Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-17
FORCED
TOADM||T ERROR
|NTESI|M0Ny
Lorimer Case Witness Con-
fronted With Hotel Regis
ter That Shows He Had
Sworn to Misstatenlent.

Chicago, Oct. 16.-Members of the
Lorimer Investigation committee OF
the United States senate today estab
lished that William G. Blair, former
state representative. was in Olpey
ILL.,, the home Of Thomas Tippit, July
10, 1909, at a time when Blair previ
ously before the committee had sworn
that he was at Mount Vernon, III
Liars presence in Olney at that date
was confirmed by the register OF the
National hotel. Blair was shown the
register and admitted his signature.
"Why are you so surprised and
startled?" asked Senator Lea
well, was certain until now that
1 was not In Olney at that date" re-
piled Blair.
Before this announcement 1t had
been shown that Blair was from $500
to $4,000 in debt for the campaign
when he entered the legislature; that
he drew all OF his legislative salary Of
$4,000 before Feb. 19, 1909; that he
was "broke" near the end Of the legis-
lative session in May. and two months
later he had $1,100 in one hundred dol
lar bills in his possession.
Blair had remained In the CUSTODY
Of friend sworn in as deputy SER
geant at arms since Saturday. He ls
the first OF the intimate friends OF
Representative Tippit, who was the
leader Of one democratic faction In the
legislature, to be called before the
committee.
One Of the witnesses previously
heard has stated that Blair exhibited
large amount of money after a visit
to Olney, where, it is thought, he met
Mr.. yTippit. The latter is to be called
before the committee to explain some
Of the details Of the supposed visit.
Il Former Representative William =.
Blair Of Mount Vernon was called to
the stand as the first witness OF the
day. I.
Attorney Healy examined the wit
ness regarding his professional ac-
counts and books, and asked Blair 10
forward these accounts for the year
1909 to the committee. Blair was
then interrogated in connection with
the ball game episode at Centralia, ILL.,,
In August, 1909, when it was charged
he exhibited eleven $100 bills in addi-
ton to other money.
did you go from Mount Vernon to
Centralia ?"
EYES,"
did you tell A. c. Tanner that you
came to Centralia from Olney, H., on
the day Of that ball game?"
II don't think so.'
"Had you been in Olney or Oden
since the adjournment Of the legis-
lature in 1902"
II don't think so.'
'Are you sure of that?"
'That is my best recollection
"Would you swear that you spent
the night before the Centralia ball
game at your home in Mount Yer
nom"
II am not certain"
Several members Of the committee
including Senators Kenyon, Lea and
Jones, questioned the witness closely
regarding the source of the money
which Blair exhibited at the ball
game. Witness said he saw Thomas
Tippit at the fair at Mt. Vernon before
the Centralia ball game. He was not
certain how long before that game.
He made the trip to Olney to pay
some debts he said, but could not re-
member who he paid. He said he
called at Tippit's office but he wasn't
in
Senator Jones: "Your friend, Mr..
Tanner, testified that you told him at
the ball game that you had just re-
turned from OIney where you said you
had gotten the 800 bills from a
client"
'tBlair: "That is not. true. I never