Woodville Republican., 1903-01-31
AN AMAZED COMMITTEE.
a witness In the LessIer Alleged
bribery Case Retracts Evidence
lie Had sOlemnly Given.

AAhs NhA ARFAAAN& h&ANAN AhN ARNNN
committee ON naval affairs on Satur-
day that he had approached Repre-
sentative Lcssler, of New York. with
an offer of money to influence Mr.
Less!er's vote on the submarine boat
bill, and who made the further state
ment that he had been told there
might be $1,000 in II for him, made
the astounding statement before the
committee, Monday, that he made
statements on Saturday which were
not true, and that he wanted to re-
tract his statement that Mr.. Quigg
had rendered bribe to him.
The statement came without any
previous warning that Dnblin intend.
ed making any srch retraction. Mem
bers of the committee looked at one
another i'm amazement as Doblin went
on with his statement,
Gustavus Rogers, an attorney, arose
in the committee room after the first
witness had left the stand Monday
morning and said he appeared for
Mr.. Doblin, who had stated TO him
that he (Doblin) had made some
statements Saturday which were true
and some that were false. That he
held In his hand statement TO which
Mr.. Doblin had sworn. The commit
tee was unanimous in agreeing that
Doblin appear in person forthwith.
He was called, and made specific de-
nial of all statements he had previ-
ously made, wherein he alleged at
tempts at bribery. He was rigidly
cross-examined by practically every
member of the committee and pressed
vigorously for an explanation Of his
action, but persisted that he was tell
ing the truth and adhered to his de-
malls.
Mr.. Doblin then proceeded to tell
of his coming to Washington and of
his appearance before the committee.
lie said when he came to Washington
to appear before the ful COMMITTEES
he decided to make the statement he
did.
81 now retract," he snid, every
word in which said Mr.. Quigg tend
cred me any bribe in any way
"Will you state to the committee in
what respect your testimony Is not
true?" Doblin was asked.
I'm relation to my being called tc
Washington and my conversation
with Mr.. Lessler at the Hotel Nor.
mandie at eight o'clock or there
about. The fact is the statements
| fTn9e rr"adalin gngM Mt, ,Qite@eare po!
handed to me and was told by Less
| Ter. You have got to stand for this,
and snid, oh, that can not be-
"tWell,' he says, then ! am polit
ically dead
"'Well,' | said, you carry me will
YOU
Gle said, You viii he all right !
you will just appear before this com
mittee. | will go and see the speake
and l will fix it up He goes out o
the room and comes back and said h
had seen the speaker and said, 1T wi
be all right. All you have got to d
is to 90 before the committee an
substantiate my story "
Continuing, Doblin said: u went II
to the committee room. The gentle
men were standing about and Su
said: This is Mr.. Doblin.' The othc
gentlemen all shook hands with m
and | sat down, and after a lit
while / was handed cigar, which
smoked. They made me feel agre
able. / took IL for granted that
: was all right The first thing ] kno
one Of the gentlemen of the commi
tee. after conversation in which
! explained my interests in politics
! New York state, asked how long j hi
been in politics. Then one of the ge
tlemen said:
i "'Wasn't ii Mr.. Quigg who said
+ you that there was $1,000 in 1t f
n Lessler and $1,000 for your
n II said at that time, NO, SIR
L "Then all the gentlemen arouI
e said: oh, it's all right. You go o.
:" and then there was discussion
a, the room as to how ] stood. ] refus
to answer at that time at all. 7
gentlemen seemed TO agree that the
e was nothing TO It. Feeling agreeat
at home. / made my statement
D. cording to the way read in the |
n per. ] felt that ] was in the han
s. of my friends and II was all rigl
G. that would back up Lessler here a
is IL would be a einch, and that II
1T was all there would be TO It; that
I'd committee would report; that Less
II would be vindicated and l would
t. vindicated, and II would be all rig
After / got out Of the commit
he room ] went down TO the hotel Q
he asked for Lessler. He was not the
at / telephoned to the house, but co
as not get him and left the city, thi
at ing ii was all right"
ed Delaney Nicoll, attorney for
Dl- Quigg, when interrupted in
It's cross-examination Of Doblin, said:
ID consider that the wickedest and II
err est plot against the integrity Of
a client, former member OF the no,
IL has been revealed in this commit
or to-day, and ! want to prove II h'
sh entailing consequences which ev
or one of us must deplore TO see hapT
he and / want to probe it to the
tom"
Black Tragedy I'm Bloomington
Bloomington. Ill, Jan. 27.--Mrs.
ey seph Brown, colored. was killed.