The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-24
CUT BRIBE.
Witness Doblin Tells in I'm
equiVOcaI Language
How Attempt Was Made to Buy
Lessler's Influence.

Washington. Jan. 24-The house com
mittee on naval affairs today resumed
the investigation of the charges made
by Representative Lessler that he had
been approached with an offer of
money for his vote.
Philip DobIin was the first witness
called He was interrogated by Rep
resentative Taylor for the committee.
He said he had no employment at pres
ent but was employed by the Repub-
lcan committee during the campaign
of 1902 and attended to the distribu-
ton 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
+ Representative Lessler, whom he had
/ known since 1894
Answering Mr.. Taylor he said that
he had been in politics for u years
I stood ready to serve Mr.. Lessler
/ in any way I could he said when ask
4 ed 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 talk with Mr.. Quigg
relative to Holland submarine boats?'
Yes, sir"
when was that?"
Somewhere between the 10th and
4 18th of December.
Where %
Il received telephone message ask
ing me to come to 100 Broadway
He said ne 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.. Quigg's office he con-
tinued and went to lunch with Mr.
Quigg.
Mr.. Quigg wanted to know how Mr.
Lessler and I were," he said, "and I
told him I thought Mr.. Lessler and 1
were quite intimate"
He said they talked over the bill to
build submarine torpedo boats. MI
Quigg, he added was trying to get Mr..
Lessler favorably disposed toward the
bill
Mr.. Doblin then detailed the further
connection he said he had with Mr..
Quigg- Mr.. Doblin said:
I'VE talked over the Roberts bill.
that I understand is the name of the
submarine boat bill. Mr.. Quigg was
anxious to get Lesler's friendly dispoSi-
ton toward the bill and he said after
talking variously there is five thousand
dollars IN it -
Tell US as near as you can Just what
he said"
He said he was not personally inter
ested in this thing He said there is
some friend of mine whom [ desire to
favor if can. If I can get the aid I
want there viii be 5000 in it. Then
he said I think 1 can make It a thOus-
me at 8 O'Clock and 1 will let you know
about that
For whom did he say there was
$4,000 in it2''
The man we were talking about He
said he was the man..
"That is Mr.. LessIer2"
I'VE were talking about Lessler. We
were not talking about anybody else. He
did not use his name. At o'clock
telephoned and I was told that will be
all right
DO you know who was on the other
end of the telephone2'
mo, sir
You couldn't tell by the voice?''
No, sir "
when did you see Mr.. Lessler?"
What occurred when you saw Mr..
I4essler2"
He was standing at his desk looking
at his mail and I asked him whether the
| torpedo boat submarine business was
going to come up again. He said it
might I said I was sent for yester-
day. He said, BY whom% By Mr..
Quigg.' I told him just what Il.
What did you tell him? State just
. what you told him.
Il told him there would be $4,000 IN
z this of you can see your way clear to be
friendly to it He kind OF said 'Humph
humph,' and laughed He threw his
papers down and there was no more to
it, He said There is nothing in that.
; He said Quit. [ tried to talk. and he
} said cunt
J And you cuit?'
; I quit that is ALL
5 Did you communicate this to MI
Quig<?"
I Yes. sir
What did you say to him2"
Il told him Mr.. I4essler would not
. it can't be done. I think that was tht
: language 7 used-'it can't be done "
Answering Representative Roberts
Mr. Doblin said that Mr.. McCu1lagh hac
never asked him to see Mr. Lessler il
: regard to submarine boats.
Replying to Mr.. Wheeler, he said he
could not fix definitely the date of hi;
/ interview with Mr.. Lessler
In explaining why he made a state
l ment before the subcommittee he saif
he supposed he was obliged to tell hi,
story and to believe what he said wa.
to be held in confidence by the commit
; tee He said he understood one Of ths
members to have stated that he must tel
what he knew. and added:
You might as we'll have pulled a guI
J and said Hands up
{ Attorney Delaney Niccon cross exam
Z ined Mr. Doblin carrying him over hi
I testimony and with particular reference
to the conversation he testified to Al
having occurred with Mr.. Quigg. Mr.
Niccoll directed inquiries to the witness
as to whether he knew he was doing al
I unlawful act in submitting the propo
/ sitiOn to Mr. Lessler which he testified
[ he did Mr. Dublin said he had no
read the law on the subject, and in an
swering to whether he thought he wa
? doing a friendly act, he said he onl.
wanted one friend to help another
Herington Needs More Houses.
Herington. Kas., Jan. 24-The increas
ing railroad business has made a re
! narkabIe demand for houses here.
r fifty houses We're obtainable. all wouh
be rented at once. During the past tw'
! wears 160 houses have been built. ant