The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-09
PERKINS TESTIFtES.
j. p. Morgan's Partner Called
in ShipbuiIding Case.

New York, Dec "a sharp tilt be-
Tween counsel enlivened the opening of
the United States ship building hear
ing today. Mr.. Guthrie characterized a
statement by Mr.. Untermyer as almost
indecent and the latter retorted in
warm terns.E George w. erlzins of the
hrm of J. P. Morgan & Co., resumed
his testimony, his presence on the stand
renewing the interest in the case. Max
Pam and G. M. SchWab are two import
ant witnesses remaining to be heard
but counsel for the complainants an
nounced that they would not be reached
today.
At the opening Mr.. Guthrie restored
to the files in the case the copy of the
Morgan-Harges & Co., letter, which he
took away with him yesterday, thereby
preventing it's publication and Counsel
Untermyer resumed the examination
on this subject. The first question show
ed that this letter enclosed a copy of a
letter sent by c. B. Alexander of Alex
ander & Green to Morgan, Hargis &
Co., and over the identification and d.
mission of this copy another protest
was made by Counsel Guthrie for the
defense. Mr.. Guthrie repeated his pro-
test against this letter being furnished
to the press evoking a warm reply from
Counsel Untermyer, who declared that
he did not propose to submit to any
more "dySpetic behavior ON the part
of the counsel, said that Mr.. Guthrie
himself had given out unintroduced tes-
timony for publication and made a for
NAL statement before the examiner in
regard to Mr.. Guthrie's protests about
publicity.
Mr. Guthrie characterized this state
ment as almost indecent" and the lie
was passed on both sides, Mr. Guthrie
speaking of deliberate falsehoods'' on
the part of Unternyer, who retorted in
terms equally strong.
A copy of the Alexander letter enclos-
ing the Morgan, Hargis & Co., letter
was marked for identification.
Mr.. Perkins was then asked to tell in
detail how he came to cable to Paris
the message introduced yesterday, re-
ferring to the interest of .Mr. Schwab
and shis friends in the Shipbui1ding
company. He told Of three requests
made by Colonel McCook of Alexander
& Green. the first time asking. that Nor
gan & Co. cable to their Paris house
an endorsement of the Shipbuilding
company. This was refused.
Mr.. McCook then asked that the Paris
branch be informed that Messrs.
Schwab, Nixon, Dresser and others were
interested in the company, that the
properties were valuable and that the
men. interested were recommended Mr..
Perkins consented to send a cablegram
on July 80. to the purport that Mr..
Sehwab and his friends are interested in
the new shipbuilding plant and would
be very glad to have the Paris house
take as cordial an interest in it as is
consistent
Mr. Perkins did not recall that Colonel
McCook told him anything of the con-
dition of the F'rech underwriting or why
the recommendation was desired
Mr. Perkins was asked what he knew
of the Shipbuilding company at the
time of the sale of the Bethlehem plant
and he replied he knew very little about
it, but the contract for the sale pro-
vided that Morgan & Co. would receive
the actual amount of cash advanced for
the Bethlehem company the $5,000,000
stock being taken in lieu of all profits
and interest on the investment. Nor
gan & Co. were also,- by this contract,
to have legal option on the organiza-
ton of the Shipbuilding company.
But what information did you or
Morgan & Co. have of the value of the
stock you Were taking in part payment
or of the value of the plants included
in the con.bipation?" Mr.. Untermyer
asked.
Mr.. Perkins repIied that so far as he
knew mo investigation on this point
was made by Morgan & Co.
Mr. Untern7yer was not satisfied with
the word Investigation" and insisted
on an answer in regard to any informa-
ton or knowledge of the ship building
plants or their values.
Mr.. Perkins insisted that he person