The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-01
Letter Written DR.. Rogers
Read Before Convict In
quiry Yesterday
CHARGES GOVERNOR
CONTROLS THE PRESS
Letter Denying His Evidence Conflict
ed With That of Rogers in $500
Check Transaction Furnishes
Sensation Yesterday

Montgomery, April 80. - (speeial)-
Charging that the newspapers had not
published full and true account of his
testimony on the witness stand in the
convict department probe several weeks
ago, and that Governor O'Neal had had
| his testimony suppressed, Leon McCord
| associate member of the state railroad
commission, wrote a. letter to DIR. W. T.
Rogers of Andalusia in which he denied
that his evidence was in conflict with that
of DR.. Rogers regarding a $500 check
transaction. which resulted in defeating
DR.. Rogers for the office of physician at
the Henderson Lumber company camp
at Sanford.
Mr.. McCord's letter was read ON the
witness stand in the convict department
probe this morning by DIR. w. r Rogers,
Immediately after the investigation was
The letter from McCord to DR. Rogers
furnished the most sensational develop
ment in the convict department investi-
cation in several weeks. In his letter
Mr.. McCord charged the press with sup
pressing his testimony; declared that
| Governor O'Neal controlled the papers,
and that the governors action in the
matter was nothing more than "a move
to try and ruin me-"
Mr.. McCord claimed in his letter that
he did not deny while on the witness
,, stand that he knew nothing of the. pass
ing of check, signed by j. d. Hender-
son, from John Gamble to James c.
Oakley. Referring to the files of several
| newspapers pdblished on that day. these
papers show that Mr.. McCord did deny
Il knowledge of the transaction.
In his first testimony before the in
estigating committee several weeks ago,
or. Rogers told of a $500 check which
lad passed between Gamble and Oakley,
stating that he had been informed that
this check had defeated him for the office
: Of physician at the Sanford camp. Dr.
Rogers said at that time that Leon Nc
Cord had told him of the check transac-
ton.
Mr. McCord was Immediately sum
moned to testify before the probing COM
mittee, and the witness testified that he
knew nothing of the check, though he
declared in his letter to DR.. Rogers fol-
lowing the latters testimony, that he
did not deny any knowledge of the check.
MCord Goes Fishing
As soon as it became known that
DR. Rogers had received letter from
Mr.. McCord which he wished to read
c n the stand when the investigation
was resumed Wednesday, H. Y Brooke
examiner of public accounts, immed.-
ately issued a subpoena ordering Nc
Cord to appear as a witness. The no.
III Horace Hood Tuesday and the sub
poena was shown in the investigation
Wednesday with McCord's signature at
tached to it.
Inquiries as to the whereabouts of
Mr.. McCord brought out the informa-
ticn that he had gone fishing, though
he had received the notice command
ing him to appear before the investi-
eating board Wednesday as witness.
In his testimony before the exam
iners today DR.. Rogers said he saw
Mr.. McCord on Tuesday and that he
sold him he was gong to read his (Afc-
Cords) letter. Witness said that Nc
| Cord told him that it would be all right
Il told him if the press had mis-
lepreseDted him that today was the
time for him to Vindicate himself"
said DR.. Rogers, in speaking of Nc
Cord
DR. Rogers then read the letter above
referred to. after which he told other
Tacts concerning the $500 transaction
Witness said that at the time he was
candidate for the place of convict
| physician at Sanford he was assured
by his friends that he would receive
Inc office. He testified that w. r.
Tisdsle told him that he (Tilsdale) had
/ spoken 10 Cashier L. NJ. Studstill of
the Andalusia Bank and Trust COM
pany. relative to DR.. Rogers candid
aey. Cashier Studstill told Tisdale that
he would not think Rogers had much
chance of securing the appointment If
he had seen what had passed through
his bank
According to witness, Studstil1 then
tod that a check for $500, signed hy
>. d. Henderson, had passed through
the bank. DR.. Rogers said he had been
informed that Studstilf said the check
Wis payable to P. G. Bowman of BIr-
mngham.
Witness was further questioned bv
Attorney General Brickell. after which
the probe adjourned until $40 o'clock
in the afternoon.
McCord's Letter
The following is copy of Leon Nc
Cords letter to Dr. Rogers:
Il am in receipt of your letter for which
! thank you. l will come to Red Level
Just as soon as l can get away from the
railroad commission. and win let YOU
know when TO expect me-
From the newspaper reports of your
testimony and mine before the board one
would conclude that mine was a contra
dietion of yours and yet this is not the
case, as l stated on the stand why !
had supported you and what checks l
had heard talked about but the paper lid
not give this out since 1t did not help
Governor O'Neal. 1t was another move
on the part of the governor, who con-
trolls the press, to try and ruin me. and if
l had only been permitted TO have had
talk with you before / went ON the stand
would have compelled the newspapers
to give TO the public the real reason why
you were not appointed and to which po-
sition you were entitled by all ahe rules of
friendship.
Nov, DR.. Rogers, you have been my
friend, and | believe you are my friend,
and ! know l am yours and shall always
you for the loyal way in which you
ypuss' me. | do not want you to have
emo 'nkud ialrght of me. L do not be-
teNa He yV1 and L know you will
Qt sag Fa3d entire evidence
pe- r ntA IN me when l
as ~ I'D, my partner