The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-26
Witness Asks Immunity.
Is Told That Statutes
Cover the Case and Co n
mittee IS PoWerlesS.
Reads a Sworn Statement.
Dob.in Says Lessler Secured
HIS Cooperation on Plea
That His Political Ruin
Was Involved.

~ - ast ' ~ - -
DobIin on the stand this morning be-
fore the House Committee on Naval AZ
fairs, asked immunity. and said Quigg
had said nothing 10 him about an offer
of money 10 LessIer. and that his (Dob-
Iin's) testimony on that point was en-
tirely false.
Doblin further said he had not men
toned money to Lessler il this c0nnec-
tion. and that Lessler's statement that
he CDobIinJ had said anything about an
offer OF s., coo 10 vote favorably on the
Holland proposition was false.
DobIin gave the lie direct 10 LessIer-
He said LessIer had told him that ne,
Doblin. must stand by him. or that he
GessleTl would be ruined
The words relative 10 $1,000 bribe, nc
said. had been placed in his mouth IL
supposed when he made the statement
that he was in the hands Of Lessler's
friends. and that II would be all right
as LESSER assured him 1t would be.
Hearing Resumed.
The hearing of the LessIer bribery
charges was resumed before the com
n7ittee at 1915 this morning
Leonard J. ObermeyeT, OF New York.
was the first witness, He was men
toned in Doblin's testimony last week
as the man Doblin brought 20 Quigg IN
the hope that ne might bring Lessler
and Cnigr m an understanding on the
IsasEstsd scat nsaster-
Obermeyer estIaed that Doblin had
told him that he might gain Mr. Quigg's
good viii for Er. Lessler. whose friend
h is, by prevailing on Mr.. Lessler %
support the Holland boat bill
I called on Mr. Quigg" said the Wit
ness, and told him that if I could serve
him would be glad 10. He said that he
had already asked 1r LessIer 10 help.
and that he didn't want to repeat the
request. He told me he had 10 interest
in the Holland boat. and was not acting
at the request Ct any Of the directors.
4 told him that I was going to wash
ington and would make an appeal 20
Lessler anyhow. I did mention it to 8Ir.
Lessler in Washington, but he told rae 10
quit-that he had heard enough although
I told him il would be TO his advantage
to cultivate Quigg's good viii. He told
me to stop-it had gone far enough. and
he was afraid somebody would get hurt.
Il had heard before that Mr. Lessler
had been approached on the subject. but
knew nothing about the bribe, al
though I had an intimation Of it from
DobTD. Mr.. LessIer also told me that
DobHn had said that there was money
in it for him (Lessierl.''
Caused a Sensation
At the conclusion of Obermeyer's tes-
timony, Gustavus r. Rodgers. a New
York attorney, appeared and was al
lowed TO make statement to the
committee which caused d sensation.
7 have been requested TO appear for
Mr. Doblin," he said Mir. DobIin told
me that same Of his testimony before
this committee was true, some Of it not
tTue-false. I advised Mr. DObIin 70
come before the committee TO be ex-
smined again.
Mr. DOblin has prepared a sworn
statement" he continued II it re-
fleets on Mr.. LessIer, I am sorry, be-
cause I prize Mr. Lassler-s friendship.
I am simply doing my duty as counsel IN
appearing for Mr.. DO5Iin, who is sorry
for that which he has committed against
Mr. Quigg.''
DobHn was present while this stats
ment was made. He was called back 10
the stand and was sworn again, and his
lawyer asked for such immunity for the
witness as the statutes permit.
The committee is powerIess," ex-
planned Mr.. Taylor. The statutes cover
the case.
In what respects was your testimony
on Saturday untrue?' Represeutativs
Taylor asked Doblin
The statements I u.ade regarding NJ.
Quiss were not true, said DobIin in 3
clear voice.
When I saw Lesser here. after he
first story had appes red in the papers.
he said TO me, You've got TO stand Tor
that story
-' can't do it, ! said.
Then I am politically dead
And you'll carry me with you, re-
piled.
'' I've seen the Speaker. LessIer said.
He viii fixe ii all right. He went out
and came back. He said he had seen
the Speaker and that it would be al
right Told me to go before the sub
committee and substantiate his story.
The telegram from Lessler upoH
Continued on Second Page)