Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-06
Will Follow Cross.Examination
of BIumenberg.
LATTER ON THE STAND
Questioned a. to Statement That
Sheridan's Notes Were Faxed,
NO DIsREsPECT WAS INTENDED
Refuses to Express Regret for Sat-
urday Nights Action-Tells
Of Experience.

A contest Of expert stenographers was
in prospect as the feature Of the Lorimer
senatorial investigation today.
Attorneys announced that after they
finished cross-examining Milton Blumen-
berg, the discharged Official reporter of
the inquiry. they would call other expert
stenographers to test Blumenbergs SEN
sational charge that the shorthand notes
Of AN alleged Admission" of bribery.
said to have been made oy Charles Me-
Gowan, a Hines-Lorimer witness. had
been faxed by a acknowledgements
While Blumenberg is being held as a
witness for the committee he is under
charges Of contempt. no disposition OF
which has been made.
Attorney w. ]. Hynes, representing Ed
ward Hines, was unable to attend today's
session. Attorney Hanecy. associate
counsel announced that Attorney Hynes
was suffering from his foot and might be
compelled to submit to an operation.
Attorney Healey led Blumenberg to say
that he was not familiar with the con-
ditions under which Sheridan made the
notes. In order to form an opinion as
to the genuineness OF the notes. he
said. 1t was not necessary to know the
conditions.
Couldn't Sheridan have taken down
short. explosive remarks in longhand!
asked Attorney Healy.
Yes. but his report would be Of no
value
Senator Lea asked why Blumenberg
wanted further time to examine the
notes when he was convinced Saturday
night that they were manufactured
The witness said in order to find reasons
that would convince a laynan. Their
general appearance had been enough to
convince him as an expert. he said.
Blumenberg declared that he was not
suffering Saturday from nervous break
down. and any one who spread such a re-
por was not his friend. He denied he
had overworked. and when 1t was sug-
gested he worked at night until 2 or
o'clock in the morning, only to be UP
again at s a. m, he said 1T had no effect
on his ply steal condition.
Denies He Was Intoxicated.
He denied he was intoxicated Saturday
night, saying he had taken no more than
usual. such as four or five drinks Of
whisky.
Time and again he refused to say
whether he regretted his action Saturday
night. He said he already had declined
to make a statement
II was just hoping we could find some
excuse" explained Senator Jones.
Don't you realize you were in a highly
excited, hysterical state?" asked Attorney
Healy.
mo, SIR
Finally, as Blumenberg was finishing
his direct examination. Chairman Dilling-
ham. in a fatherly way. once again asked
Blumenberg II he meant any disrespect to
any members Of the committee Saturday
might.
"Why. 1 have the most profound re-
spect for every member of the commit
tee" was the reply.
And If You said anything Saturday
night that might have been taken as an
offense 1T was unintended?" asked Sem
ator Gamble.
Absolutely so.''
In cross-examination Blumenberg said
he had reported everything from a death
declaration on the gallows to opinions in
the Supreme Court Of the United States.
last three democratic national conven-
tons.
did you think it was a crime to sit
down at - public hearing beside Mr.. Ed
ward Hines?. asked Attorney Hanecy.
II did not
did you think your action would be
criticised?''
Not by a reasonable person"
Notes Made at Leisure.
Again the witness reiterated that in his
opinion Sheridan's notes were made at
leisure. He added they were "amateurish
looked like five-year-old child trying
to write.'
H. H. Pechin, a local commercial short
hand reporter, working largely on con-
gressional hearings. next testified. After
Attorney Hanecy described the conditions
under which Sheridan worked Pechin
said:
These notes were written slowly, all of
them. OF course, l cannot say where
they were written. a man might have
written them with something over his
ear and in another room If he was thor
oughly familiar with the subject and
knew what they were talking about and
what he wanted to put down. He could
have written slowly without much regard
to what was said, but 1t would have been
impossible for even an experienced re-
porter to have gotten exactly what was
said and have gotten such q transcript as
this
The characters were described as
drawn rather than written free hand"
and as too uniform. At no place was
there any evidence of speed, it was said
He pointed to one paragraph of eighty
nine consecutive words. The speaker was
quoting another man and the witness said
must have spoken fast. yet the notes
showed no more speed than other por-
designated the speakers by numbers. He
declared it was remarkable that not q
single mistake was made In numbering
the speakers.
..It took me two weeks to distinguish
the voices of the members of this COM
mittee." said the witness.
Calls Notes "Faked."
Taking the witness stand yesterday aft
ernoon, shortly after his discharge as the
official stenographer Of the committee had
been announced, Mr.. Blumbenberg testi-
fled under oath that the stenographic
notes Of J. E. Sheridan. Of the alleged
photograph admissions Of Charles Nc
Gowan, were TAXED" and ''manufac-
tured."
Mr.. Blumenberg was asked what he had
said to Edward Hines just before &c
made his sensational statement Satur--
day night
Il haven't the remotest idea he re-
piled.
why did you sit beside him. Senator
Lea asked.
Il probably wanted to direct his atten-
ton to the fabrication the witness an
swered.
why didn't you tell members Of the
You were in its employ
II didn't see any,
.'Oh, you know three members of the
committee were as near TO you as Mr..
Hines. That kind OF an answer won't
do"
TT must do. I can't give any good
reason
In reply to a question by Senator Kern,
the witness admitted that he had handed a
note to Attorney Hanecy at lunch time
A.