The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-18
Assistant Attorney General
Oscar LAWYER Could Not Con-
troll His Indignation While
Testifying Before Committee
CLIMAX IN BALLlNGER-
PINCHOT CONTROVERSY
Garfield. Pinchot, Hapgood,
Connolly and BrandeiS Ac-
cuSed of Conupting Inter-
ior Department Employees.
SPECTATORS IN UPROAR

Washington, May ia day filled
with interesting episodes reached an
exciting climax in the BaIlinger- Pinchot
investigation late today when Assistant
Attorney General Oscar LawIer, auth or
OF the now famous Lawler memOran-
dunn, rose WrathfuIly from the witness
stand and accused Attorney Brandeis of
uttering a deliberate untruth. Then,
after he had been rebuked by several
members of the committee, Mr.. Lawler
withdrew his remarks and apologized to
the committee.
Mr.. LaWler was called to the stand
by the defense" to explain the circum-
stances under which he had prepared
for the President a memorandum con-
tanning his opinion on the charges filed
by Special Agent CLAWS against Sec
rotary Ballinger.
Several hours had been consumed in
the examination of Frederick NJ. Kerby,
the StenOgrapher in Mr. Ballinger's Of
flee, discharged yesterday because he
made public confidential information
relating to the Lawler memorandum.
Kerby on the stand.
Mr. Kerby was called unexpectedly by
Chairman Nelson that he might give
sworn testimony about his published
statement, which Mr.. Brandeis had en-
deavored to have printed in the record,
with the Presidents letter of last Sun
day.
Directly contradicting Ballinger's tes-
lAIlOuH DSlOTe the hGEDy
said his former superior knew about
the preparation OF the memorandum
and participated in a conference on the
subject. Furthermore, he said Lawler
had told Private secretary Carr IN his
presence that he had left a copy of the
memorandum with Mr.. Ballinger-
Under DISCRIMINATION by Mr..
Brandeis, Lawler was referred to va
rious requests for the document and in
formation bearing on it, which the at
torney had sent to Secretary Ballinger
through the committee IIr- Lawler
had informed the secretary in each in
stance that he had supplied all the mat
ter bearing on the CLAWS charges ''in
his possession"
Didn't you discuss with Mr.. Carr the
obvious purpose of my requests?'
Didn't you discuss with Carr how
you could evade my requests
No
Didn't you know you were evad-
Gave Brandeis the Lie.
THAT statement is an absolute false
hood by you, sir" shouted the witness,
Jumping from his seat and facing his
inquisitOr with flashing eyes
Mr.. Brandeis instantly appealed to the
committee to reprimand the witness
IF my remark has been offensive,
withdraw 1t and apologize to the COM
mittee," said Mr. Lawler- Mr. Brandeis
was placated and resumed his cross
examination.
Mr. LaWIer said he had been asked
by the President to prepare an opinion
and that he regarded II as confiden-
tial trust. He said he had furnished
to the committee all the information
he had felt at liberty to divulge and
did not think he had any right to in
form the committee that such a mem
orandum existed.
Immediately after his return to
from Beverly, last Septem
Der, Mr.. LaWler said he had begun
preparation for his memorandum. The
draft, he said, was completed
without consulting anybody.
When the draft had been typewrit-
ten by Kerby and Massey, he added,
he had called in Secretary Ballinger
and others one night TO hear il read.
Il wanted to be absolutely correct
in every statement" explained Mr..
LAWYER. He said no one made any sug-
gestion. except for the purpose Of YER
ification.
Mr.. LAWYER said he had burned the |
original draft OF the memorandum
TrafIed by "Gumshoe" Men.
ct was confident" he said, that |
gumshoe' men had been on my trail !
for months, and knew there were no /
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