The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-28
D0bL|N SAYS He
LIED ON SATURDAY
He Astounds Committee on
Naval Affairs.
ADHERfS TO HIS DENIAL
Rigidly Cross Examined by Almost Every Mem
Der Of the Committee ---Says He Was
Told He Must Stand Eor
less'er's Story.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, D. c.. JAN 26-Philip
Goblin, who testified before the House
Committee on Naval Affairs Saturday
that he had approached Representative
Lessler, of New York, with an offer of
money to influence his vote on the Sub
marine Boat bill, and who made the
further statement that there might be
$1,000 in it for him. made the astound
ing admission before that COMMITTEES to-
day that he had made statements Satur-
day which were not true and that he
Quigg had rendered a bride to him.
The statement came without any pre-
yious warning that Dobln intended
making any such retraction. Members
of the committee looked at one an
other in amazement as Doblin went on
with his statement.
Gustavus Rogers, an attorney, in the
committeeman after the first witness
had left the stand this morning and said
he appeared for Mr.. Doblin, who had
stated to him that he CDoblin) had
made some statements Saturday which
were true and some which were false
and held in his hand statement to
which Mr.. Dobblin had sworn. The COM
mittee was unanimous in agreeing that
Doblin appear in person forthwith. He
was called and made specific denial of all
statements he had previously made
wherein he alleged attempts at bribery
He was rigidly cross examined by prac-
tically every member of the committee
and pressed vigorously for explanation
OF his action of today, but persisted that
he was telling the truth today and ad-
hered to his denials.
Doblin told the committee that he
was summoned to Washingtoa by Less
Ter ard told that he must stand for
Lessler's story about the bribery. Dob
bin said he was given a newspaper ac-
count of the story to familiarize himself
with the statement. subsequently Dob
blin was taken before the sub commit
tee, where, thinking he was in the hands
of a friend, and that he would back up
Lessler and vindicate him and that
everything would come out all right, he
admitted in response to a question that
il was Quigg who said there was $4,000
in it for Lessler and 81 900 for himself.
Doblin then returned to New York and
when he got home he received a tele
gram from Lessler saying:
Statement all right Have no fear
A day or two later, Doblin appeared
before the full committee. AS to his
testimony then Doblin said
1T was question of whether / was
going to substantiate myself before a
committee of friends and Lessler, or
whether ! was then and there going to
make testers statement appear untrue.
l decided with myself that 1 would just
make my same statement, as to that
which l spoke of before the sub-com
mittee, l made it, and L now retract
every word, in which 1 said that Mr..
Quigg rendered me any bride in any
way"
He stated that after giving his first
testimony he had gone down to the sta
ton with Mr. Lessler, who had addressed
tho following telegram to his wife:
''Phil examined. Substantiates story
in every way. He is all right.
Examined by Mr.. Taylor, Doblin said
he had made 10 improper proposal Of any
kind to Lessler and that Lesslers' state
ment that Doblin had mentioned $4,000
to him was false. Doblin said he knew
nothing of the law Furnishing perjury. but
accepted Lessler's assurance that every
thing would come out all right. Doblin
was questioned with a view to develop
ing what caused him to come to Washing
ton and make this retraction. He told of
consulting a lawyer and of his decision to
make his statement on his lawyers ad-
vice and of making any affidavit-the af-
fidavit Mr. Rogers sought to offer when
the committee decided to have Dobln
take the stand and personally make his
statement.
Mr.. Nicoil, Mr. Quigg's attorney, ask
cd: did you consider your self under
such deep obligation that you were too
willing to do that for him?'
"Ycs, Sir
did YOU go back to New York satisfied
that YOU had rendered him substantial
service?"
HE SO told me-he said it was all
right"
Delaney Nicoll, for Mr. Quigg then
said:
81 consider that the wickedest and foul
est plot against the integrity of my
client, former member of the House,
has been revealed in this committee and
| want to prove it here, entailing conse-
uuences which every one of us must see
must happen, and | want to probe it to
the bottom"
Mr. Rogers then questioned Dobln
and brought out a statement from him
that no one had sent Doblin to him
Rogers).
Witness said that no one had explained
to him that sworn testimony before a
committee of Congress was the same as
before q court of Justice.
When Dobbln had left the stand the
committees program, which contemplated
calling on DR.. w. r. Kerr to the stand
was abandoned and it went into secret
session. Some of the members in view of
the remarkable developments favored
dropping the investigation but others
urged that it be continued. 1t is under
stood that Mr. Lessler asked that he be
permitted to make a statement. and said
that he had another witness he would
call. whereupon the committee decided to
meet again at 1920 tomorrow.
Representative Lessler wa sprescnt in
the committee-ro when Dob!.n gave
his testimony He said he was as r'nch
surprised as any one present at Dobln's
Testimony For | don't know what to