New-York tribune., 1903-01-24
LESSLER TESTIFIES.
HOLLAND BOAT INQUIRY.
Names Of Qmgg, McCullagh and
DobLR NcRiioned
Gv The Associated Pressl

Grence his vote in the committee The committee
grst iwent into executive session. AT I:l0 O'Clock
ne doors opened. and Chairman Foss
lounced the purpose OF the meeting. reading the
resolution adopted by The House yesterday. Mr..
Fcss first called Representative Bessler, who was
sworn Mr.. Tayler. of the committee questioned
Nj LESSER. who said that he opposed TO the
building of more submarine torpedo boats.
Mr.. Lessler then told of a conversation he said
he had with Philip Dobln. He said Mr.. Doblin came
10 him one morning and asked if the Holland sub
marine torpedo boat proposition would before
ne House again. Il said supposed so. He asked
I ssill opposed to it. and 1 said 1 was
Mr. Lessler testified that Mr.. Doblin said he had
been sent FOR by Nh. ouigg, and Mr.. ouisg had
told him there 5000 in it if he Uessler) could
be brought to the other side
Mr. Lessler said there must be further talk
on that proposition. He then said that Dobn sug-
-ested that Mr.. Quigg was man Of power and
influence, and that if ! wanted to come back
here would be aiding myself by doing him this
ravor.'
Mr LessIer then told of conversation which he
said he had with Mr.. Qugg at his Qesslers@ office,
No. 81 Nassau-st, New-York.
He then said that before the opening Of Congress
ar in the holiday recess Mr.. Quigg telephoned that
.e wanted TO him. - told him TO come over
and he came to my office within an hour Mr.
i9essler said he then told Mr. Quigg that there
@houd be no question Of money in answer to
,lestions he said Mr.. Quigg had not mentioned
a~peGo boats but added: Il had no other ousi-
ess with Mr.. Quigg, and inferred that it was on
is account that he came to see me-.
Ny Iessler told of conversation he had with
ohm McCuIlagh Superintendent Of Elections in
-SeE-York at his hotel in Washington Mr. NC
--,Hagh he said, told him that there were men
, New-York who could re-elect him or defeat him,
I'd that they wanted him 10 support the measure.
r. Tessler said he told McCullagh that he would
4 do II.
Mr.. Lessler said that at the time Of the con-
gersation with Doblin the latter was deputy IN
1Ir. McCullagh's Office. He said that Doohn eoI
a77oa nd
rreedom Of his Office. He said also that DooIn
as an ardent and faithful political friend. and ne
-essler) felt under obligations 70 him. he oo NOT
-,ow. except through the newspapers that Doohn
had been ordered off the floor OF the 6oaIu %
Aldermen in New-York City.
asked what were the political relations between
,Ir Quigg and Mr.. McCullagh, Mr.. LESSER eH-
lained the political positions held by the TWO men
He knew Of relations. except that Nj. Qoles
was probably one OF those WHO auNie0O MI ~
laEh's appointments ,
At the request Of Mr. Quigg De Lancey Nlcoh
was permitted TO question Nj LESSER. Hls ques-
lions aimed develop the relation exlsung between
1essler and Doblin. Nr. Nicoll then questioned the
z.i+ness relative to a conversation he testiheo ne
had with DobIin Mr. Dessler could not HA lne
tine when the conversation occurred
Nj LessIer said he believed Dobiin was author-
ia "a come 10 him. He also said that Mr.. Quigs
80 ,ol5 him that he (Qugg) had no interest IN
80 Holland boat, but that fr1end-a Mr.. huiteI'
% Virginia as he remembered the narle-"as III
,erested in it, and that he wanted 10 90 MN q
favor. -, -, -. -.
To whom If anybody. did you tell the story OF
The prorosal2" Mr. Tayler asked.
To Nfr Foss and Mr. Dayton. OF this commit
tee shortly after Congress opened, ne repHeo'
Mr. LESSER added that he had also told Repre-
se,+a+iva Wheeler about it, and Mr. Wheeler ex-
blamed that II was some time in the holidays, and
that Iesser did not want TO say anything ABOUT IL
r he could avoid it,
= question bv Representative Tandiver brought
ATr
The statement in the committee believing 1haI Il
would be held il confidence. and that he did not
believe any member of the committee would repeat
* outside
Tobn N T7,urston announced that he represented
.he Holland Torpedo Boat Company, and said that
inasrnuch as nothing had been said to connect 'he
company with the charges be did not desire TO
ask any questions but asked to reserve the rlght 10
jr.terrogate witnesses if necessary
Ex-senator Eppa Hunton, OF Virginia, the next
witness said he was counsel for the Holland COM
pany .,,
Have YOU any acquaintance with Mr.. Quigg?"
Yes sir my acquaintance began with MIN at
q ,,,locl TODAY in the committee ROOM He
said he had never authorized any one to make
any proposals. and had never heard OF MI. 2ulss
Icing connected with the company
Nfr I,essler's secretary. Frank B. Son, testlHeo
% a corzersa ton which he said took place be-
tween Representative Lessler and Mr- McCulagh
ct NJ. Lessler's hotel in Washington "heh ne
said NJ McCullsgh told Mr.. LESSER that ne rep
ton OF nominate him, and wanted him to vote ior
The torpedo boat bill Mr.. LESSER, he said, re-
fused. The witness. replying TO M Thurston,
said that McCullagh did not give the names OF
the men he said be represented
NJ F5urton was recalled. when il was explained
n him that he was called because Of the SINH
larity between his name and the name 'Hunter
mentioned by Mr. LESSER
Fy-Represenrative Lcnuel E. Quigg. who was
present from the opening. addressed the conlnhl-
+ee zr5 said that in view the fact that his
,srna had been brought into this matter he would
Ike 70 be heard al the earliest moment
The committee went into executive session at
= o'clock IN the course of the hearing Chairman
poss read = telegram from Mr.. Doblin saying he
could not come TO Washington until Monday
The committee decided TO hear Mr.. Doblin next
ana : summons was sent TO him TO appear before
The committee tomorrow, to which time an ao-
JouTnrent taken.
Philip Doblin, accompanied by his lawyer, L. J.
Obernacier according TO information obtained last
night from their friends. went TO washington oi
afternoon train in response TO request nun
the chairman Of the Committee on Naval Affairs
tor Mr. Dobln 10 appear before the committee
.-r Dotlln paa around town during the DAY. but
ae refused to discuss the bribery story
Joan .IcCullagh, State Superintendent OF beo-
tons who according to Congress man LESSER
asked Ieseler 10 vote for additional submarine
boatE was not al his house when tribune reporter
called. II was said at the house oy one OF tiie
family that Mr.. McCullagh had not oeeh hoN4
since he went TO Albany Wednesday, and that
he urobably had gone from Albany straight TO
Washington. =
deputy sergeant-at-arnas from washington
made inquiries last night about MI DoOii1i' .
z TIMELY PLEA OF mot GUILTY.
10 the Editor and Publisher Of The New-York