New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
KERRY TELLS HIS STORY
Talked with Garfield and Pincnot
-Contradicts Ballinger.

washington Nav H-Freierick "a.
KERRY the stenographer dismissed oy
Mr.. Ballinser yesterday, was cahea 10
the stand soon after the BaiiihssI-
Pinchot hearing began this morning
After Chairman Nelson had laid the
Presidents letter to him before the COM
mittee, Mr.. Brandeis said he thought
Kerby's statement and the Presidents de-
NAL of last Saturday should go into the
record with 1t. MIR. Nelson said that no
statement of Kerby was before the COM
mittee whereupon Mr.. Brandeis said Kerry
was present and willing TO testify
Directly contradicting Secretary Balm
gers testimony before the committee, Kerry
said his former superior knew about the
preparation OF the memorandum, and that
he took part in a conference en- the SUBJECT.
Furthermore. he said Lawler had told MI.
Carr, Mr. Ballingers private secretary, IN
his presence. that he had left copy of the
memorandum with Mr.. Baiiinger.
II was this statement which Mr.. LAWYER
later in the day declared an absolute false
hood
KERRY appeared calm and confident when
7 he took his seat on the stand. After giving
his name ard age Mr.. Vertrees, counsel Tor
Mr.. BalIinger asked him about the place
You were a confidential clerk to MI.
Ballinger, were you not?
II felt myself confidential clerk to the
| government replied Kerby. rather than
to Mr. Ballinger."
! He said he was friendly to Mr.. Garfield.
and had exchanged one or two letters with
the latter since he left the government
service. Neither of these letters related to
the matter he made public. but later he had
a conversation with Mr.. Garfield at which
he had told him about it.
The Meeting at Pinchots Home.
Kerhv said he met Mr.. Garfield at the
home of Clifford Pinchot between February
10 and Is, about 1890 p. H., and had told
him about the preparation OF the LAWYER
memorandum. He said Mr.. Brandeis also
was present and that he told the story to
him in detail.
| Kerby said he had first mentioned the
matter to Hugh A. Brown, formerly private
secretary to Mr.. Garfield, who is now pri-
yate secretary to Director Durand OF the
Census Bureau. q few days after President
| Taft gave out his letter generating Secre-
tary Ballinger. He met Brown In his Office
, and the latter asked him what he knew
about the Presidents letter.
| II told him l knew considerable about
IT," said KERRY, "as we practically wrote it
! in the Secretary's Office He told Brown
in the strictest confidence, but later Brown
called him on the telephone and told him
| he himself was likely to be called as q wit
ness and he thought ii would be fairer for
! Kerby to take the stand and testify di-
rectly.
! Kerby said he told Brown he would prefer
! 20 talk first to Mr.. Garfield and Brown re-
| piled that Garfield would be In town in a
few days He went to Pinchot's home, he
said. one night when he learned Garfield
was there. and found Pinchot and Brandeis
there also. He said Garfield appeared sur
prised to see him.
After Kerby had told Garfield his story
the latter said he did not want him to
endanger his place and would not have
! him called as witness unless it was nee
essary.
| why did you assume that giving .testi-
mony would necessitate your dismissal? -
asked Representative DenbyS
'I knew what happened to CLAWS" kerby
'eplied.