Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-17
ENDS THE TESTIMONY
Final Witness Appears in Pam
anna Canal Hearing.
LOCAL ATTORNEY SPEAKS
Tells of Correspondence With Bal
anced Crane Company.
GETS A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
Washington Representative of
Robert w. Hunt & Co. Mentions
Call by Phone.
GETS A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE

Testimony was concluded yesterday aft
ernoon in the Panama canal hearing Gov
ering the efforts OF several parties to
have the evidence in the case of the
Balanced Crane Cable Company nodded
along certain lines before its submission
to the commission.
At the afternoon session Il. Golden Don
aldson of Cole & Donaldson. attorneys of
quest of Gen. Darlington He stated that
the 9th instant he received letter from
the Balanced Crane Gable Company, Will
liam F. Brothers, president. 1t set forth
| that unless Mr.. Lawson should go before
Gen. Darlington and say that Col Goe-
thaIs induced him and Bard to withdraw
the company's affidavits and protest with
the understanding that the reasons for
the request were that they wished to en-
body the companys design in the general
specifications on their return from the
isthmus to Washington, the Balanced
Crane Cable Company would be compelled
to put into evidence that part of the cor
reSpondence of Mr.. Donaldson with his
company after Mr.. Donaldson's interview
with MIR. Brothers and the government
representatives Immediately after their re-
turn to Washington from Panama.
Threat Of Publication.
Mr.. Donaldson stated that day before
yesterday a man giving his name as Teit
sort and saying that he was a personal
representative of Mr.. Brothers saw him
in this city and stated that if the witness
did not see Mr.. Lawson and have him be-
fore Gen. Darlington and testify that Col.
Goethals induced him TO withdraw the
atfidavitS Of the Balanced Crane Gable
Company at Panama on the pledge that
after doing so the bids would be rejected
and specifications drawn to include the
device of the company, Mr.. Brothers
would have the correspondence between
himself and Mr.. Donaldson published.
Mr.. Donaldson stated that he told Mr..
Teitsort that while he knew Mr. Lawson
he had not introduced him to Mr.. Broth
ers or been the means of bringing them
together. and even If he had he was not
disposed to mold his or any one else's
testimony.
Mr.. Thomas, attorney for Mr. Brothers,
did not crossexamine the witness. MIR.
Donaldson said that while he regarded
the correspondence between an attorney
and his client as privileged. yet he
thought in case of this kind the matter
was above the ordinary rules of practice.
Mr.. Donaldson did not wish to put in any
of the correspondence he had with Mr..
Brothers and no special effort was made
TO have him do
Washingtonian a Witness.
f. l.. Averil, Washington representa-
tive of Robert w. Hunt & Co. of New
York, again went on the stand and said
that a day or two before the complaint
Of Mr.. Brothers was put in the War De-
partment, five or six weeks ago he had
been called on the telephone by some one
who would not give his name, but who
wanted to meet him a the Willard Hotel
He declined to make engagement with
out Known whom he was to see, but In
reply to question the person on the
telephone, he said practically admitted
that he was Mr.. Brothers, but said that
lie would not give his name over the
phone. This person told him that he had
been given dirty deal with the Panama
canal commission and added that he
had to get even. He said further that the
name of the witness was implicated in it
and If he did not go to the MOTEL to meet
him he would make public letters that
the witness wrote to him. Mr. Averil
had no further conversation with This
person over the phone.
This testimony concluded the hearing.
Gen. Darlington will make a report of
the case to the Secretary of War and
Attorney Thomas will later file a brief
with the secretary.