The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-27
|DOBLN SAYS
 THAT HE LIED RetractS Statements Re-
 garding Quigg. 'AsToUNDs THE COMMITTEE Bribery Investigation Will Be Continued. Representative Lessler Says That Hs Has Another Witness Whom He Desires to call-The Pro-
 cssdings Yesterday.
ASTOUNDS THE C0MMITTEE

Washington, Jan. 2s--Phiilip DohIin. who testified before the house coumittee on Naval Affairs Saturday that he had approached Representative Lessisr ok New York with an offer of money to in@ fiuence his vote on the submarine boat bill and who made the further statement that he had been told there might ba sl.oOo in 1t for him, made the astounding statement before that committee today that he made statements Saturday which were not true and that he wanted to re- tract his statement that Mir. Quigg had rendered hribe to him.
 The statement came without any pres vious warming that Doblin intended nak- ing any such retraction. Members of tho committee looked at one another in amazement as Doblin went on with his statement.
 Gustavus Rogers, an attorney, was is the committee room after the first witness had left the stand this morning and said he appeared for Mir. Dcblin, who had stated to him that he (Doblinl had made some statements Saturday which were true and some which were false and had in his hand q statement Co which 1fr. Doblin had sworn.
 Statement ot Attorney.
 Mir. Rogers said he had known Mfr. Tsess- Ter (and prized his friendship hishiyl and added, nothing will say is intended az reflection upon Mir. Lessler. am eimply carrying out my duty as attorney for Doblin, and he Is here in the interests of justice for the cfrense which he has com. mitted against Mfr. Quigg."
 Mfr. Taylor of the coInnMttee insisted that he wanted the truth and that 1t could not be obtained from the lips of counsel
 .'If an injustice has been done. said MT. Taylor, 'let us see that we wipe 1t out at the first possible moment. and if Doblin has said anything that Is unfair to Mr. Quigg. let him be swift to take that chair. Don't let us walt for some counsel to say something here which Is to the least degree a work of superorga- ton. demand that Doblin take the stand"
 Mir Taylor's demand was upheld by the other members of the committee, and Mfr Rogers assented to the decision that Dob- lin take the stand in person.
 Previous to Mir. Rogergs statement and the committees decision to call Doblin. Leonard J. O'Bermier. an attorney of New York and a friend of Congreasman Lessler, hal told of an interview he aud AEs S. regarding the submarine boats. Quigg said at that time he had asked LessIer once about the matter and did not think he would make a second attempt.
 Had Another Argument.
 The witness said he told Mir. Quigg hs was going to Washington and that while there he would see Leesier and possibly urge upon him an argument which might cause him to change his mind.
 Representative Rixey asked: eDid you ever know of the fact as testified to here by Doblin that Mfr. Lessler had been ap- preached with the offer of a bribsy'
 No" witness replied. T ascertained that subsequently, wn
 He then told of a conversation he said he had with Doblln subpequent to January 8. saying: "Doblin said to me that there had been talk of money in connection with this attempt to gain Lessierss vote in this committee for this appropriation. think his exact words were there ia nothing to it. and that he believed that if the vote was to be gained at all 1t was to be gained on the ground of friend ship"
 Doblin then was called and made spe- cific denial of all statements he had pre- Viously made wherein he alleged attempts at bribery. He was rigidly cross-exam- ined by practically every member of the committee, end pressed vigorously for an explanation of his action of today. but persisted that he was telling the truth today and adhered to his denlals.
 When Doblin had left the stand. the committees program. which contemplated calling Dr. Kerr to the stand, was aban- doned and 1t went into secret session. Some of the members. in view of the re- markable developments favored dropping the investigation, but others urged that 1t be continued. It is understood that MT. Lessler asked that he be permitted to make statement. and said that he had another witness he would call where upon the committee decided>to meet again at 10;S0 tomorrow.
 Representative Lessler was present iu the committee room when Doblin gave his testimony.