The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-27
Contradicts the Retraction
Made Before the House
Committeeon Naval Affairs
Yesterday Gives His YER
sion OF Association With
Witness.
Did See Speaker to Ask to
Be Saved From Notoriety.
Telegram Urged Secrecy
Because Matter Had Been
Considered in Executive
Session.

When the investigation Of the LessIer
bribery charges was resumed today be-
fore the House Committee on Naval A.
fairs. Representative Lessler asked to
be heard to make statement before any
further testimony should be taken.
LessIer was not sworn again rs
made statement denying the testi-
mory Of DobIin yesterday also state
ments made by MeCuHagh and ouigg
as to his (LessIer's1 alleged reflection
on the character Of members Of the
Naval Committee. Without interroga-
ton. Lessler said:
/ 7 desire to deny absolutely and un-
c1uivocalIy the statement made here
yesterday by the witness DobIin as 70
any coIlusion. scheme or any Of the
substantial details sworn to by him.
and 7 desire to reiterate that the facts
as originally sworn to by ne are true
Why He Urged Secrecy.
I,essler said that the statement he first
made to the subcommittee was IN exeeu-
tive session. and that explained his re-
quest in his telegram to Doblin 10 keep
the matter confidential
Mr.. Lessler took the stand at II a. n.
I deny as false the statement made
I by the witness yesterday" he said. as
TO any coIIusive scheme he charges
against ne.
/ Mr. Doblin came into my room short
! y after O'Clock. was in bed said:
Phil. I've gotten you into trouble
" 'How's thatg be asked
I've told the committee the whole
/ Holland boat story.
/ It Is troJrt5ie.' ne repfissd-77r-
= said; Keep up your nerve and you
have nothing to do but 20 tell the truth.
the whole truth
Il told him that at the request Of the
/ committee I would not discuss the case
with him at all gave him a copy Of
the paper containing what had beea
published. After that there was no talk
of his testimony It was all relative to
his political ruin in New York
Saw the Speaker.
Il did see the Speaker and told him
about the investigation and wanted him
TO help me avoid notoriety. he said:
. 1t must go CT for the present
y telephOned my secretary TO go to
the Normandie and bring DobIin before
the committee. Doblin appeared before
the committee, and I saw him no more
until he returned to the committee.
MY testimony was heard on the 23d.
I told the committee then that Dobiiu
would come without a subpoena. ] teIe-
eraped him to come. and he did come
His testimony was heard. and I went
with him TO the train.
I've went TO New York together. There
was little said between Us. He asked me
about the law in his case, and told him
I would look It up. I never saw him
after tl4at until he appeared again ii the
committee room
McCullagh and Quigg Contradicted.
Il want to deny also the statement OF
the witness McCuIIagh TO the effect that
I had said that believed there was only
one man on the committee whom could
trust Also the statement Of witness
! Quigg that 7 had said that the members
of the committee who voted for or against
the Holland boat were honest or dis
honest"
Mr. LessIer said he had had no reason
before yesterday TO disbeIieve Doblin-
4 am totally at a loss TO understand
, his action he asserted
What was your reason for not want
ing Doblin's name to 60 TO the press ?''
MIR Kitchin asked.
Il did not want to make him a scape-
goat in New York he answered, and
the committee did not then want the
matter made public"
M Butler do not think it IS i'm
: portant as TO what statement you made
as to- other members of the committee
. What I want 10 ask is what you said to
Doblin when he came to your room al
the NorInandie, Was anyone else pres
ent & the time?
A.-What was said to D0bIin was not
o said in the presence of anyone else
Q. (By Mr. Rixey)-Had you any
cause to believe that Doblin was thi
= character Of man he has shown himself
+ TO be ny his statement yesterday?
10 A.-No. sir. Never knew Of his wrong
- doing before. / never knew of his wors
. being doubted before. ] am at tota
loss to understand the proposition as
now stands
r Q-you knew Of no reasen TO account
- for any change OF testimony o. tn
: part o. Doblin.
Al know CT no reason