Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-17
TUMU[T AT HEARING
Excited Tits Between Attor-
ney and Witness.
PROBING ALASKAN CLAIMS
Special Agent Jones Tells About
Cunningham Investigation.
SHARPLY CHIDED BY HUGHES

Latter Claims That Answers Given
Are Not What Are Sought-Wit-
ness to Protect Himself.
! Tempestuous scenes marked the hearing
relative to the Cunningham Alaskan coal
claims before United States Commissioner
William J. MCGEE today Horace I.
Jones, special agent of the general land
office at Portland. Greg, was on the wit
/, ness stand, and at times he and Attorney
E. c. Hughes of Seattle, who represents
Cunningham and the other claimants
yelled at each other in repeating ques-
tions and answers. Jones seemed to be
under the impression that the attorney
was trying to mislead him In certain
questions as to happenings several years
ago. but Mr.. Hughes declared that such
was not his intention. Mr.. Jones wanted
at times to go into details, and invariably
Mr.. Hughes declared that he did not want
any hearsay testimony.
Throughout the hearing. which was
held in the offices of Smith & Hulse,
StenOSfd pnerS, IN the century DulldtiiS,
the different affidavits were gone over and
the witness interTogated as TO the incl
dents connected with the gathering OF
these affida Wits by himself and Louis X.
CLAWS, then special agent in the west
ern territory of the land office. These
were from Clarence Cunningham and
other clainentS who want patents on the
Alaskan coal lands.
The Mason Affidavit.
Finally, when Mr.. Hughes took UP the
affidavit of Fred H. Mason, one of the
Cunningham claimants, the most tumul-
tuous Of the scenes of the morning oc-
Cured.
In the affidavit Mr.. Mason spoke Of the
Guggenheim corporations being interest
ed in Alaskan coal properties, and Mr..
hughes asked the witness If he had any
information prior to securing the Mason
affidavit that the GUggenheims were seek
ing any interest in the coal entries IN
Alaska.
Il merely had the gossip on the boat
up to juneau, answered Jones
Did you have any other information
or source of information"'
81 say / did not" came the reply OF the
witness with vehernence.
You had none other?'
Mr.. Jones paused, then he continued,
NO. except that along about this time
/ think it was a couple of days after
took Cunningham'S Affidavit took the
affidavit of Mabel B. Mcintyre
Objects to Witness Answer.
Now. wait minute replied Hughes
you have asked me this question and
am going to answer it, shouted Jones
in reply.
wait a mnute,' yelled Hughes. you
are not going to answer 1t.
/ will answer 1t, Jones
shouted back as Attorney Hughes sprang
to his feet.
The witness and the attorney glared at
each other for moment. then Mr..
Hughes heatedly addressed Commissioner
MCGEE
Hughes Explains Objection.
81 beg your pardon. Mr.. Commissioner"
he said. II will see whether we have any
rights here. I have asked him q ques-
ton He jumps now to nine months later
and undertakes to answer something that
have not asked him about at all. Now,
there must be some way of controlling
man, If 1t has to be done by placing him
some where else than upon the witness
stand He must either be there answer
ing intelligently, or else he ought to be
where he can be controlled
Mr. Jones glared at Attorney Hughes
and Commissioner MCGEE arose to his
feet as if to step between the two
Ruling by Commissioner.
wait a minute, Mr. JONES'" he said.
THE stenographer will read that Ques-
ton Answer the question That Is what
we are here for, to get intelligent informa-
ton as to all the facts in these entries,
and not outside remarks. We want just
the facts, and / think we will progress
better If you answer the questions that
are asked.
Jones was talking fast by this time and
as the commissioner closed he shouted:
Wait minute And then as Attorneys
J. NJ Sheridan and w. B. Pugh, who
represent the government, did not come
to his aid he declared vehemently:
Jones Announces Dissemination.
II don't propose to have my interests
unprotected here and to make state
ments and to be made to make state
ments with representatives of three OF
four different papers and the Associ-
ated Press around here, and have it go
all over the country. l am going to
protect myself, and l am going to an
swer a question l see fit, and there
is nobody can make me answer differ
emily"
Attorney Hughes asked the commits
him to respect authority" referring to
tn ewitness. and the commissioner an
swered, There is no power to fine for
contempt, ] must confess"
Jones' Methods.
Attorney Hughes went deeply into the
Jones methods In getting affidavits. At
one time he asked
DO you have to jimmy down into the
consciences of these people to get this
information?"
Jones turned slightly and retorted: do
you think | Went as a government off,
Ger and said. Mr.. So land So, did you
take this claim fradu!enllyT"
Il suppose l did, caiiie the quick an
swer
Were you seeking the truth?" was an
other question.
Mr.. Mason has not animated that
was using burglars Jimmy" replied
Mr.. Jones.
Treasury Statement.
The condition Of the Treasury at the beginning