The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-19
Attorney Ver'rses Fires Con'in-
uOus Questions At Witness
IN Cross Examination
MANY WRANGLtS OCCUR
OVER THE TESTIMONY
GIayfs Is Questioned As to His Motives
In Seeking Aid From PinchOt and
Declares That He Considered
Pinchot Sincere

Washington, feD-udry lcs-l<oui0 ~
CLAWS wac again under cross-examina-
tion all of today before the Ballinger-Pin-
chot investigating committee, and when
adjournment was taken until tomorrow
morning there was no indication that John
). yertrees, counsel for Secretary Bal
lipger was approaching the end OF his
constant iire of interrogations.
Some idea of the latitude given to Mr..
CLAWS may be gained from the fact that
including the two sessions today the
printed testimony of this one witness
alone covers nearly 1000 pages.
Mr.. vertrees and Mr.. CLAWS had several
long wransles during the afternoon ses-
sion as to the meaning and intent OF many
of the letters and kilograms in the rec
crd A typical instance was a telegram
from Mr. J3alinger in reply to q message
from Commissioner bennett OF the land
office, in which the secretary stated his
reluctance TO act In the Alaska cases, and
suggested that Mr.. bennett make the nee
essary orders himself as to postponing the
hearings.
Mr.. yertrees sought to show that this
meant that Mr.. Ballinger was not direct
ing the Alaska cases in any wise what
soever. Nj. CLAWS on the other hand In
sisted that the only construction he could
put upon the telegram was that it showed
that none of the officials in the depart
ment dared do anything in the cases with
out first conferring with the secretary.
Mr.. CLAWS contended that the kilograms
conveyed d specific order by Secretary
Ballinger.
Important Fact shown
MIR. Vertrees at the morning session
drew from. the witness the important fact
rllat at tho time the Cunningham claims
were ordered clear listed" in Janu-
AIRY. 1908, snd in fact up to the time Mr
Ballir ger eft the service as commissioner
Of the land office, March 4, 1908, there had
been no adverse reports on these claims
md he addea that the Cunningham jour-
nal, which contained the first evidence OF
alleged agreement among the claimants,
had not then been discovered.
The late afternoon session was devoted
to an inquiry into the motives of Mr..
CLAWS in seeking the assistance of Gift
ford Pinchct CLAWS said ne went to him
because he had faith in him, and felt he
was absolutely sincere.
Mr.. Nertrees explained several of his
song questions today by the statement
that he was searching out the motives of
Ntne witness to ascertain whether they
we're innocent or malicious.
Hearing lis Resumed
The Ballinger-Pinchot congressional in
vestigation was resumed at 1912 this
morning, following short executive ses-
sion Attorney Vertrees for the defense
asked that Adolph Behrans of Seattle,
Wash, be subpoenaed to appear as wit
ness before the committee.
The cross-examination of Louis r.
CLAWS was then continued. The examina
ton had not gone along very much fur
ther when the attorney and witness
locked horns again on the subject of
direct answers. Mr.. Vertrees protested
to the committee that CLAWS always ties
a string to his answers and proceeded:
IT am trying to get at the purpose,
the motive. the object of the witness
~ whether IL Is innocent or malicious
= Mr.. Brandies, attorney for Claws de-
cIhred CLAWS had stated his purpose in
this inquiry. He has no other motive
than to tell the truthr' shouted the
lawyer.
Chairman Nelson said: "It is apparent
to me that almost every answer made
by the witness has string to 1t. He
has made no direct answers. If We were
proceedings in a court of justice under
the rules of evidence this state OF af-
fairs would not have been permitted.
But we are moving along without rules
OF evidence and the chairman is power
less to enforce any rules. l want to say,
however, that the committee will be able
to Judge of the facts produced in this
case and the only effect of these long
answers with arguments appended is sim
ply to delay proceedings.
Questions BY vertrees
At the afternoon session Mr.. Vertrees
called attention to the fact that in his pre-
vous testimony Mr.. Claws expressed
surprise that Special Agent Sheridan.
who succeeded him in charge OF the
Alaska cases. should have reached the
same conclusion he had.
.'Why were you surprised?" demanded
Mr.. Vertrees.
..well, he had letter of instructions
and | think they expected a different
oth wOuld not have
sA,,t him out there 4
,fWho do you mean by they
N..Whoever wrote the letter, Mr.
schwartz
Mr.. vertrees then read the letter into
the evidence.
.DurIng all the time you We're in the
service and in charge Of the Alaska cases
aid YOU not feel that you had the conf
dence of your superlors, and did they
not so express themselves to you In COM
munications from time to timer asked
Mr. Vertrees
>, .Yes, SIR he replied with some hesi-
fancy.
'.And you say there was no harm done
the government by the delay In 1907 when
you were temporarily assigned to the Ore
gon cases?"
.No sir; there was no HARM
"And You always had plenty of help
Eyes, SIR
Mr.. CLAWS would not admit that Secre-
tary Ballinger and Commissioner bennett
axted on Sheridan's recommendations in
loshboning proposed hearing in the case
h The summer of 1909,
Meeting With Pinchot
A cross-examinaton of the witness as
10 his meeting with Clifford Pinchot at
spokane. Wash, in August of last year
then was begun. CLAWS said he told his
story to Mr.. Pinchot and declared that
the latter called in former Governor Par
dee of California.
But up to the time of your meeting
vr Pinchot. all that you wanted had been
granted, had 1t not?"
Yes"
xwnat was there to be gained in pre-