Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-20
.LAWLER QUESTIONS
CLAWS vERAC|TY
Volunteers Statement That For
mer Special Agent Stamped
Self as PrevariCator
WILL CLOSE TODAY
Attorney for BaIIinger Says He
will at Once Conclude Con-
troverSy with PinChot
Associated Press1


| WASHINGTON. May 19.-The Bal
/ to end tomorrow-so f.. at least, as
the taking of evidence is concerned.
"The defense practically had rested
when the days hearing ended, and At
! torney Brandeis tonight said his side
would consume but little time in the
examination of witnesses in rebuttal
! Attorney Vertrees, counsel for the
Ballinger defense" will call one or
| two more witnesses tomorrow, but ex-
poets their contributions to be brief.
1t is probable that the departure of
| Senator Root, one of the leading Re-
publican members of the committee,
who left today for THE Hague arbitra-
tion tribunal. had great deal to do
| with the decision to bring the hearing
| to a close.
Mr.. Brandeis concluded his cross
examination of Oscar Lawler, assist
| ant attorney general for the depart
ment of the interior and author of the
now famous tentative draft for the
| president of a letter dismissing Special
| Agent L. r. CLAWS.
Commissioner Fred bennett of the
! general land office also finished his tes-
| timony. e. T. Perkins, Chicago Off
| Ger of the reclamation service, was the
| last witsess of the day.
What was regarded by the prose
cution" as an important admission
was obtained from Lawler. Brandeis
was endeavoring to show that Lawler
retained an old grudge against CLAWS
that untitled him for the preparation
of judicial finding to assist the pres
ident in passing on the CLAWS charges.
He was questioning Lawler along that
/ u NrFNl
unteered the allegation that CLAWS
had demonstrated" himself to be un-
truthful. This, he said, was three
years ago, when CLAWS had made
complaint to the land office that Law
Ter was not competent to conduct the
governments prosecution of certain
land fraud cases in Southern Califor-
mia.
Lawler was then United States at
torney for the southern district of
California and CLAWS was chief of the
field division at Oakland. Lawler said
the charges were investigated by the
department of justoe and were found
baseless. He went to trial with the
cases and obtained convictions.
An attempt by Brandeis to secure
the production of all papers and doc
uments relating to this matter on file
at the land office was blocked by the
vestigation. Brandeis said he desired
to show whether Secretary Ballinger
knew Lawler entertained such a
grievance against CLAWS.
In cross examination of bennett the
fact was brought out that the interior
department had employed two of its
special agents on detective work." in
an effort to connect forest service Of
ficials with the preparation of the
CLAWS affidavit, and to trace motives of
other critics.
A conversation f. T. Perkins claimed
to have had in Chicago October 30 with
f. H. Newell, director of the reclama-
tiOn service, whom, it has been alleged,
Secretary Ballinger intended to sup
plant with r. H. Thompson of Seattle
was the most interesting feature of
Perkins testimony. Perkins detailed it
as follows:
You should not try to vindicate Bal
linger in the Black Tent matter"
Newell said. II want to make Bal
linger the goat.
You can't do it," Perkins replied
Hes too big a man."