Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-27

saw Mr.. LESSER, who, he testified, said to
him: I've got YOU into trouble l said
| How is that?' We'll. he said, there is
a subcommittee meeting, this morning,
Did Lessler tell you anything about
what you before testified to?''
He said: Read that over; it will be
all right ard l read it over
What else did he say?"
He said that the Holland torpedo sub
marine boats business is up
What else did he say"
He did not say much. After that Son
came in. They had some papers they
were arranging"
Then all you knew about the details
| of what Lessler claimed YOU learned from
a newspape
'At that time. yes"
when did you learn anything else?"
when we went to breakfast l said:
What did you say, Monte?' He said:
Can't you read thato' 1 looked it over
I blurted it out l won't be positive
whether he that at the table or in the
room. He said: 1 blurted it out and You
have got to help me out here. :"
rs that all that occurred?'
He said: / mentioned your name. You
simply have got to so and make your
statement
In answer to some other pointed ques-
tions by Representative Taylor witness
said he did rot want to imply or to say
that the subcommittee had indicated to
him when he first appeared what to say
or had suggested what he should state
Answering further questions by MIR.
TAYLOR, Doblin said he talked with Mr..
Lessler on the train on the way home
after giving his testimony and after get
ting home he talked with the members
of his family
After you saw Mr. Rogers, lie told you
yot; had made yourself subject to crirni-
nal prosecution, didn't he?" asked Mr.
Taylor.
Yes sir -s..,'
"And it was upon his advice you came
here TO tell us this statement. this morn
ing?"
Il made the statement to him which he
wrote out and | signed"
NJ. Roxey-'I want to ask if whether
in conversation with Lessler regarding
ject of money.
The witness explained that they spoke
of the price of the boats and what 10
would cost.
he had decided to come to Washington
and make his statement, today, on the
advice of his counsel.
Didn't you know you were swearing
f0lsely all along?" asked MI. Taylor.
Yes sir
Didn't you know it was legally pun
ishable to swear to a lie?"
II did not know about the law"
You did not regard it as morally repre-
hensibe to give false testimony in a mat
ter being investigated by Congress -
AT that time 1 did not give it n
thought"
DO you think it was right to come here
and swear that Mr.. Quigg had offered you
bride, when he did not do 1t 2?
mo, sir.
The question being put to witness in
another form he said he was ready to be-
| lieve what Mr.. LeSSler told him-that
there was nothing TO it.
Mr.. Butler-''You absolutely are lost to
all sense of propriety or decency, are
your"
Il was told by Lesser that there was
nothing in this and it would be all right"
answered the witness.
Ibid he tell you that you could COM
nit perjury"
"That telegram said everything was all
right
.Did you understand by that it was
all right to commit perjury?
81 did not understand that.
He was questioned with view to de-
veIoping what caused him to come to
Washington and make this retraction. EIe
told OF consulting a lawyer and of his de-
cision to make his statement on his law
ycr's advice and of making an affidavit
the affidavit Mr.. Rogers sought to offer
when the committee decided to have Dob
lin take the stand and personally make
his statement.
Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Quigg's attorney, said:
did you consider yourself under such
deep obligation to Mr.. Lessler that you
were willing to do that for him?"
Yes, sir
Did you go back to New York satisfied
that YOU had rendered him substantial
service?"
He so told 1ne-he said it was all
right"
MIR. Rogers questioned his client. Dob
lin, and brought out statement from
him that no one had sent Doblin to him
lKogerS).
Before you had seen me- he asked
ION the way home by whom were you ac-
companied?"
by Lessler."
Was anything said about looking up
some law?"
Yes, sir; Mr. Lessler said he would
look up the law tomorrow.
Replying to further questions by Mr..
Rogers, witness said that no one had ex-
pected to him that sworn testimony be-
fore a committee Of Congress was the
same as in the court of justice.
The committee held an executive ses-
sion to consider what action was to be
taken in view of the remarkable develop
ments later announced it would continue
the investiga ton, tomorrow, when anoth-
or witness is expected to TESTIFY.
1t was stated. tonight, that Philip Dob
lin, the witness who, today, retracted
his previous testimony before the House
naval affairs committee investigating the