The Washington times., 1910-05-20
BALLINGER DEFENSE
ENDS UNEXPECTEDLY
Secretary's Attorneys An
nounce They Rest Case
on Evidence Now In.

With the submission OF papers tending
10 show that Lonis r. CLAWS used in
formation gained as a Government agent
TO speculate in lsnd, Attorney Vertrees,
representing Secretary BaIlinger in the
I;aIlinger- Pincnot inquiry. announced
today that the defense would rest its
case rs
The statement of Attorney Vertrees
came TO the members Of the investigat-
ing committee, and those in the commit
tee room who have been following the
case, as a complete surprise, as every
body had anticipated an indefinite drag
gins along of the ease.
Hearings to Close Soon.
This action by the Ballinger side OF
the controversy is taken TO mean that
the bearings VIII be brought to a speedy
close although an early announcement OF
the investigating committees finding is
not anticipated.
1t is thought probable that the decision
will be withheld until after the Congress
sional elections
Vote to 5 Predicted
The twelve Congressional jurors in
the Balhnger-Pinchot "triav' will vote
rotary of the Interior BsIlinger, is the
prediction Of those who have been fol-
loving the case carefully
II is considered probable in view OF
the fact that the case will close by the
end of next week. that Senator Root
VIII cast his vote, although having left
Washington yesterday Undoubtedly
the minority will protest against this
move but It is equally certain that
they will be Outvoted by the majority.
Representative Madison, the Repub-
ncan insurgent from Kansas, il is be-
Aeved. will write the opinion for the
minority-that is, Senators Fletcher and
Purcell, and Representatives James and
Graham, all Democrats.
There is the remote possibility. how
ever, that Representative Graham. VINO
is best fitted of all the Democrats, will
write an extremely partisan and drastic
opinion against Baliinger. which will
represent the sentiment of those of
his party. and Representative Madison
may write a separate opinion against
the Secretary.
Documents TO Be Added
Al the beginning OF the morning ses-
sion TODAY Attorney Vertrees submitted
q list Of papers which he wished added
ments between Louis r. Claws ami W
W. Barr. land Spectator or Seattle.
Wash. who testified for the prosecution
The agreement shows according to
Nertrees, that CLAWS had pecuniary
interest IN securing timber lands from
the Government Nertrces argues that
CLAWS in this transaction used knoUl-
edge ohtained by him under the Govern
ments employ.
-Vertrees aiso added to the record por-
.aFF H.
OF the Cunningham coal land cases he
fore " J MCGEE. OF the Bureau of Soils
OF the Agricultural Department
Papers Against Claws.
This testimony. Vertrees says. proves
that Claws and Special Agent T. II.
Jones knew shat there was nothing in
the Gugsenheim matter when they were
taking the affidavit Of the Cunningham
claimants" that CLAWS and Jones de-
hberately deceived the Cunningham
claimants. and that the facts I'm the
Cunningham affidavit prepared by Sec
retary Ballinger are true tO-wit that
there was no agreement between the
GuSSenhelmS and the CunninghaTns
ham claims.
Spaulding Contradicts Christensen.
Nertrees then announced to the com
mittee that he had completed his case
Brandeis then called Frank l. Spauld-
ing, formerly a stenOgrapher I'm the Of
fee of CLAWS when he was chief OF the
field service a Seattle, Wash
Spaulding went on record as absolute
~ refuting portion OF the testimony OF
A Christensen. the field agent who
succeeded CLAWS as head Of the Seattle
division
Upon this stanJ Christensen swore
that so far as he knew he never had
any conversation with Spaulding and as
TO certain Of the latter's notebooks, that
he (Christensen) had never been inside
the storage room OF the Federal build
ing and had never seen Claws effects.
Spaulding SwOre mat theer was q
conversation shortly after CLAWS dis
miSsal. when Christensen was search
ing for notebook of Spaulding's. con-
tanning notes of letters dictated by
Commissioner Der nett, copies Of which
Spaulding had furnished CLAWS.
The witness declared that Chrlsten-
sen had accompanied him TO the stor-
age room and on Seeing a lot OF boxes
had asked Sapnlding 10 whom they
belonged.
the witness said he told Christen-
sen that the boxes and personal effects
belonged TO CLAWS
Each side will be allowed five hours
for argument on Friday and Saturday
OF next week Attorneys Brandeis
and Pepper, representing L. r. CLAWS
and Clifford Pinchot. respectively, will
divide the time allotted the 'prosecu-
ton"
1t Is expected that Attorney Yer
trees viii take the entire five hours
for the defense"
The attorneys must file their briefs
within fifteen days after the close OF
the argument
Adjournment was taken until next
Friday.