Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-26
RETRACTED BY DOBL|N
Denies Former Testimony
Regarding Mr.. Quigg.
TELLS ANOTHER STORY
ALLEGED CONVERSATIoN WITH
MR. LESSLER.
Investigation Of Charges Of Attempt.
ed Bribery Resumed by Naval
Affairs Committee.

The House committee on naval affairs TO-
day resumed the investigation of the
charges made by Representative Lessler Of
New York, that he had been approached
with an offer of money for his vote in the
committee. The first witness called was
Leonard J. Obermeier. He told Of an
interview he and Mr.. Doblin had with Mr..
Quigg, January 8, regarding the submarine
boats. Quigg said that at that time that he
lad asked Lessler once about the matter,
and did not think he would make second
attempt. .
The witness said he told Mr.. Quigg he
was going to Washington. and that while
there he would see Lessler and possibly
urge upon him any argument which might
cause him to change his mind.
Representative Rixey asked: did you
ever know of the fact as testified to here
by Doblin that Mr.. Lessler had been ap-
preached with the offer of a bribe?''
NO" witness replied. Il ,ascertained
that subsequently"
He then told of a conversation he said he
had with Doblin subsequent to January 8,
saying, "Doblin said to me that there had
been talk Of money in connection with this
attempt to gain Lessler's vote in this COM
mtttee for this appropriation. / think his
exact words were, There Is nothing to it,
and that he believed that II the vote was to
be gained at all 1t was to be gained on the
ground Of friendship"
Mr.. Obermier Is an attorney Of New York
and a friend Of Representative Lessler
When Mr.. Obermeier left the stand, Mr..
Rogers, an attorney from New York an
on behalf Of Mr.. Doblin and said: Mr.
Doblin stated to me that some Of the tes-
timony he gave before this committee was
true; that some Of it was not true and was
false"
Doblin Retracts Former Story.
Before Doblin went on the stand to make
his statement Mr.. Rogers asked that such
immunity be accorded him as was within
the power of the committee
Mr.. Tayler said only such Immunity as
the statute gives could be accorded
Mr.. Doblin then proceeded to tell Of his
coming to Washington and OF his appear
ance before the committee. He said when
he came to Washington to appear before
the full committee he decided to make the
statement he did.
Il now retract." he said "every word
in which ! said Mr.. Quigg tenedered me
any bribe in any way"
will you state to the committee in what
respect your testimony is not true?" Dob
lin was asked.
1T Is in relation to my being called to
Washington and my conversation with Mr..
"
or thereabouts.
THE fact is. the statements 1 made re-
garding Mr.. Quigg are not true. I read
the article as it was handed to me, and
was told by Lessler. You have got to stand
for this
And said. oh. that cannot be-
dead
"'well,' 1 said, you carry me with YOU
He said, You will be all right If you will
just appear before this committee. I will
go and see the Speaker and l will fix it up
He goes out of the room comes back and
said he had seen the Speaker and said, 1t
will be all right. 'All you have got to do is
to go before the committee and substantiats
my story.
When 1 was called to Washington got
Take midnight train and come to me.
Want to see YOU Keep this confidential.
(Signed) MONTE"
Mr.. Roberts-"signed by whom?"
Assigned Monte
Mr. Taylor-"Who is Monte in your ASSOC
ciation"
A." Monte Is Representative Lessler.
have had correspondence signed Monte" d"
Continuing, he said: While we were eat
ing breakfast l was reading the article, ia
miliarizing myself as to the statement
made, and when we got upstairs he said,
DO as you want to about It,
Well l said, cannot stand for any
thing like this
"'Oh,' ne said, you have got to- He says,
I'll be back in a minute. He went out Of
the room and when he came back he said:
I will go down and look afrer the commit
tee.' Just before that he said: You need
not have any fear. There Is nothing going
to happen to you. You appear before this
committee and they are friends OF mine, and
all there will be to 1t, they will report to the
whole committee and there won't be any
thing further to it, The representative left
the room. l lay on the sofa. l took the
paper up again and read 1t over. In about
a half or three-QuarterS of an hour In came
Son, who said, You come along with me.
We will get into the Capitol all right. No
body will see you. You will be able to get
up through a side elevator. which is right
close to the naval committee door, and you
can get in and ] will see that nobody
sees YOU
Before the Committee.
Continuin-, Doblin said: II went into the
committee room. The gentlemen were stand
ing about and Son saids "fhisais Mr. Dob
lin The other gentlemen all shook hands
with me and sat Down and after little
while was handed cigar, which
smoked. They made me feel agreeable, l
took it for granted that 1t, Was all right.
The first thing I knew one Of the gentle
men Of the committee, after a conversation,
in which I explained my interests In poll
tics in New York state.s asked how long l
had been in politics. Then one OF the gen.
tlemen said: Wasn't It Mr.. gQuigg who
said to you that there was $os0Oo In II 1or
Lessler and 1000 for you?
II said at that time. No. sir. Then
all the gentlemen around said. sOh! It's all
right, you go on and then there was dis
| cussion In the room as ito how l stood: l
refused to answer at that timesat all. The
gentlemen seemed to all agree that there
was nothing to it. Feeling sgreeably at
home, made my statemeut-according to
| the way 1 read it In the paper. l felt that
I was in the hands, of my friends and it
was all right; that would back up Lessler
here and 1t would be cinch. and that that
| was all there would be to It; that the COM
! mittee would report; that Lessler would be
vindicated and l would be vindicated and
| 1t would be all right. After 1 got out of
the committee room / went down to the
| hotel and asked for Lessler. He was not
there 1 teiephoned to the House, but could
I not get him, and left the city, thinking it
/ was all right" -ess
| Doblin then told Of telegram he receiv-
| ed when he got home. which read: State
ment all right. Have no fear. (SigneD
E"N" f
| He then told Of receiving telegram from
L N1su{v~ Errc, - -fAk-