The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-27
IMPERS0NAT|NG OF
PENNSYLVANIA
CONGRESSMAN
Strange Incident Revealed by
Lobby investigation
WORKED FOR INTERESTS
Some One Imposed Upon the Credul-
ity of Lawyers Ledyard Of
New York.

WdSQlUStOU june Ais-ANSpi OSShNN
tive A. Mitchell Palmer of Pennsyl-
vania startled the Senate lobby in
vestigating committee last night by
testifying that efforts had been made
by some person, whose name he did
not give. to create the impression in
high financial circles in New York
that he, Speaker Clark, Majority
Leader Underwood and other prom
inent democrats could be Influenced
in legislative matters in way that
; would please these interests.
Mr.. Palmer swore that Lewis Cass
Ledyard, a New York attorney, had
told him of repeated telephone con-
versations with a man purporting to
be Representative Palmer of Penn
sylyania," who said that he possessed
the confidence of the leading demo-
cratic legislators. After many tele-
phone calls, Mr.. Palmer said Led
yard met Edward Lauterbach, anoth-
er New York attorney, who was sup
posed to represent the mysterious US
er of the telephone. Lauterbach, he
said, spoke of this persons influence
with high officials in Washington
and named several.
Mr. Lauterbach later took the stand
and made a statement denying that
he had ever claimed to have infu-
ence with congressman. 81 don't
know people in Washington he
said. 81 don't know any of The peo-
pie investigating things this year.
Lauterbach explained his converse
lions with Mr.. Ledyard by saying
that he had talked with him about
the alleged interest of Congressman
Riordan in his employment by the
Union Pacific railroad
Representative Palmer took the
stand at his own request. I'm view
of the turn which your investigation
has taken by reason OF Judge Low
ett's testimony" he said, 81 felt 1t
my duty to acquaint you with an ex-
perience of my own, of that kind, so
that you might have the benefit If
YOU cared to pursue this branch of
the investigation deeply. Early in
February last, while | was at my
home in Pennsylvania, | was called
to the telephone to answer what my
clerk said was a call from New York
A voice at the other end of the wire
said, This is Mr.. Ledyard.'
81 said, 'Who?'
HE said, Mr.. Ledyard'
Il told him, Spell it.
HE spelled his name and said he
was Lewis Cass Ledyard and added,
tA 60 hou
been talking with me over the tele-
phone
81 said, You are very much mistak
en-, Mr. Ledyard. / have never seen
you, have never spoken to you, d.
rectly or over the telephone, or had
any communication with you. You
will have to explain yourself little
further He then went on to say
that if that was true there was
very strange and remarkable con-
spiracy afoot, in which my name had
been used, and he then went on to
tell me what was to me a very amaz-
ing story.
HE said that he had been called
on the telephone a short time before
that by gentleman who after some
hesitation about a representative in
Congress, finally said he was Repre-
sentative Palmer of Pennsylvania,
and this person told Mr.. Ledyard
that he was in a position, by reason
of his membership in the House and
his relation with prominent members
of the House, to be of service to in
terests which Mr.. Ledyard represent
ed, even going so far as to say, as
recall it, that he thought the money
trust investigation report could be
controlled. that various Investigations
then proceeding. both in Congress
and in the courts, affecting large f.
nancial interests in New York city.
could be satisfactory adjusted and
promising most amazing results of
his efforts here in Washington"