The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-26
BUNCOED IN LORIMER CASE
ENRON or CHiCAGO "TRIBt Ne"
TELLS or SMALL SWINDLE.
lie raid George CLAWS $3.50 for Books
ShOwink Alleged Cuipability OF Lori.
mcr In LObbyinx Transactions Then
lie Couldn't Get the Needed Books.

lie Couldn't Get the Needed Books.
general manager and editor Of the Chicago
Tribune. to-day told the members of the
Senate committee investi eating the cleo
ticn of Senator Lorirher of Illinois that
the Tribune had been "defrauded" out OF
$3.50 by George o. CLAWS. a brother of
Louis Il CLAWS. formerly field agent Of
the General Land Office at Seattle. Wash.
and one of the chief witnesses in the Bal
linger-Pinchot row
Mr.. keeley. who was crosse xamined
by Judge f. G.. Hanccy. counsel for Sena-
tor Lorimer, said that CLAWS came to him
and told him re thought he could pur-
chase the books Of firm of lobbyists
which. CLAWS said. would show that
Senator Lorimer while member Of the
House of Representatives received 25
per cent Of a s.. 600 fee for hs services
before the Post Ofyice Department i'm OBJ
tanning the privilege Of the second class
postal rates for the FUeproot Magazine. a
Chicago publication CLAWS also told
Mr. keeley. the latter said that S-Repre-
sentative James A. Tawney Of Minnesota
also was mixed up in the transaction.
Mr. kceley said hc advanced CLAWS
500 to pay the expenses OF finding the
documents Later. MIR. keeley testified
CLAWS informed him he had purchased
them for the Tribune and the sum of $3.50
was then paid to Mr.. CLAWS. But when
Mr. Keeley demanded the papers he could
not get them and then swore out a warrant
for Glavis's arrest for embez2lement
CLAWS was arrested in Chicago and
brought to Washington for trial.
when CLAWS came 10 me-" continued
Mr. keeley. Il questioned him persi-,ently
about the existence of these documents.
He said that he had known that they
were in existence about a year and he
thought he could locate them. He said
he could get them from the wife of one
Of the former members Of the firm. who
suffered from tuberculosis and had gone
West for his health | told him to buy
them and gave him 500 To nay the cx-
penses of his trip from Chicago to Wash
ington. Later he reported he h,d made
the purchase and had turned the papers
over TO his brother. Ed CLAWS. for index
ing. | had an interview with Ed CLAWS.
who said he mad not received any papers
from his brother George and did not
know anything about them. later Claws
offered to return the money the Tribune
had advanced him if We would agree
not to arrest him.
what did you want with these books
and pa pers?" asked Judge Hanscy.
intended to lnvestig ;te their accu-
rscy." replied Mr.. keeley.. IF they
showed evidence Of crime intended
to lay them before the District Attorney.
and IL they showed that Senator Loriner
had been involved rs Glvis charged
] intended to lay them before this corr
mittec which is investigating Mr. Lori
mcr's election. Later. nt the proper
time intended to print the story"
DO you know the name Of the firm of
lobbyists whose books were to le pur-
chased by Gl,vis:" inquired Judge
Hanecy.
CLAWS said il was the firm Of Street
4 Smith in the receipt which he signed
when we CAV" hlr the money. answered
Mr. keeley lhat II apparently q
fictitious name | think We were gold
bricked. hut something has heprc,"d
since | came 10 Washington >whicli has
made M chang" my mind bit. CLAWS
WIS too smart tor M"
Mr. keeiey's story of how the Trihgnr
he'd been "stung' wSs Pmusing To III"
members Of the committee Judge
Hanecy and Senator Lorim"r. who was
listening 10 IN" testimony, also laughed
at several features OF tn" story Mr..
haeley AZ times lOlned IN me Laughter.
Mr. keeley did not explain the occur
renee which ne said recently happened
in Washington which made him think he
| had not been gold briCked
\, the afternoon session Judge Hanecy
| spent several hours IN vigorously cross
examining Mr. keeley Considerable
| time was devoted to the activities Of re-
porters Of the Tr,hunc whom Mr.
keeley sent out TO investiga," he con-
fession of harles i White a DemoCratic ic
member of the Assembly printed in the
| i,i' Wre of April 81. 1910, in which White
admitted having received money To otc
| for Lorl,ner
You sent reporters and detectives out
to corroborste the White confession, did
you mott" asked Judge Hanccy
No" replied Mr. keeley. we wished
to Investigate il, to verify its accuracy
or to prove lis talsity"