The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-16

den. said it was based on conversa-
tion with the people of that place. He
declared that all information he had
gotten was obtained from Birmingham,
Montgomery and Mobile newspapers
Asked If he could point to thing in
these papers as a basis for his editorial,
he replied that he could not name any
pers leading him to believe that the
investigation was whtewash
Il simply said that a great mary
people of north Alabama are not sat
sfied with the findings OF this board,''
declared witness.
Then would it not be proper to say
asked Major Steiner, that all people
who have any information to give us,
are failing to do their duty If they de-
liberately refuse to aid lis in this in
vestigation?"
Witness said he thought so.
Regarding his statement that he did
not like ex parte Investigations, Mr.. Ver-
beck was asked il he did not know that
all Investigations of the kind being con-
Quoted were ex parte. He said he thought
the congressional money trust probe was
not ex parte. He WAS asked II he knew
of any witness in the convict probe who
had not been permitted to tell all he
knew.
He replied that he did not.
"Then. Mr. Verbeck, don't you know
that 1t is not fair for a newspaper TO
calunniate or treat unfairly those who
are trying to be honest?'
Had Not Been Unfair
Witness assented, but said that the
Journal had not been unfair, and, there
ment or correction.
He could not say who he referred to
when he said in his editorial indications
point to another whitewash in Montgom-
cry this week" He persistently refused
to furnish names of persons who had
given him rumors.
DO you know. Mr. verbeck. that II
everybody in Alabama had been as loath
to give this board of inquiry informa-
ton as you have been that we would
have learned very little from this pres
ent Investigations" he was asked.
witness denied that persons who had
heard rumors and refused to give the
source from which the rumors emanated
were aiding in making the investigation
q failure.
Major Steiner's Question
Now, Mr. Verbeck," said Major Steiner,
I'VE think we owe the editors of the
state the privilege of telling this board
all they know concerning the convict
department, and the editors owe 1t to the
people to give them an honest and un-
biased account of the character of the
investigation we are conducting. We
want you to feel free to tell us all you
know, and we want you to be able to
go home and publish in the Gadsden
Evening Journal your reception at the
hands of the investigating committee,
and to tell them that we gave you the
opportunity to tell us whatever informa-
ton you knew or had heard relative
to the management of the convict depart
ment or of any official thereof"
Discussing the editorial, Mr. Verbeck
said that the only criticism intended was
that the investigation should be conduct
ed by legislative committee He said
the editorial was not a political one. He
did not believe that the governor domi-
mated the board of inquiry. he said.
Examiner Brooke asked Mr. yerbeck.
when the witness had repeatedly refused
to give any information he possessed: !:
do you mean to tell us, Mr.. Verbeck.
that you. as an honorable citizen, with
the interest of the state at heart, have
come down here to tell us that you re-
fuse to give us information that might aid
us to throw additional light upon the
convict department.
Witness said he must under the posi-
ton he had taken. He was then dis
missed
DIR. Rogers Tells of Check
Another witness of the morning was
DR.. W. T. Rogers of Andalusia. DR.. Rog-
ers testified that he had lived at Anda-
lusia five years. He said he moved there
from Brantley and applied for the posi-
ton of resident physician at the Hen
derson Lumber company at Sanford. APP
plication was made to Oakley.
Oakley was informed that DR.. Rogers
supported the present administration, and
told Rogers to go home. that he desired
no further information. Oakley assured
him of the appointment, but witness did
not get 1t.
Witness said he was informed that a
check passed from j. d. Henderson to
John Gamble In the Exchange hotel lob
by the day he left Montgomery. The
check was for $500. and witness said he
understood through Leon McCord that
1t was divided between Oakley and John
Gamble. Witness said the check was