South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-16
WANTED WITNESS TO
ASSUME ALL BLAME
Agreed to Pay Him 500 a
Month if They Sent Him to
Arkansas For Either Perjury
or Forgery.


dramatic statement, I. II. McMichael
dismissed Chief Page of the house
representatives Friday night, present
ed to the house lobby investigating
committee a sweeping charge Of cor
ruptiOn against Rep. James +. Nc
DermOtt OF Illinois, for years his
sponsor.
With intense earnestness. McMich-
ael. in picturesque language, cor
rOborated the allegations Of NJ. NJ.
Mulhall, against McDermOtt and made
additional charges. at times shocking
the committee and spectators with
Outbursts Of profanity and slang.
The witness protested that for years
he had eXerted every effort TO support
McDermott. had loaned him money,
had helped him in his campaigns.
Now. he said. McDermott had
thrown him down" and he felt that
nc must tell the truth.
in addition 70 the charges already
made McMichaeI swOre that the Chi
cagO representative told him that he
received 1900 out of fund Of $4,000
raised by the pawnbrokers of Wash
ington 10 oppose a bill passed in the
last congress regulating interest rates
in the District OF Columbia. In this
connection McMichaels told Of a trip
10 New York when McDermOtt con-
ferred with John McDermOtt of an
Geore II. Horning, local pawn
broker.
NcDermott Worried.
Concluding his testimony, McMich-
ael testified that MCDermOtt, since the
Alulhall expose. had endeavored To
get him TO conceal McDermotts part
in the transaction.
Il met McDermott in the hall OF
this office building" said McMichael,
his voice unsteady with emotion, "and
he said. My God I'm a ruined man.
What am L going to do? Do you
suppose anybody will believe this old
guy? "I said TO him, I've worked
hard for you six years. harder than L
ever worked for any man. / tried TO
elevate you and help you 10 big
position
Il told him I had done all I could
for him. He said. you've got nothing
To lose. You don't live with your
wife. I'm congressman and I've got
a wife and children. Say you wrote
these letters unbeknOwnst To me, and
that 1 did not know anything about II.
Even If they prove that you commit
ted perjury and forgery they can
only send you down the river TO
Arkansas for two years and I'll pay
you $1O0 a month while you are
there.
Refused the Offer.
II said 10 him. Yes, you're willing
for you but you won't pay the wages
YOU honestly owe me. I've got II in
my pocket That's all I've got 10
show for six years work but l won't
do this for YOU
Apparently struggling TO control
himself. McNIichael told the commit
tee of furnishing $75 10 take Mulhall
10 Chicago 10 aid McDermOtt in the
1912 campaign. =
Where did YOU get that money!"
asked Rep. Garrett. My mother had
lust died" said McNichael, "and
was executor for my mothers estate.
The money was in a bank here to
the credit of the estate and / gave
Nulhall a check for il. had to
hustle to put il back. never got
any OF ii from McDermOtt."
Mr. McMichael told at length Of
making trips 10 various pawnbrokers
in Washington To secure money either
for McDermott or himself.
'NiCDermott told me-" he said.
that the pawnbrokers had raised
$4,000 20 fight the loan shark bill
and later he told me he got $500 of
IT, When I asked him why he did not
pay me what he owed me with part
OF it. he said. my God. man. I had to
pay il ON debts and still owe
$1,000"
MCDCrmOtt Hears Story.
Throughout McMichaeTs recital.
hep. Mcllernl1tt with mis- counsel sat
Immediately opposite the witness.
chewing on a cigar and watching his
eTstwhile confidential man with a
steady gaze. He expressed neither
surprise nor Indignation at any point
IA the complicated story.
4 story OF how lobby work for the
National Association OF Manufactur-
ers was done from the inside Of the
house Of representatives, was related
10 the house Investigating committee
Friday by J. r. McMichael, former
chief page Of the house Nattily at
tired in summery outfit OF blue and
white serge, McMichaeI blew ciouds
OF smoke in the faces Of the mem hers
Of the committee from the witness
chair while ne dfscoursed in vivid and
picturesque language.
ON the Pay Roll,
From the fall OF 1909 until Janu-
ary 1912, McMichael said. he was al
most constantly on the pay rool Of
Martin NJ. Mulhall. the National As
sociatiOu OF Manufacturers field
agent az $50 a month. while he was
successfully dem mocratic chief page OF
the house. attendant in the house
press gallery and elevator conductor
in the capitol He told OF introduc-
ing Mulhall 20 Rep. James r. Nc
Dermott Of Illinois FOR whom he
worked as a kind OF secretary, and
said that McDermott worked with