The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-28

vestigation which accounts for this change
OF testimony on the part of Doblin?'
'I know OF no reason"
Asked crOSS-eXaminatiOn as TO now
he came to make his statement TO the
committee as to the alleged 5000 PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Lessler replied: 1T came right
out"
Answering Mr.. Meyer as to any obligation
he might have been under to Mr. Dopiin,
Mr.. Lessler said: GOBLIN has been In
political life about twenty years. He has
been q useful man TO a NUMBER of men. My
judgment is that most of them have simply
used him and that when they were through
they threw him up like a dfshrag.
Mr. Vandiver-Did you think charge Oh
that nature could be made in the presence
OF seventeen members of this committee
and three clerks and others stanclng
around and no investigation follow.
II did not think of the subject or in
vestigation."
Did you express a willingness to prac-
tically abandon the charges"
az certainly expressed a feeling and de-
sire that L would like to have the matter
dropped"
Lessler said: II met Mr.. Roberts, a mem-
Der OF the naval affairs committee, in
Statuary Hall and said to him, as he was
one most interested in the proposition. that
i would sign a statement and Mr.. Roberts
brought letter TO me addressed to the
Holland company.
Mr.. Wheeler-Have you got it?
mo sir; i said | wouldn't sign it."
Mr.. Wheeler-Was il on torpedo boat pa
per or congressional note paper?
1T was on blank paper. / had said to
him in Statuary Hall that 1 would sign a
statement. L never had anything TO do
with the Holland Torpedo Boat Company
in any form. Mr. Roberts brought me the
letter and declined to sign it when 1 saw
| Boat Company"
Did you read it?'
Mr.. NicoI-was that statement to Mr..
1 Roberts voluntary
Entirely voluntary"
ROBERTSS STATEMENT.
AT the afternoon session Mr.. Roberts
made statement regarding his dealings
with Mr.. Lessler, saying in part: 1.-THE
forenoon Of Jan. 81 while 1 was going
through Statuary Hall the way to my
committee room l met Mr.. Lessler going
in the opposite direction. He spoke to me
and said: Can't we stop this thing? My
God! L cannot stand it: it is killing me-!
The thing he referred to was the proposed
investigation which we had authorized tC
be made by the subcommittee. I said tc
him that the investigation was not OF my
seeking and 1 had no benefit to gain by
| pressing it. So far as / was personally
| concerned did not care whether ii went OF
| or stopped; that there were other partie:
| beside myself in this matter. The state
(
| press that the Holland Submarine Boa
| Company had attempted to influence hi:
action by the offer of money, and / did no
| know whether the Holland people would b,
| willing to have the thing smothered. tina
| the phase OF the question would have to b.
| considered. Mr.. Lessler thereupon volun
| teered without any suggestion from me-i
| came from him-that he would make an.
statement regarding the matter that wa!
| thought to be fair and reasonable
After Mr.. Roberts had been examined b!
| Mr.. Wheeler Representative Lessler was re
| called and corroborated what Mr. Robert
had stated. 1T is substantially true" h
said. II do not remember all the details
| did not read the letter. as L stated. L die
not refer to the matter here except by wa.
or answer to the question of Mr.. Nicoll, VIII
seemed to know all about it. i did NEE
Mr.. Roberts in Statuary Hail. Whether
said oh, my God! and the rest of it l d.
not remember. L did say to Mr.. Robert
that would like TO have the thing stopped
and, just as he stated. voluntarily mad
him the proposition that if. I'm his judgmen
as the advocate here of the Holland torped
boat, should sign the statement showing
had made no accusations of anything be
tween them l would do So"
Mr.. Loudenslager said that as Mr.. LESSEE
and Mr.. Roberts agreed perfectly regarding
the conversation further questioning wou
be useless. The committee then went int
executive session.