The Washington times., 1912-04-26
FRANKLIN DENIES
TRYING TO KEEP
WITNESSES AWAY
White Star Line Official De-
clares He Summoned
Californian's Captain.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
attendance of spectators. A good many
women waited about, however. in the
expectation ]. Bruce Ismay would be
put on the stand.
Much of the testimony of Mr.. Frank
lin this morning was a weartsome repe-
uuon OF what had gone before. Only
one other member of the subcommittee,
Senator Fletcher, attended the sess on,
and listened while Senator Smith went
back over ground already traversed.
Want More Action.
Talk continues to be heard Of a de-
sire in many quarters to have the
investigation hurried to a close and
cut short. This talk is more or less
prevalent about the Senate. Some
OF the members of the Senate are
getting letters urging that the inves-
tigation be hastened. Senator Smith
says he is not reading the newspap,
and is apparently giving no attention
to what is said on the score of pro-
longing the investigation.
The mystery of the whereabouts of
the Hungarian, Louis Klein, of Cleve-
land. continues. Diligent search for
Klein has been made, but he cannot
Ernest Gill. of the Californian, was
put on the stand after Franklin. to tell
what he knew Of that vessel being close
to the Titanic and disregarding signals
Gill was the second donkey man on
the Californian. His direct testimony
ment this morning of what occurred on
the Californian at, the time of the IT,
tanic disaster, and This statement was
read by Chairman Smith.
Saw Distress Signals.
In this statement Gill said that he went
on deck of the Californian at II :56 Sun
day night. He saw a large steamer at
what he thought was distance of ten
miles. Two rows of lights were plain
ly, visible. He thought she was a Ger
man vessel. After seeing the vessel he
went below to wake his mate. Half
an hour later Gill went on deck to
smoke a cigar. He saw rockets in the
air at a distance Of less than twenty
miles, although he could not see at that
time the vessel from which these rock
cts were rising.
He said II was not his business to
report what he saw to the bridge. He
turned in and was awakened at 3:20 70
aid in preparing to assist a vessel In
distress. He said he heard other mem
the night before had been reported to
the captain and other officers and tina,
there was talk among the men as tc
Gin testified that the California shut
down her engines late Sunday might
and that she drifted until sometime
after s o'clock Monday morning be
fore the engines were started again.
He asserted in his statement that h
had no grievance against the captain
Of officers Of the California. but tina
cause he did not believe any, capital,
should be allowed to disregard signaI
fdistress and cover his actions up
After Gill had said that his swori
Spouse to a question by Senator Fletch
er that he had not yet been discharges
from the Californian.
Chairman Smith got from p. A.
Franklin a statement that every cour
tesy and consideration had been show
the officers of the White Star line b.
the committee. Franklin said that ao,,i, IL
home, but that the committee was tn
best judge of what should be done
London Newspaper Queries.
Immediately following this statemer
by Franklin, in response to reiterate
question by Senator Smith, the folio"
ing cablegram was received: CON
plants here British subjects not rt
ceiving consideration IN inquiry: dreati Az
appreciate assurances denying thi'
Signed, REYNOLDS NEWS PAPER,
London.
Chairman Smith thought that wha
Franklin had just said, was sutncler
While Franklin was on the stand Co
Archibald Oracle entered the room an
quietly took a seat directly behind II
The committee adjourned at 1:25 TIL
afternoon until o'clock
Franklin Recalled.
Vice President p. A. s. Franklin, q
the White Star line was again calle
to the stand. when the committee me
today.
Chairman Smith announced the
fourteen members of the Titanic
crew had been examined last nigh
under Individual questioning by CON
mittee members and that a dozen sti
remain thus to be disposed OF. II
said that most of the crews woul
probably be released without testify
ing in open session.
Senator Smith received a telegral
from the United states marshal 9
Boston stating Captain Stanley Lor
and Wireless Operator q. p. Evans, {
the Californian, who had been SUI
White Star line, subject to the con
Captain Lord and Evans express'
themselves willing to, to go, o, but are was, no,
ington BY the White Star line officials
the telegram read.
Franklin Explains.
Senator Smith asked Franklin regar
ing his knowledge Of the incident.
Yesterday evening"" said Frankli
II was called by telephone by John
Thomas, our Boston representative, WI
said the Californian captain and ope
ator had been subpoenaed, and ask
II their depositions could not be TAX
instead OF bringing them all the WI
to Washington, as the Californian W
due to sail today.
II asked Senator Smith, and he
sisted the men must come to Washin
ton and testify. l Immediately tel
graphed to send the Californian's m