherwise" answered the witness MT. Mckinley went on to say that he l had never mentioned the matter to the President. He had no meeting with Christi l mas beyond this casual one, when there was nothing except the exchange of 1 courtesics of the day
 Representative Richardson asked the 1 witness if he knew MT. Hansen.
 Mckinley Knew Casually. | MT. Mckinley said he had known Han sen for some time and previous to the casual neeting with Christmas Hansen had desired to retain him in this matter.
 In reply the witness said he told MT. Hansen he could have nothing to do with | 1t; subsequently when he met Christmas he passed the time of day and that was the end of it.
 MT. Richardson asked if MT. Mckinley
 had any talks with the Seligmans on the
 subject.
 MT. Mckinley said he had never had any
 conversation with them on this transac-
 ton or anybody except hansen, as he
 stated
 Representative Gardner followed with g
 statement disclaiming all knowledge oi
 Christmas except of the most casua
 character Some one, he said, had asked
 permission to present a lady and gentle
 man at his (Gardner's) room. There was
 brief meeting and the card left bore
 the name of Christmas. That was the extent of his acquaintance with Christ | mas.
 | MT Gardner also disclaimed going over l the subject with MT. Evans, who had been | mentioned in the matter except in & side l walk conversation, when inquiries were made as to the prospects of a sale of the 1 Danish West Indies
 | MT. Richardson asked if Mr Gardner knew of the International Press Associa- l ton.
 MT. Gardner said he did had been a stockholder in the concern which at one l time represented several New Jersey newspapers.
 Brown Had Met Christmas, Col w. c. Brown testifiefid that he met | Christmas once at the Manhattan Hotel | In New York. He had no conversation with him except the usual interchange of courtesies. He had no business relations with him, none was spoken of at that meeting, which was the only one. To MT. Richsrdsons question, Colonel Brown said he had no contract with Christmas or Hansen or anyone in con nection with the Danish islands Mir. Hansen, the next witness gave his business as an attorney at New York. He said Christmas told him in 1899 of the movement to sell the Danish Islands to the United States and of Dem marks willingness to pay literally in case of a sale. Christmas desired Han- sen to act as counsel. Witness called on Abner Mckinley and asked him if he would become associate counsel. MT. Me | Kinley replied that he CHansen) ought 1 to know that he (McKinley) would not be retained on any negotiation in which | the government was concerned. MT. Me- Kinley told him also of showing a man l out of his office who had sought to l bring up question of government ap~ | pointment in connection with legal busi- ness. MT, Hansen said he had urged 1 that the acquisition of the islands was | in line with this governments policy 1 but Mir Mckinley would have nothing | to do with the matter. MT. Hansen then l related what Christmas had told him l of coming to Washington 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. Hansen said he refused to stand sponsor for Christmas, and witness learned that the President desired no further dealings with Christmas
 Had Spoken to Lodge.
 Senator Lodge testified that Christmas had spoken to him about the Danish transfer. Mir Lodge told Christmas that there was no use staying here, as the Danish minister would attend to the notifications. The Senator specifically denied language said to have been used by him, according to the Christmas re- port.
 Resuming his testimony Mir Hansen told of learning later that Christmas had been clothed with authority by Dem mark Christmas wanted him to guar antee contract of s50.00O to MT. Evans, the amount to come out of Christmas expected compensation. Hansen en- dorsed the contract the expectation be- ing that Evans would act as counsel at Washington, explaining any details that might arise. Later Mir. Hansen said Christmas whote Evans the following letter repudiating all connection with him:
 New York, March A.
 Richard P. Evans: Dear Sir-Although it is hardly necessary for me to add any, thing to what I have already said to you in my conversation last Saturday in the presence of my attorney, Fischer Hansen, nevertheless, in view of the fact that I am dealing with a bunch of acampa and swindlers of which yotl seem