New-York tribune., 1903-01-28
LE.SSLER DENIES ALL.
Calls Dobhns, Retractson False
Efforts to Stop Inquiry.
Ry The Associated Press.)

Washington. Jan. 27-When the House Commit
tee Naval Affairs resumed the investigation Of
bribery charges this morning Representative Less
Ter took the stand and denied statements made
yesterday by Philip Doblin-
II desire 10 deny" he said at the outset OF his
netaiied statement. absolutely and unequivocally
as false the statement made by the witness, Dob
lin. here yesterday. 10 any collusive scheme or
sny Of the substantial details sworn to by him
here, and desire reiterate that the facts as
originally told by me are true I desire to call
attention the following facts: AS 10 the tele-
gram. Take midnight train Come to me- Want
he see you. Keep this confidential the members
Of the subcommittee Will remember that the state
rnent MADE TO them was on Tuesday afternoon.
That at that time everything before us was in
rxrnera- and / said / would produce the witness,
Doblin, in the morning. but did not desire his
earne to appear in any way The result was that
the telegram sent by me from this committee
room.
Mr.. Doblin into my room at the hotel a
few minutes after O'Clock. had left the door
Unlocked, and he knocked at the door. waking me
up asked Who is there?' He said. Phil or
rpoblin' have forgotten which I said. Come in
Se came into the room with his overcoat on, and
said. Phil, have got you into trouble He said,
SLOW is that? I said, I have told in committee
the whole story OF the submarine proposition He
raid oh that is terrible, That is terrible. said,
rKeep UP your nerve. All you have to do is 10 tell
the truth here-nothing but the truth.
Then telling of taking his bath and dressing. he
rontinued: He, Dobln, walking up and down
said TO him. Z said 10 the committee yesterday
that when you came over TO say nothing 10 you
ss 70 The testimony or the story did not want
AZ discussed between I was then fully dressed.
We walked ogt TO the elevator and went down to
breakfast. 7 did DO every morning, took up
she paper The Washington Post got my mail
ct the office first. and then We went in together
When We sat down ] read the story, and desire
90 have in full in the evidence the article in The
Post Of January d We went upstairs, and the
talk that went on contained absolutely nothing as
10 his testimony here.
WANTED TO STOP INVESTIGATION.
''Th. whole talk was as 10 his position in New
York and what might occur 20 hina-how ne
was politically ruined in Nev-York. I was very
much impressed by the fact that he was in seri-
pus situation, and did tell the Speaker that the
proposition was undergoing examination here and
asked ii il possible stop public inVesuga-
zion Of course. no liked the notortety of it
He said TO me- 1t is to 60 and will later
on
Continuing Mr. Lessler said: Il came up and
raw the gentlemen Of the committee, and during
that talk il was understood that Doblin's name
should not he mentioned in the public prints
then teiephnned my secretary TO bring Mr.. Dobln
here 10 the committee / was not present. did
not know what happened from personal knowledge
of course. before that committee. Mr.. Doblin left
The committee room and I never saw him again
until his temperance in Washington in answer to
7he other telegram, after the committee had de-
tided to ask the House for resolution Of invesga-
zion Then nay testimony heard the go.
After the testimony was in the question was asked
as 10 Doblin's appearance, and said TO the COM
,nittee that he would come without a subpoena
then telegraphed him 20 come, and he did come
dictated of those teiegrar1s 10 my secretary
20 send Dohln's wife, he told she was very
much upset about it. His testimony was heard
here. He went Nth me TO the train. A few min
utes before train time he arranged stay here
The last minute he said he would be better of If
he went 10 New-York, 1 said Very well, tele-
r,honed some member Of the committee and asked
~ there were an, objections his going home. He
went home on the train. There very little
epoken on the train going home He recalls the
circumstances regarding my saying would eX-
anime the law as TO ais immunity from punishment
The way that arose-he asked me the substance Of
what Mr Tayier SAID. ] said would look y up
He left promising 10 rejoin me 10 come back, as
/ had promised the committee he would come back
on Sunday night. and ] never saw him from that
time until appeared in the committee room, and
] had no IDEA to what he was doing
coxTgADIcTs MCULLAGH AND oUIGG.
..r would like. IN addition, TO deny what the wit
ness McCulagt said TO my saying there was
her o. the committee absolutely hon.