The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-02-05
RETRACIS His CHARGES
Doblin Says Mr. Quigg Did Not Of
fer Money TO Bribe Lessler.
STATEMENT CAUSED SENSATION
Witness Says $1,000 Bribery Story In
Submarine Beat Scandal Was Ar
ranged by Congressman Lessler.
Naval Committee Astcunded.


lin, who testified before the house
committee on naval affairs Saturday
that he had approached Representa-
tive Lessler, of New York, with an
offer of money to influence his vote
on the submarine 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 yesterday that he had
made statements Saturday which were
not true, and that he wanted to re-
tract his statement that Mr.. Quigg had
rendered a bribe to him. The state
, ment came without any previous
warning that Doblin intended making
any such retraction. Members of the
committee looked at one another in
amazement as Dobin went on with
, his statement.
In what respects was your testi
| mony on Saturday untrue?" Represen-
tative Taylor asked Dobin.
The statements i made regarding
Mr. Quigg to Mr. Lessler were not
| true" said Doblin in clear voice.
I when | saw Lessler here, after the
story had appeared in the papers, he
said to me: You've got to stand for
that story 1 can't do it, | said
Then am politically dead he an
swered And you'll carry me with
you | replied.
I've seen the speaker Lessler
said. He will fix it all right He
went out and came back. He said he
had seen the speaker, and that it would
be all right. Told me to go before
the subcommittee and substantiate
his story, The telegram from Lessler
upon which | came to Washington is
as follows: Take midnight train
Come to me. Want to see you. Keep
this confidential. (Signed) Monte
After | had read the paper about
the bribery charge, Lessler told me |
would have to go before the commit
tee: that they were friends of his:
and that nothing more would come of
it. | said | could not stand for the
story, but he said | would have to-.
His secretary, Mr.. Sun, came in later
and told me to come on with him to
the committee, and he'd get me in so
no one would see me. When | got to
the c"-nmittee everybody was friendly
and told me it was all right. Chair
.e n Eoss geve me cigar, and
| tnoughl Msts with i.s'ssS'tS. : q fyierde +"
They askrd me whether Quigg had
| of f,, I sell
for myself, and at first | said no. Later
thought, well, can back up Lessler,
and will be vindcated, and everything
will be all right. It's a cinch.
Il made my statement and went
back to New York and thought it was
all over Then | was called back. |
| got one telegram from Chairman Foss,
telling me to come, and another from
LcsslCr, who said: Statement all right
Have no fear He also sent one to
my wife: Phil examined Substan-
tiatod story every way. He's all right.
Will stay her for a time I went back
to the committee, and still thinking
it would all stop there, | made up my
mind to repeat my testimony. ] now
want to retract every word in which
I said that Mr.. Quigg rendered me any
bribc."
He retractcd in every detail his
statement dealing with an alleged Of
fer of a bribe from Mr.. Quigg.
Witness denied that he had ever
told Lesslcr, Obermeyer, or anybody
else that he had any money to offer in
connection with the Holland boat bill
to T.essler or anybody else. IL knew
nothing about any $4,000 offer till
saw Lessler at the Normandie in
Washington. read the story in the
paper. Read that over Lessler said
to me-"
"Did he tell you what to testify to?'
Representative Tayler asked.
"lie did not say much except to tell
me to read the paper. We went to
had told the committee. 4 talked
about the $4,000 business he replied
4 blurted it out, and you got to "a
up and make your statement
"When you appeared before the
committee" Mr.. Tayler asked, you
told your story freely and without any
suggestion en- our part?'
81 did"
When Doblin left the stand the COM
mittees programme. which Contem-
plated calling Or. w. r. Ker to the
stand, was abandoned and 1t went into
secret session. Some of the members
in view of the remarkable develop
'r--tr fav0re1 dro0"ir" the invPstiga-
tion, but others urged that it be con-
tinued It is understood that Mr.. Less
Ter asked that he be permitted to make
| a statemort end said that he had an
other witrr-s b would call, where
upon the 'cwujttc2 decided that il
would mso' GgsiH.
Repre-" I've Los ler was present
in the cor ~i;oo roon' when Dobin
gave his testimony