Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
Says He Acted as Agent for
Mr.. Quigg.
INQUIRY Is RESUMED
LESSLER'S BRIBERY CHARGES BE-
FORE HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE.
superintendent McCullagh Tells of His
Trip to Washington in Interest of
the Submarine Boat Bill.

The House committee on naval affairs to-
day resumed the investigation of the
charges made by Representative Lessler
that he had been approached with an offer
of money for his vote.
Philip Doblin was the first witness called.
He was interrogated by Representative
Tayler for the committee. He said he had
no employment at present. but was en-
ployed by the republican committee during
the campaign of 1902 and attended to the
distribution of literature, and that he also
was a deputy in the office of the superin-
tendent of elections He said he did what
he could to aid in the election of Repre-
sentative Lessler, whom he had known
since 1894
Answering Mr. Tayler. he said he had
been in politics for twelve years.
Il stood ready to serve Mr.. Lessler In
any way 1 could" esaid, when asked as
to his relations with Mr.. Lessler, whose
Office he made his headquarters.
Mr.. Doblin said he has known Mr.. Quigg
since 1896
did you have a talk with Mr.. Quigg
relative to Holland submarine boats?"
Yes, SIR
when was that"
Somewhere between the 10th and 18th
of December"
"Where?'
II received a telephone message asking
me to come to 100 Broadway"
Conversation With Quigg.
He said he went to Mr.. Quigg's office.
He had only seen Mr.. Quigg once since the
state convention up to that time He went
to Mr.. Quiggs office, he continued, and
went out to luncheon with Mr.. Quigg.
"Mr. Quigg wanted to know how Mr..
Lessler and l were,'' he said, land 1 told
him thought Mr.. Lessler and 1 were quite
intimate
He said they talked over the bill to build
submarine torpedo boats. Mr.. Quigg, he
added, was trying to get Mr.. LeSsler IA
vorably disposed toward the bill.
Mr.. Doblin then detailed the further con-
versation he said he had with Mr.. Quigg.
HE wanted to know if 1 had heard any,
thing about submarine boats. / said, Yes,
1 understand that Mr.. Lessler made trip
on the boat, and was against the PROPOSE
tion.' OF course. heard Mr.. Lessler say
he was against the proposition"
Q. What else?
Give Thousand Dollars in It."
A. I'VE talked over the Roberts bill-that
1 understand is the name of the submarine
boat bill Mr.. Quigg was anxious to get
Lessler's friendly disposition toward the
bill. and he said, after talking variously,
there is $500 in it -
@. Tell US as near as you can Just what
he said
A. He said he was not personally inter
ested in this thing. He said: "There IS
some friend of mine whom 1 desire to favor
If 1 can. If 1 can get the aid ] want there
will be 5000 in it Then he said: I think
1 can make it a thousand for YOU. He said:
You telephone me at 3 O'Clock ana Will
let you know about that.
in it?" o' "H0'' O'' le '
A. The man we were talking about. He
said he was the man"
I eli
Ave were talking about Lessler We
were not talking about anybody else. He
didn't his name; but ne speclhcaily
said, may be able to fix it for a tnousaHd q
for you. You telephone me at 3 o clock ana
I will let you know about it.. Then we
left At O'Clock 1 telephoned:"
O-'.You went 10 see Mr.. Lessler, ala
your
Q.-'You telephoned at 8 o'clock, did
Was Told Call Right"
Al teIephoned at 3 o'clock and l was
told that will be all right "
Q-''Do you know VINO was on the other
end of the telephone?"
A.-'No. sir
Q-"You could not tell by the voice?"
A.-'No, sir"
Q-'What occurred on the telephone
Al asked for Mr.. Quigg, and l pre-
sumo l was connected
O-"Very well. What occurred?'
A.-"The gentleman on the other end says
All right He said. Is this Doblin" ana
That will be all right. That Is all thers
was to that"
Q-'Did you make any special reference
70 a previous arrangement to call him up
at 3 o'clock or know what it was!
Al just said. This Is Doblin saia,
Is Mr.. Ouisg in?' Somebody on the other
end of the phone said, Yes. Hello, is this
Doblin? and 1 heard that will be all
right. F"
lin"
A-"That is ALL"
Q.-"When did you see Mr.. Lessler?"
A-'The following day..
Q-'Do you know what day of the week
it was?"
A-"Saturday morning"
Q-'What occurred when you saw Mr.
Lessler?"
Call on Lessler.
Ale was standing at his desk looking
at his mail, and l asked him whether the
torpedo submarine boat business was going
70 come up again. He said it might. I
said. I was sent for yesterday He said.
BY whom@ BY Mr.. Quigg.' 1 told him
just what II
Q-"What did you tell him? State just
what you told him"
Al told him, 'There'll be S. 900 in this
if Won can see your way clear to be friendly
and laughed. He threw his papers down,
and there was no more to 1t. He said,
There is nothing in that He said, Quit.
tried to talk, and he said, Quit +"
Q.-"And you quit?"
Al quit. That is ALL
Q.-"Did you communicate this to Mr..
Quigg?'
Ayes, sir"
Q-''Where did you see him?"
A.-"At 100 Broadway"
Q-"Wken?"
Al think 1t was the same afternoon"
Q.-"What did you say to him?"
Al told him Mr.. Lessler wouldn't-It
can't be done think that was the lam
guage l used-It can't be done
Q-"What could not he done?'
A.-"The mission l was after. trying to
get Lessler.'
Answering Representative Roberts Mr.
Doblin said that Mr.. MeCullagh had never
asked him to see Mr.. Lessler in regard to
submarine boats.
Replying to Mr.. wheeler, he said he
Il