Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-27
Says That HISTORY Of Bribery
Was False.
Makes Sworn Statement That He
Didn't Approach Mr.. LESSER.
A Complication Which Is Now Bother
ing the Committee.

| approached Representative Lessler Of
New York, with an offer Of money to in
| huence- his vote on the submarine boat
| bill, and who made the further statement
| that he had been told there might be
$1,000 in it for him, made the astounding
| statement before that committee, today.
that he had made statements, Saturday.
which were not true and that he wanted
to retract his statement that Mr. Quigg
had rendered q bride to him..
| The statement came without any pre-
vious warning that Doblin intended max
| ing any such retraction. Members Of the
committee looked at one another in
amazement as Dobln went ON with his
statement.
GUstave Rogers. an attorney, arose i'll
the committee room after the first wit
ness had left the stand. this morning,
aud said he appeared for MI Doblin who
| had stated TO him that he (Doblin) mad
made some statements, Saturday which
1 were true and some which were untrue
ard held in his hand q statement TO
which Mr. Doblin had sworn
1 The committee was unanimous in agree
ing that Doblin appear in person forth
| with. He was called and made specific
| denial of nj statements he had previously
| made wherein he alleged attempts 1T
| bribery. He was rigidly cross-eXamined
| by practically every member of the conf
mittee and pressed vigorously for eNpla
| nation of his action of today, but per-
| sisted that he was telling the truth, to-
day, and adhered to his denials.
| When Dobiin had left the stand the
committees program. which contemplated
calling w. K Kerr to the stand, was
| abandoned and it Went Into secret SEES
| sion. 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 q statement aud SAID
| that he mad another witness he would
call, whereupon the committee decided to-
meet again at 1870 tomorrow.
| Representative LESSER was present in
| the committee room when Doblin gave
| his testimony.
The first witness was Leonard j.
Obermer. He told of any interview he
| and Mr.. Dobln had with Mr.. Quigg on
| Jan. s. regarding submarine boats.
| Qugg said at that time that he had
asked Lessler once about the matter
and he did not think he would make Il
| second attempt.
The witness said that he told Mr..
| Qugg he was going TO Washington
| and that While there he would see
Lessler and possibly urge upon him
any argument which might cause him
70 change his mind.
| Representative Bixby asked: did
| you ever know of the fact rs testified
to here by Doblin that Mr.. Lessler had
! been appointed with the offer of q
| bribe?"
NO" witness replied, Il ascertained
/ that subsequently,
| He told of q conversation he said
! he had with Dobln subsequently to
| Jan. 8, saying, "Doblin said to me that
| there had been talk of money in con-
ncction with attempt to gain Less
| ler's vote in this committee for this
| appropriation. | think his exact
1 words were there is nothing to it, and
| that he believed that if the vote was
ito be gained at all it was to be gained
on the grounds of friendship
| When Mr.. Oberlnen left the stand,
| Mr.. Rogers, an attorney from New
| York, announced to the committee
| that he appeared on behalf of Mr..
| Doblin and said: Mr.. Doblin stated
/ to me that some of the testimony he
| gave before this committee was true,
| that some Of it was not true and was
false. And l want to say at this point
| that Mr.. Doblin is before this commit
| tee upon my advice to answer any
questions which this committee may
iesire to ask him"
| Continuing, Mr.. Rogers said he had
| known Mr.. LESSER "and priced his
friendship highly" and added; Moth
| ing will say is intended as a reflection
| upon Mr.. Lessler. ! am simply car
| iying out my duty as attorney for
Doblin and he is her in the interests of
| justice for the offence which he thinks
he has committed against Mr.. Quigg."
Mr.. Taylor of the committee in
| sisted that he wanted the truth and
that it could not be obtained from the
| lips of counsel.
| IF an injustice has been DONE" said
| Mr. Taylor, 'let us see that we Wipe
| it out at the first possible moment and
of Doblin has said anything that is
/ unfair to Mr.. Quigg let him be swift
to take that chair. Don't let us wait
| for some counsel to say something here
which is to the least degree a work Of
superogation. demand that Doblin
take the stand" 49,
Mr.. Rogers desired to submit All
affidavit sworn to by Doblin and
wanted to make statement in con-
ncction with it, but assented to the
committees decision that Doblin take
/ the stand.
Before Doblin went on the stand to
make his statement, Mr.. Rogers asked
that such immunity be accorded him
as was within the power of the corr
lnlittee.
Mr.. Taylor said only such immunity |
as the statute gives could be accorded.
ldr. Doblin then proceeded to tell Of !
his coming to Washington and Ct his |
iappearance~ before the committee. He |
said that when he came 10 Washington
to. appear before the full committee he'll
| Continued on page -