The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
BURNSTINE TELLS
OF FUND RAISED

VI OND A1lUkU
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
Michael charges as too ridiculous Z,
justify reply at this time.
burnstine was hazy as to importan
facts involved in his testimony He be
lieved that at various times he had con
tributed to Horning sums totaIing abou
500. He said he had been assessed D
per cent, and Horning and Heidenheimel
another 40 per cent each. He was al
most certain no other pawnbrokers hat
| paid anything to this fund.
rs 1t possible" asked Representative
Ferris, that with. great piece of ma.
tional legislation pending, only three mer
tribute to defeat it?'
Reply Causes Laughter.
"oh, We were not trying to defeat II, 81
replied Burnstine, for the simple rea-
son that s3,5e0 would not defeat any
piece Of legislation. If We had succeeded
in raising the $4,000 We We're trying to
get We might have defeated it"
Burnstine, soft-voiced and earnest,
seemingly failed to understand why COM
mittee and spectators burst into roar
OF laughter at this retort.
How much does IL cost to defeat a
piece of legislationg' asked Ferris.
Il don't know, sir" replied Burnstine
sadly.
when did you first become acquainted
with Representative McDermott?" asked
Representative Ferris.
About a year ago. had-wen not
exactly business transactions with him.
] cashed his checks"
Did You ever have any conversation
with him about legisation%'
"Well, only casual discussions of the
bill, such as I had with many people.
Tell us the circumstances of your first
meeting with Representative McDer-
mott, demanded Representative Cline.
why, he came to me and asked me
to cash a check for him. L had never
seen him before, but he identified himself
to my satisfaction as Representative Nc
Dermott and ] cashed the check"
DO you do that for all strangers"
well, no, but If a member of Congress
should come in and ask me to do it, and
/ could identify him, I would do II"
Had Called on NcDermott.
Subsequently Burnstine admitted that
he had known McDermott well enough
to call on him at his office more than
two years ago, or one year prior to the
time when. he testified, McDermott walk
ed in, stranger, to ask that his check
be cashed.
DO you recall that you and three or
four other pawnbrokers raised a fund
to send Horning to New York to arrange
with John McDermott for the defeat of
this legislation?"
No" replied the Witness" Horning
would tell US that he had paid out certain
sums of money in connection with this
matter and we would pay our shares. /
in fhaf
was paid Attorney Tucker for appearing
before the House District Committee, an
/ paid $3.50 again to employ Attorr ey
Davis to present our side Of the argu-
ment to President Taft last February"
When was the agreement between
YOU, Horning, and Heidenheimer to op-
pose the loan shark bill reached?" asked
Representative Russell.
During the last session of Congress
I believe. If my recollection serves RE
right it was last November"
To Mr.. Russell he admitted that he had
called on McDermott but he was remark
ably hazy on details again.
why did you go there2" asked Russell.
II don't know"
who suggested it?" >,
mo one, guess"
"oh. come. now. some one must have
suggested it"
We'll. I may have suggested il, or
Horning, or Hedenheimer. suppose
one of us said, Let's drop in and see Nc
Dermott'
when was this?"
Cannot Remember Date.
Some time last year. I cannot fix the
date definitely
''Why were all three of you together
in the House Once BuiIding?"
We'll, that was the day Mr.. Tucker
was presenting for us the agreement be-
fore the committee which had the loan
shark bill. L remember that fact, though
l cannot fix the date
We'll, the bill was reported to the
House in August. 1911, so it must have
been before then" suggested Mr. Rus
sell.
IF what you say is correct. it must
have BEEN
Did you see -McDermott?"
II don't remember. There were other
people in the Office. but 1 don't remem- !
Der whether We talked to NcDermott
or not"
Now" continued Mr.. Russell, you
said in your earlier testimony that YOU |
cashed a check for McDermott about a |
year ago; that until then you had never /
seen him. On the other hand. you now
testify that you called upon McDermott
in company with Eeidenheimer and
Horning some time prior to August |
1911"
Yes; I must have been mistaken in /
the first instance" said Burnstine.
Don't you know interrupted Chair |
man Garrett, that there never was a !
lawyer before the committee considering |
the loan shark bill. although you say |
that on the day you We're there Mr. |
Tucker presented an argument in a |
public hearing: that there never were
any public hearings, and that all Mr. |
Tucker did was to prepare and file with !
the committee a brief?'
II am giving you only my best recol- !
lection,'' replied Burnstine, wearily.
Don't you think it Is remarkable that !!
you can remember having called on Mr.. |
McDermott, but cannot recollect |
whether or not he was in his Officer"
continued Russell.
Made Casual Call.
mo: We were only dropping in
casually" c