The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-08
Former European Representa-.
tive Of Lake Boat Company
Admits Receiving Conf
Dental Records.
CAME TO HIM ANONYMOUSLY
Startling Admission by Submarine In
ycstigation Witness Switches
Probe To the Navy De-
partmcnt.

Washington, April 1.-The navy do.
partment and not the Electric Boat
Co. was virtually under Investigation
to-day by the special house committee
inquring into charges preferred
against that company by Representa-
tive Lilley. The question as to whether
the company had used illegitimate
means to promote legislation In its ia
vor, was forgotten in the admissions
made by a witness 10 the effect that
he had secured extracts of reports
made to the navy department supposed
to be confidential.
The witness was Robert G. Skerrett,
of New York, formerly employed In the
navy department and at one time the
European representative OF the Lake
Torpedo Boat Co. He stated frankly
that while in the employ Of the Lake
company he received anonymously ex-
tracts from reports made to the navy
department and that he used these ex-
tracts in technical articles prepared
for publication in, magazines. Ques-
toned as to their source, he replied
that he did not know from whom they
came, and that he had accepted them
as correct and used them In his arti-
ces.
The climax of Mr.. Skerrett's testi-
mony came when he was asked by
Chairman Boutell If he did not consid-
er that his action in publishing in
formation which the United States gov
ernment regarded as secret was high
ly dishonorablc?" His reply was: mo.
| think 1t was indiscrcet."
1t Is the evident intention of the
committee to follow up this new line OF
evidence and IL possible discover the
leak in the navy department.
| 1t Is doubtful II witness before a
congressional committee ever was put
through more searching examination
than Mr.. Skerrett.
The first report to which reference
was made was one proposed by Lieut.
Nelson, U. s. N, who conducted se-
ries Of trials of the Holland boat at
Narragansett in 1904 While abroad Mr..
Skerrctt wrote an article on submarines
in which he quoted from Lieut. Nell
sons report.
Where did you get that report 2"
asked Mr.. Stephens.
Il do not remember" answered the
witness.
Before | left Washington" he con-
tinued, II went to my friends In the
navy department and said to them: If
there is anything you can give out at
any time of interest, send 1t along
They knew that | was writing on naval
topics"
While In Berlin. he said he received
typewriter extracts from various
naval reports in plain envelopes There
was no writing on them to indicate
who had sent them and he had no idea
! from whom they had come. They wer.
forwarded from Washington through
the office of the Lake company IN
Bridgeport
An article the witness had written
concerning certain details of the Hol-
land boat was next taken up. Mr..
Littleton through the committee press-
cd the witness as to where he got his
information Mr. skSre said IT had
been given him by iAeign officer
Pressed by Mr.. Stephens to give
the name of this official, Mr. Skerrett
said his memory was faulty but stated
that he had met him IN London. AS
a matter of fact he had received tile
information while conversing With
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