The Washington herald., 1914-05-19
-
AMBROSE TELLS
OF FINLEY CASE
Attorney GriIled by Congress
sional Committee Probing
Wright Charges.
CROWD AT THE HEARING
Iesti6es He Told Accused Justice He
Hoped He Would Get Out" I.
All Right.
CROWD AT THE HEARING

Attorney william Earle Ambrose, one
Of the most important witnesses in the
Impeachment proceedings against Justice
Daniel Thew Wright. underwent a grill
ing. lasting more than two hours, yeeter-
day before the Mccoy investigation COM
mfttee.
When it became known that Mr.. Am
brpee would be called To the witness
stand lawyers and laymen began pour
ing In and soon the Judiciary committees 8
big room was filed Ambrose has fire.
quently been mentioned in the testimony
as counsel for Mrs. Rene c. Rauscher
In her divorce suit and counsel for Frank
Finley In the divorce suit brought against
him
flled in the Finley case by Mr.. Finley,
With having entered into coilusion with
others TO, obtain the decree which uIu-
rmafeiy was granted Mrs. Finley Justice
Wright set this decree aside.
Testimony in the Impeachment proceed
nngs had excited curiosity in regard 20
,-kn1bfose and what he might say on the
Hkand-
He Flied an Answer.
Ambrose was representing Finley and
he admitted yesterday that he filed an
answer for him to the wife's charges. but
that he Withdrew from the case shortly
after that. He said he regretted having
ever appeared for Finley because he felt
Ffnleyss conduct In the case had reflected
upon, his integrity as a lawyer. Mr.. Am
brose emphatically denied. though. that
he had helped TO furnish any evidence
IN the case.
Ambrose also admitted that Finley ac-
csmpanied him: and Justice Wright on
txo hunting trips, but could not recall
positively whether the Finley case was
- tn
gested Finley for both trips simply be-
cause Finley had two good hunting dogs.
Asked by Chairman Mccoy whether
Ffnley had ever gone down the river on
Justice Wrights boat, Ambrose replied
that Finley was not on the jurists craft
on either of those trips The witness
could not recall any private conversation
casfon.
Commenting on the setting aside Of the
Finley divorce decree, the witness ex-
pressed the opinion that Judge Wright
was justified in doing SO on account Of
the DEVELOPMENT that Finley had fur
-ffished the evidence. He repeated that
he was sorry he had ever had anything
to do with the matter.
In answer to Chairman Mccoy the
lawyer testified that he discussed the
Cooper charges with Justice Wright in
court and at the judges residence, but
insisted that it was before Representa-
tive Park impeached the jurist on the
floor of the House. He said he liked the
Justice and expressed sympathy for him.
Later he admitted that he had expressed
hope that he would get out" Of the
charges all right,
Quizsed by Nelson.
when was that?" asked Representa-
tive Nelson.
.oniy three or four days ago"
-.whereaw it?''
In Sixteenth street think I met
Judge Wright as he was going home"
What did you say to him?''
81 asked him how he felt about the
case"
was that aIlg'' Il
"oh. think asked him about his
boat. too. being particularly careful for
fear of criticism"
Did you talk with anybody else about |
it?"
one OF two occasions. He asked me |
about a note and another matter some
time ago relating to testimony already |
given here and asked me II knew any |
thing about f. I know it wasn't of |
grave EateriaHty, though. But 7 re-
member that Mr.. Darlington shied of |
once when said something to him and |
reninded me that was under subpoena |
to testify. That was sufficient. There |
fore. have been very careful about it"
Darltnsfon, Wins Point.
Mr.. Darlington then brought out
through the witness that he had not
talked with him about the case since the
impeachment by Representative Park.
The witness testified that his conversa-
tions with Attorney Darlington occurred
right after the Cooper charges were sent
20 the President. Mr.. Darlington fur
thar developed that he had only asked
the witness whether the Pechin short
hand notes had been destroyed.
Mr.. Ambrose was not questioned re-
garding the Rauscher case. He was ex-