The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-09
TRICKY RASCAL cOnFESSES.
DAVID LAMAR, WALL STREET
OPERATOR POSED AS MEM.
BER OF CONGRESS.
Efforts to Secure Place for Friend
Also Made i'm Name Of McCombs and
Othcrs-Perpetrator Of Whole Se-
rious Hoax Seems to- Enjoy his No.
toriety.


public men and organized effort to
influence Wall street financiers, prob
ably without parallel in the history
OF congressional investigation, was
unfolded today before the senate lob
by committee.
A prosperous looking, self possess
ed individual. calling himself David
Lamar Of New York. self described as
an operator In stocks and admitted
iy the bearer OF several assumed
names, was the principal in the re-
markable session. With entire aban-
don. arousing the committee To laugh
Fer at times by his naive admissions,
he told of his impersonations, his
participation I'm attempts To influence
Wall street operations and his asso-
citation with Edward Iauterbach,
New York lawyer. i'm efforts to have
Lauterbach retained b. the Morgan
firm. the Union Pacific and other
great interests to head off congress
sionai activity In Washington.
He telephoned to financial men and
lawyers in the names of Represents
tive Palmer and Representative
Riordan. He assumed the guise of
Chairman McCombs OF the Demo
cratic national committee to tele-
phone to Chairman Hilles Of the Re-
publican national committee.
Lewis Cass Ledyard OF New York,
for the Morgan firm. was one of his
attempted victims.
stand today armed with almost
veberatim account OF all the conversa-
tions held with Lamar. who had rep
resented himself as Congressman Pal.
mer. As ne read the record OF the
conversations. themselves unusual
In their tone. Lamar sitting nearby
laughed and nodded. saying. That's
right" and slapped his leg with ap-
parent enjoyment. -
The purpose OF his impersonations,
Lamar contended. was to secure rein
statement for his friend Lauterbach
In the good graces OF the Morgan
firm. Members OF the committee to-
night demanded that Lamar remain
In Washington for temperance to-
morrow.
Edward Lauterbach. who recently
testified before the committee, was re-
called from. New York by telegraph
tonight and Henry B. Martin, n local
man who has figured as head OF the
Antitrust league" was also sub
poenaed to appear
Lamar declared ne prepared the
resolution for the Stanley investiga-
tion Of the steel trust; that Il was
given 10 Martin. who gave 1t to Con-
gresham Stanley. Subsequently, he
said, II was introduced in the house
by Mr.. Stanley with but few tech
meal changes" from its original form
Lamar denied that there had been
any attempt at extortion of money
from any OF the New York financial
men. The story evolved during the
day mainly through the Ledyard tes-
timony, indicated that the latter had
been To various members Of the Nor
gan firm to tell Of the steel trust"
n
had prepared. but that none of the
Morgan firm members would pay any
attention To the matter or make any
effort To stop IL.
Lamar paved the way for Lauter-
bach TO call upon Ledyard, accord
Ing To testimony given by Ledyard
and corroborated by Lamar. In an
interview February 8. 1913. between
Ledyard and Lauterbach. the latter
Stone. who represented Speaker
Clark. and that ne had a proposal to
make To the Morgan interests for the
heading of of congressional activity
against the steel corporation.
Senator Stone took the stand be
fore Ledyard had finished and de
nounced the whole thing as "a ma
liciOus fabrication" and common
lie"
Members Of the senate committee |
agreed iu the belief that II was a
and Lamar laughingly |
clinched the matter by breaking in |
and admitting there was no truth IN |
the allegations. lie admitted that he |
had prepared To outline Of the CON
ditions that should bc submitted To
the steel corporation attorney; but |
Ne could give no explanation of his
purpose. except that the whole thing |
was farce.
The story Of how I.edyard had kept !