Times-promoter., 1903-01-30
AN AMAZED COMMITTEE.
A Witness in the LessIer Alleged
Bribery Case Retracts Evidence
He Had SoIemniy Given.

committee on naval affairs on Satur-
day that he had approached Repre-
sentative Lessler, of New York, with
an offer of money to influence Mr..
Lessler's vote on the submarine boat
bill, and who made the further state
might be $1,000 in it for him, made
the astounding statement before the
committee, Monday, that he made
statements on Saturday which were
not true, and that he wanted to re-
tract his statement that Mr.. Quigg
had rendered bribe to him.
The statement came without any
previous warning that Doblin intend
ed making any such retraction. Mem
| bers of the committee looked at one
on with his statement.
Gustayus Rogers, an attorney, arose
in the committee room after the first
| witness had left the stand Monday
morning and said he appeared for
Mr.. Doblin, who had stated to him
that he (Doblin) had made some
statements.Saturday which were true
and some that were false. That he
held in his hand statement to which
Mr.. Doblin had sworn. The commit
tee was unanimous in agreeing that
Doblin appear in person forthwith.
He was called, and made specific de-
nial of all statements he had previ-
Ously made, wherein he alleged at
tempts at bribery. He was rigidly
cross-examined by practically every
member of the committee and pressed
vigorously for an explanation of his
action, but persisted that he was tell
ing the truth and adhered to his de-
malls.
Mr.. Doblin then proceeded to tell
of his coming to Washington and Of
his appearance before the committee.
He said when he came to Washington
to appear before the ful committee
he decided to make the statement he
did.
Il now retract," he said, ''every
word in which I said Mr.. Quigg tend
cred me any bribe in any way"
'Will you state to the committee in
what respect your testimony is not
true" Doblin was asked.
'In relation to my being called to
Washington and my conversation
with Mr.. Lessler at the Hotel Nor
mandie at eight o'clock or there
about. The fact is the statements 1
made regarding Mr.. Quigg are not
handed to me and l was told by Less
Ter, You have got to stand for this
and l said, 'Oh, that can not be-
"'Well, he says, then am polit-
ically dead
"'Well,' said, you carry me with
YOU
''He said, You will be all right if
you will just appear before this COM
mittee. will go and see the speaker
and will fix it up He goes out~of
the room and comes back and said he
had seen the speaker ana said, 1T will
be all right. All you have got to do
is to go before the committee and
substantiate my story
Continuing, Doblin said: 81 went in
to the committee room. The gentle
men were standing about and Sun
said: This is Mr.. Doblin.' The other
gentlemen all shook hands with me
and | sat down, and after little
while I was handed a cigar, which !
smoked. They made me feel agree
able. I took it for granted that it
was all right. The first thing I know
one of the gentlemen Of the commit
tee, after a conversation in which |
explained my interests in politics in
New York state, asked how long had
been in politics. Then one of the gen
tlemen said:
"'Wasn't it Mr.. Quigg who said to
you that there was $4,000 in it for
Lessler and $1,000 for your
81 said at that time, No, sir
"Then all the gentlemen around
said: 'Oh, it's all right. You go on
and then there was a discussion in
the room as to how l stood. / refused
to answer at that time at all. The
gentlemen seemed to agree that there
was nothing to it. Feeling agreeably
at home, made my statement-ac-
cording to the way 1 read in the pa
per. 1 felt that 1 was in the hands
of my friends and it was all right;
that would back up Lessler here and
it would be a cinch, and that that
was all there would be to it: that the
committee would report; that Lessler
would be vindicated and l would be
vindicated, and it would be all right.
After 1 got out of the committee
room l went down to the hotel and
asked for Lessler. He was not there.
l telephoned to the house, but. could
not get him and left the city, think
ing it was all right"