Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-27
DENIED BY LESSLER
Contradicts Doblin's Story Of
Collusion.
REITERATES CHARGES
STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE
NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
Resumption Of the Investigation Into
Allegations Recently Made Of
Attempted Bribery.
REITERATES CHARGES

fairs resumed the investigation of bribery
charges this morning Representative Less
Ter took the stand and denied statements
made yesterday by Philip Doblin.
Il desire to deny" he said at the outset
Of his detailed statement, absolutely and
unequivocally as false the statement made
by the witness Doblin here yesterday as to
any collusive scheme or any Of the sub
stantiaa details sworn to by him here. and
desire to reiterate that the facts as orig
inally told by me are true.
Il desire to call attention to the follow
ing facts: AS to the telegram Take mid
night train. Come to me. Want to see
you. Keep this confidential the members
OF the subcommittee will remember that
the statement l made to them was on Tues
day afternoon. That at that time every
thing before US was in camera, and / said
would produce the witness DOblin in the
morning, but did not desire his name to
appear in any wey. The result was that
the telegram was sent by me from this
committee room.
Doblin's First Visit.
Mr.. Doblin came into my room at the
hotel a few minutes after o'clock. l had
left the door unlocked and he knocked at
the door, waking me up. I asked, Who
Is there?' He said, Phil or 'Doblin.' l
have forgotten which. 1 said, Come ia
He came into the room with his overcoat
on and 1 said. Phil, 1 have got you into
trouble He said. How is that?' 1 said.
I have told in committee the whole story
of the submarine proposition He said,
oh! That is terrible, that is terrible. 1
said, Keep up your nerve. All you have
to do is to tell the truth here. Nothing but
the truth "
Then telling Of taking his bath and dress
ing, he continued: He tDoblin) was walk
| ing up and down. l said to him, said to
the committee yesterday that when you
came over to say nothing to you as to the
testimony or the story 1 did not want it
discussed between US. l was then fully
dressed We walked out to the elevator
and went down to breakfast. did as do
every morning, took up the paper-the
Washington Post 1 got my mail at the
Office first and then we went in together.
"When We sat down l read the story, and
l desire to have in full in the evidence the
article in the Post Of January q. We went
upstairs and the talk that went on con-
tanned absolutely nothing as to his testi-
mony here.
New York, and as to that might occur to
him-how he was politically ruined In New
York. ! was very much impressed by the
fact that he was in a serious situation, and
did tell the Speaker that the proposition
was undergoing examination here, and
asked If it were possible to stop a public
investigation. OF course. no man liked the
He said to me. 1t is to go on, and we
will see later on.
Doblin Before the Committee.
Continuing, Mr.. Lessler said: ''I came up
and saw the gentlemen of the committee,
and during that talk it was understood that
Doblin's name should not be mentioned in
the public prints. 1 then phoned my Sec,
retary to bring Mr. Doblin here to the COM
mfttee. l was not present. 1 did not know
what happened from personal knowledge.
Of course, before that committee. Mr.. Dob
lin left the committee room and I never
saw him again until his reappearance in
Washington in answer to the other tele-
gram, after the committee had decided to
ask the House for resolution Of investi-
cation. Then my testimony was heard on
the 2}d. After the testimony was in the
question was asked as to Doblin's appear
ance, and l said to the committee that he
would come without a subpoena. l then
telegraphed him to come, and he did come.
II dictated some Of those kilograms to
my secretary to send to Doblin's wife, as
he told me she was very much upset about
it. His testimony was heard here. He went
with me to the train. A few minutes be-
fore train time he had arranged to stay
here The last minute he said he would
be better off If he went to New York.
81 said Very we'll telephoned some MEM
bers Of the committee, and asked If there
were any objections to his going home. We
went home on the train. There was very
little spoken on the train going home. He
recalls the circumstances regarding my
saying I would examine the law as to his
immunity from punishment or not. The
way that arose. he asked me the substance
OF what Mr.. Tayler said. I said I would
look it up He left promising to re1oin me,
to come back, as 1 had promised the COM
mittee he would come back. on Sunday
night and 1 never saw him from that time
until he appeared in the committee room.
and 1 had no idea as to what he was do
ing.
McCullagh Contradicted.
st would like. in addition. to deny what
the witness McCullagh said to my say
ing there was but one member of the COM
mittee who was absolutely honest. 1 want
to point out the fact that while testifying
the question was asked me IL any one was
present in his office at the time McCullagh
called and / answered, Yes my secretary
THE first intimat ton the young man had
that he was to testify here was while sit
ting in this very chair. The door was open
and he was sitting in the window, and 1
beckoned him to come in and he sat down in
the chair here without any previous word
as to his coming as witness before this
committee.
"I should like very much to deny the
statement of the witness Quigg that said
that the members OF the committee who
voted for the Holland torpedo boats were
knaves. and that the others who did not
were honest men. l do not think OF any,
thing else.
MI. LeSSleT GueSt1OueQ.
Mr. Rixey-"Had you any intimation OF
the character Of the man as shown by his
testimony before the committee
Absolutely none"
'.As far as you know up to the beginning
Of this investigation Doblin was man who
had enjoyed a good reputation In the city
of New York;"
II never knew Of wrongdoing by Doblin
in any shape, manner or form before.
never knew of his word being doubted at
all. / know that he has been in political
relation with various presidents Of the coun-
ty committee and employed by them at a
place where great many things confiden-
tial and otherwise, are given to members.
and never knew Of his being doubted In
the slightest. and / am totally at a loss to
understand the proposition as 1t now ap-
pears"
You know Of no reason from your knowl-
edge of all the circumstances out Of which
this investigation has grown which ac-