The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
Anonymous Letter Is Brought Up
In LiIIsy Trial
CANDIDATE is WITHDRAWN
A New York Man Testifes That He
Tried To Secure Portion of Appro-
priation For the Berger
Submarine Boats.

Washington, April 3.--The most interest
ing development of the day before the
House submarine boat investigation COM
mittee was the production of another an
onymous letter charging that an at
torney of the Electric Boat company had
been brought out as a candidate for Con-
sress against Mr.. Loud, but had with
drawn on Mr.. Louds promise to vote for
submarines. The letter was mailed from
this city to the Detroit Free Press and
was produced by Jesse Carmichael, its
Washington correspondent. Benjamin Nc
Cou, attorney for the Berger Subsurface
Torpedo Boat company and of F. r. Penn
berton of New York, and who assisted
in bringing the claims of that company
before the navy department, told of the
methods which were used and did not
consider them to be reprehensible. Mr..
Cou admitted making arguments before
the secretary of the navy, but contended
that there was no improperly in such a
course.
Mr. Pemberton of New York testified
that he had been asked by directors of
the Berger company to assist in trying
to secure a portion of the $3,0o0,0o0 ap-
preparation for the Berger boat. He told
of his interviews with Secretary Met
calf regarding the matter and said 1t
was at the Secretary's suggestion that
the company laid the matter before Con-
gress. He talked with Representative
Littlefield and said that gentleman offered
to introduce bill. He had also talked
with Representative Idobson and had
II fou Ia fn sinh
Representative Lilley placed in evidence
an affidavit dated March 12 and signed
by Samuel Ferguson, residing in Brldge-
port Conn.,, who swore that during the
fall and winter of 1902 he served in the
United States navy in the capacity OF
chief electrician and that during tnat
time he served upon several submarine
torpedo boats owned by either the Hoi-
land Torpedo Boat company or its sue
cessor. the Electric Boat company, and
none of which were owned by the United
States government, and that many or the
crew of these submarine torpedo boats
were sailors in the United States navy
receiving pay from the United States gov
ernment, and in addition thereto received
wages from the Holland Torpedo Boat
company.
This statement was offered in substan-
tiation OF Mr.. Lilley's charges that the
Electric Boat company had paid money TO
enlisted men,
Mr.. Liley also presented an affidavit
from John C. Lake, vice president OF the
Lake Torpedo Boat company, dated At
Bridgeport, Conn.,, March 16. to the erect
that about two years ago he had an i'll
terview with Charles Ferry, represen-
tative of the Bridgeport Brass company,
in which Ferry told him that President
Bowles of the Fore River Shipbuilding
and Engine company, had asked MIN
(Ferry) to use all influence possible IN
favor of the Lake company, and to use it
in favor of the Electric Boat company.
II he was successful in this the Fore
River company would make contracts
with the Bridgeport Brass company Tor
goods to the value of about 100000. Mr-
Ferry, in his testimony before the COM
mittee wednesday, denied that President
Bowles had made him any such PROPOSE
ton or that he had ever promised an OF
der for seeing any one