The Washington herald., 1914-05-21
GRILL AMBROSE
REGARDING BRIbf'
Lawyer Testi6es in Wright,
Case that Charge Was
a Lie.
NOTE FOR $1,000 UNPAID
Witness Says He Didn't Feel Like"
Suing Jurist for Ice Con-
.cern Stock.
NOTE FOR $1,000 UNPAID

Attorney william Earle Ambrose was
agair given a day-long griiiing yesterday
by the House committee Investigating
the impeachment charges against Justice
Daniel Thew Wright. Chairman Mccoy
rose to his feet several times and fired
questions at the witness.
Ambrose again went over the story Of
his connection with the Rauscher divorce
case; told Of his relations with the ac-
cused jurist and finally said their rela-
tons had not been SO cordial since q
certain incident Of the Rauscher casa.
Although he still held Justice Wright in
high esteem" Ambrose Added.
The difference between them arose
over q report that Ambrose had accepted
800 as a ''bribe" He was representing
the wife, who was suing for the divorce.
Justice Wright called him and asked him
IL the report was true The attorney in
dienantly denied II, but said he did not
feel quite as friendly toward the justice
after that
As to Aneged BrAbe.
did Justice Wright ask you IL you
were offered a bribe of 500 in the
Rauscher case?'' asked Chairman Nc
Coy.
"Yes. Justice Wright asked me IL
was offered a bribe Of 500 In the case. I
said II was q lie."
why did you say it was a lie? He
didn't ask you II it was a lie"
Because 1t was a lie"
What did you think when Justice
Wright asked you about the alleged
bribe?''
II think I know what was In Justice
wrights mind at the time. He referred
to the compromise ofer,''
You went away under the imputation
that you had taken q bribe?'
II went away feeling that Justice
Wright had accepted my denial of the
matter. I did not think any explanation
WAS necessary other than a straight de-
NAL"
you, as a lawyer, realise that II Is a
good thing to know what the other side
has in a case7'
Yes: I invariably try to gain in
formation that I am to meet in law
suit"
why did you not talk with Wright
about this bribe them"
''I felt that Easby-Smith's word would
be sufficient to counteract any testi-
mony."
You know that it is very important
to nail the lies in a case; that the ruth,
will take care OF ftself?''
Yea" .,
"Yet you did not endeavor to nail the
lie?'
Il said I was not anxious to argue the
point / denied II, and felt that was
Sufficient Further talk was unneces-
sary."
ssWhy Did She Comet"
when Mrs. Rauscher came to you to
retain you did you ask her who sent
herr"
mo: I did not"
did you ask her what led her to come
to your
No. very rarely ask clients why they
come to me-
Did you ever have any business trans
actions with Justice Wright"
mo, sir, except In this way: once had
stock in a savings bank and in the Sealed
Package Ice Company. in which he and
I were interested"
Was he a director in the Sealed Pack
age Ice Company
Il believe he was some officer"
How did he acquire his stock?''
BY subscription, ] believe
did you have access to the books Of
the company"
Yes. when the receivership Of the COM
pany was up"
Chairman Mccoy developed that Judge
Wright had given his note for 1900 in
payment for stock of the Ice Company
and that Ambrose took possession Of 1t
after he was appointed receiver of the
concern. 1t was developed also that this
note. among many others given for the |
same purpose had not been sued on by |
the receiver. Ambrose explained that he |
went to the officer in possession of the |
note and asked him for 1t. saying he did |
not care to have the Judge sued upon II. |
II thought it would be all right In my |
office," he concluded.
Note Was Never Paid.
WAS it ever paid?
no. it was not"
Why not?"
Il do not know"
did you ever make an effort to col |
Iect it,"
mo. did not"
Were you not the counsel for the
yes. in some regards, but not in the
question of notes."
Did you ever get a retainer from the
company as general counsel?''
mo sir, nor have I ever been paid
anything for my services I hoped to
out We have never Dcen able to pull it
out Of a hole"
Wrights unpaid noteT'
II believe a report made by Mr.. Slay-
,augh, an accountant, gave me that in
'ormation."
Now. were you ever an indorser on
Justice Wright's note?'
Never in my life"
WAS he ever an indorser on yoursT'
No, sir l
And was there a note in the WASH
ngton Loan and Trust Company on
which your name appeared?''
NO, SIR"
Did you ever have any cash transac-
ion with Justice Wright"
Yes q IS item"
Amy member of his family interested
With you in q financial matter?'
Yes. I would not like to mention
lames, however" ~.
you may withhold their Names
lone person sought a loan of $500 and
was instrumental in obtaining 1t for
\