West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-04-02
Gron Appeared as Witness In
Investigation of Danish
Treaty Allegations.
CROSvENOR ALSO A WITNESS.
Gren Denied He Knew OF Any Mem
Der of House or Senate Who Had
Been Bribed or Whom Any One
Attempted to Bride.

Washington, April 1.-The invosti-
CATION of charges made in connection
with the Danish West Indies pur-
chase was begun yesterday before the
special committee appointed by
Speaker Henderson. Beside the
members Of the committee there was
present Niels Gron, who brought the
charges to the attention of Repre-
sentative Richardson and quite a
number of interested spectators.
Mr.. Gron was the first witness
sworn by Mr.. Dalzell. He testified
in part that in February last parties
In Copenhagen, who opposed the
transfer of the Danish West Indies
to the United States conferred with
him and brought to his attention the
Christmas report.
Members of Danish Congress.
Chairman Dalzell asked who those
parties were The witness said they
were members of the Danish upper
house, but he did not think it proper
to give their names. Mr.. Gron said
u0 was dL R1O6CAL ILAC =
in this country of these parties.
Mr.. Gron gave way temporarily tn
Representative Alexander, Of Buffalo,
who desired to make a complete dis
claimer of any knowledge Of Christ
mas or the Danish transactions.
Continuing his statement, Mr.. Gron
explained how the Danish parties Op
posing a sale Of the islands had per.
suaded him to come to Washington
and place the Christmas report be-
fore congress and the public, so that
| the facts would be known. He told
of having secured note of introduc-
ton to General Grosvenor, of Ohio:
of arranging to meet the latter IL
Washington, his purpose being. he
said, to carry oat assurances given
at Copenhagen that he would place
| the matter before influential men and
| thus bring it to the attention OF con
| gress and the public. Mr.. Gron told
| in great detail of bringing the papers
before General Grosvenor, who al
| first seemed quite indignant, Mr.
Gron said, and spoke Of laying the
matter before the proper parties in
| order that suitable action might be
| taken. The witness said that later
General Grosvenor concluded that Il
| would be proper to lay the matter
before the secretary Of state. This
| was done and Mr.. Gron said he learn
ed that the state department held
| that 1t could take no action and thai
the authorities here had in no wa!
| committed themselves to Christmas
| Gron said that after General Gros
venOr had decided not 10 proceed wit
| the matter he (Gron) had prepare
| a statement for the Associated Pres!
| and had asked Mr.. Crane, q news
paper man, to send some one from
the Associated Press to him for th'
statement, and also to General eros
venor for assurances as to Groni
standing. He learned later through
Mr.. Crane that General GroSveno
| said he knew nothing about It,
He said he was informed the da,
after he submitted the statement tina
the Associated Press could not use ii
Afterward. he said, he submitted hi
statement to several newspapers IN.
more or less Of 1t was printed.
Showed II to Richardson.
The witness then detailed how b
had placed the matter before Repre-
sentatives Richardson and Under
wood. who had gone over the papers
What was .your object in bringin
It before membsrs?" asked Mr.. Dal
cell.
ITO get IL into the house and be
fore the American people," answere
the witness.
He referred to the reports that b
tGron) had himself been trying Z
obtain q commission for the sale Q
che islands and that the whole ma
ter was n quarrel between Christina
sad himself over the ccmmissio.
This Mr.. Grea denied. and IN supper
read Q letter stating that an old .
lance between certain Danish me
tanA Anericans in the fall Of 1897 va
declared on Is mooths ago. He meE
toned the names OF n. H. Roger!
Charles d. Flint and himself a. tn
I'm negotiating the sale Of the islands
Mr.. Gron said he undertook to n
open the negotiations after the va
The committees in Copenhagen an
| America had not been dissolve;
| Christmas came To the United State