The Washington times., 1911-07-24
LIE PASSES At HOT
COLLISION Of THE
TWO W|CKERSHAMS
Attorney General Accuses
Alaskan Delegate of Max
ing False Charges.
CONTINUED from First Page)


Alaska delegate. who has made
charges against eerybody from Senator
Nelson down who opposes him. l say
that the charges he makes against me
are false, and l want him to proc them
or withdraw them"
And 1 say they are true and ! will
prove them. I'll make good" hotly re-
torted Delegate WICkersham.
DO 1t them" said Attorney General
Wickersham. farmly. Il know your
charges are false and want to know
upon what you base them"
II accept the challenge and am not
here to back down. said Delegate
Wickersham. I'll be back here Non
day and maybe a few days sooner
IAN right" said Attorney Wicker
"All right then" retOrted Delegate
Wickersham. likewise angry.
Secret Session.
Then the committee went into execu-
tive session to consider some documents
left with the committee by the Attorney
General. The Attorney General. refer
ring to the Wickersham charges and
the Douglas affidavit, said that he had
found that the statute of limitations
had not completely run against the al
legged coal conspirators, as at first
thought by the Department Of Justice.
There is yet an opportunity to prose
cute, he said, If conspiracy can be
shown, and if II developed that the
Sesnor Coal Company and the North
western Commercial Company, through
their agents, made fake bids and divided
the profits between them growing out OF
the sale to the army in Alaska of Goal
delivered at excess rates.
81 would not appear here in re-
gard to the resolution Of inquiry said
the Attorney General, IF the Alaskan
Delegate. James Wickersham, had not
accused me in his testimony of de
liberately shielding Alaska criminals
The Changes Submitted.
A subcommittee of the judiciary Com
mittee recently ordered favorable re-
port on the resolution which demands
an explanation from the Attorney Gen.
eral The latter asked the privilege
of a hearing before the full committee.
which was granted today.
In his charges against the Attorney
General Delegate Wickersham (of the
same name), declared that in May, 1910.
he had furnished the Department of
Justice with an affidavit by H. J.
Douglass, a former auditor of the
Alaska syndicate, who alleged that the
Government had been defrauded ,by
fake" bids on coal needed by the
army in Alaska. The coal companies,
II was alleged, cOnSplreQ TO COHDlne ana
flch the Government. According to
the Delegate, more than $4,000 was lost
by the military Establishment in the
"In June of last year 1 sent Stuart
Mcnamara. Special Assistant Attorney
to Alaska to investigate
these charges" said the Attorney
"It was charged that the bidders had
made an affidavit that they represent
ID only themselves in bidding on these
no one else was in
terested.
Mr.. Mcnamara found that the bid |
iers had made no such claim to the |
luartermaster general and, further, |
know of no law that compelled the |
coal bidders to make such an oath. |
The bids on file with the War De-
oartment show no such claims, nor |
ire they required.
That knocked out the possible az
ion against any one for-perjury."
Attorney General Wickersham then |
-ead a part of McNamara's report in |
which the special investigator had |
ooked into additional charges-that |
Jurors had been bribed by Alaska |
syndicate agents in the Hazey murder |
,ase.
Claims Evidence Lacking.
Mcnamara reported that an agent |
'or the syndicate had spent consid
.rable money at Juneau. Alaska, DUR
ng the progress of the trial, but that |
le had been unable to find any evil
ience that would stand In court to
Jhow actual bribery of jurors.
Hazey was accused of shooting a laI
,orer of a rival of the Guggenheim
'ailroads. The Attorney General said
special Assistant Mcnamara had two
assistants and he believed his inves-
igation was thorough.
Mcnamara agreed that Agent Nor
.issy, of the syndicate, had spent some-
tines as high as 800 day in entertain I
nent of Witnesses during the trial, and
hat he had spent 500 for banquet to
he jury and witnesses after the trial.
Jut the Governments special agents
Said It would be difficult to find direct
evidence of bribery. -. -..-
"Mr. Mcnamara reported that he was
Unable to find evidence that would
sustain q criminal Indictment" said the