The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-11

New York. December "a sharp tilt |
between counsel enlivened the opening |
of the United States Shipbuilding hear !
ing today Mr.. Guthrie characterized n
statement by Untermyer as almost in
decent and the latter retorted in
warm terms.
George w. Perkins of the firm of J.
P. Morgan & Co., resumed his testlmo-
ny, his presence on the stand renewing
the interest in the case which had
slightly lapsed during the long drawn
out testimony of Lewis Nixon. At the
opening. Mr.. Guthrie restored to the
files in the case the copy Of the Nor
gan, Harjes & Co, letter which be
took away with him yesterday, thereby
preventing it's publication and Counsel
Untermyer resumed the examination on
| this subject.
The first question showed that this
letter enclosed d copy of letter sent
by C. B. Alexander, of Alexander &
Green to Morgan, Harjes & Co.
| Mr. Guthrie repeated his protest
against this letter being furnished to
the press evoking a warm reply from
| Counsel Untermyer, who declareS that
he did not propose to submit to any
more "dyspeptic behavior on the pzrt
4 of counsel.
| Mr.. Guthrie characterized this state
ment as almost indecent" and the
lies passed on both sides. Mr.. Guthrie
speaking of deliberate falsehood' on
the part of Untermyer, who retorted in
terms equally strong.
| Mr.. Perkins told in detail how he
came to cable to Paris the message
introduced yesterday, referring to the
Interest of Mr.. Schwab and his friends
in the shipbuilding company. Mr.. Per-
lins was asked what he knew Of the
shipbuilding company at the time Of the
sale of the Bethlehem plant and replied
that he knew very little about it, but
that the contract for the sale provided
that Morgan & Co., received the actual
| amount of cash advanced for the Beth
lehem Company, the $1,000, 900 stock be-
ing taken in lieu Of all profits and inter-
ests On the investment.
But what information did you OF
Morgan & Co., have Of the value of the
, | stock you were taking in part payment
or of the value of the plants included ir
the combination2 Mr.. Unter7nyel
| asked.
Mr.. Perkins replied that so far as h
knew no investigation on this poin
,, was made by Morgan & Co.." but Mr
:. Untermyer was not satisfied with tn
, word investigation and insist
ed on an answer in regard to 'an.
= informa ton or knowledge Of the ship
/ building plants or their values"
Mr.. Perkins insisted that he person
S ally had no knowledge on July 3Otl
;, when the cable was sent, of the plants
. | their values or their earnings and ha
- no concern with the shipbuilding trans
:, faction, nor did he, en- August 18th wheI
t the sale of Bethlehem was closed, haV
e any such knowledge to give him an ide
0 Of the value of the securities taken /
e part payment.
Asked about Messrs. Dresser, NiXo
II and Pam. Mr.. Perkins declared that h
had known them only in a general wa
up to the time of the sale of Bethlefie1
n and that he did not know that Pam va
representing Schwab. Mr. Dresser
II asking for the loan was speaking q
d President of the Trust Company of tt
y Republic, Mr. Perkins had considere'
but he had not interested himself in tf
:, question of whether that trust comp;
" ny was responsible to the extent of &
= 600. 900.
]. P. Morgan. he testified. knew noti
. ing, in the witness knowledge, of Il
-. shipbuilding deal during its progre
and was not informed during his sta
in Europe Of the negotiations.
:. At the close of the hearing the Mo
gan. Harjes letter and enclosure we
refused to the press, until the cou
~ should have passed upon their admiss
bilitv.
1p