Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-06
HER FOR
L0R|MER INQUIRY
TURNS WITNESS
DECLARES NOTES READ
TO COMMITTEE FORGED
Shorthand Expert Loses His
Position and Stands in Dan
ger of Punishment For Con-
tempt of Senate,

nv Morning journal Special Leased wireI
Washington. Feb. 5.-DisCharC@d
as official stenographer of the senat"
Lofimer committee and awaiting fur
ther possible punishment for alleged
contempt, Milton w. Blumenberg to-
day took the witness stand before the
committee to tell why he branded as
manufactured" the stenographic re-
port of j. +. Sheridan Of alleged
phonograph admissions by Charles Nc
Gowan.
Statements made Saturday night be
fore the committee that notes were
TAXED We're repeated under oath.
The tense situation into which the in
vestifgation unexpectedly has shunted
resulted in sharp passages between
counsel and members of the commit
tee.
Blumenbers's discharge came after
his refusal to explain his conduct Sat
urday in ordering his stenographers
to Quit reporting proceedings. Reso-
lutions were adopted looking to his
punishment for alleged contempt and
the committee attorneys began a
search for precedents to bring Blu
menberg before the bar of the SEN
ate.
The testimony of J. +. sheridan, the
year, old stenographer of the Burns
detective agency then was complet-
ed. The witness declared his notes
were genuine lie reiterated that n
had not attempted to report all that
came over the phonogra phic apparat-
as from the room in which detectives
were talking To MoGowan but that he
took only what he deemed material.
\ Willingness to submit to any test
of speed was expressed. His now ia
nous note book was turned over to
the committee.
Blumenberg told how he "examln-
ed' Sheridans testimony as to his
Qualifications ana how he watched
over his shoulder as he read his notes
IN thc Witness stand
Then followed storm Of questions
from members of the committe as 20
talks with Edward
Hines.
McGowan's alleged confessions in
vOlVc c. f. Wiche. brother -in-law of
Edward Hines. Blumenberg said he
could not remem ber whether Hines
was in group near the door after
he Saturday afternoon session when
he pronounced the notes as absolute
Y manufactured
The witness was asked what he said
% Hines at the evening session just
before he made his statement before
he committee.
s...f. I'll.
he response.
why did you sit down beside him ."
pursued Senator Lee.
II probably wanted to cali his at
ention to the fabrication"
why didn't you tell members of ,
he committee: YOU were in its cm- |
,loy?'
Il didn't sec any"
oh, you know three members
we're as near YOU as was Hines. That !
lind of an answer won't do"
1T must do; | can't give any good /
casOn."
The committee demanded of Blu
nenberg the technical reasons for his
pinions as to the notes He said
lis experience of years led him to thlt
ilhfabitiA III lilf lll0l Didtts he Htlts
ong hand had been interspersed in
he notes. lie counted five places
where the word "wc" was written in
pns hand. No one can take down "A
Of three men and put
in long hand" he explained.
In conversation, he said. a man
'ould start to say q thing and then
hange the expression. No such cor
cctions were To be found i'm tho notes
g testified. lie declared it imp H-
ible fer stenogra pher To pick o1t
ust the material part Of a cOnscrNa-l
on because while he was determining 3
'hether II was material the words
'ould be gone.
The committee has summoned sew
raj stenographers To testify and is
tests to determine the is
ne. Blumenbergs examination will ,
e continued tomorrow.