Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-01
TAMPER|NC CHARGED
!. At WRIGHT HEARING
Chairman Mccoy Tells Sub
committee Witnesses
Were Approached.
NO INTIMATION is GIVEN
AS TO GUILTY PARTIES
First Witness Is Wilbur H. Zepp.
Who Describes Alleged Trans
actions on Note of Justice.

Hearings in the impeachment charges
against Judge Daniel Thew Wright OF tire
Supreme Court o. the District of Colum.
hia opened this morning with the state
ment by Chairman Mccoy of the subcom
mittee of the House judiciary committee
that witnesses had been tampered with
1T has come TO the attention OF tho
committee. We're the first words OF Rep
resentative Mccoy. that certain wit
nesses in this case have been tampered
with
We understand that one witness has al
ready left his regular place Of business
or abode. and that another one has been
approached with the suggestion OF lesv
ing. The committee will give full pro
lection. Those who app roach witnesses
improperly can be punished for contempt
by the House of Representatives.
He also said that ii II should be proved
that improper approach OF witnesses on
either side of the case had been made all
effort would follow 10 have the matter
brought to the attention Of the House
No member of the committee publicly
intimated on which side of the case the
alleged tamperinE had been done.
The hearing began at 1856 Am. in the
caucus room of the House office build
ing. The subcommittee of the judiciary
committee hearing the case Is composed
of Representative Mccoy of New jersey.
Representative Taggart OF Kansas and
Representative Nelson ofsWisconsin.
Judge Wright on Hand.
Judge Wright and his counsel. ]. J.
Darlington. took seats at one end OF tho
long committee table. Representative
Park OF Georgia, who introduced the inn
parchment resolution was at the table.
Wilbur II. Zepp, cashier for the United
tat a nk at
streets northwest, was the sole witness
in the forenoon. Chairman Mccoy read
list of witnesses who would be eX-
cused until May IL. These were Willie
Gilmore, William Earl Ambrose, Theo-
dore Block. William McCutcheon. Frank
Hall. Mrs Frank Hall, George ii. Nc
Donald and Bernard Smith. Just before
Mr.. Zepp began his testimony Mr. OAR
lington told the subcommittee that the
| truth Of witness tampering by any one
| should not be assumed, and that any
| such charge should be proved
| Mr.. Zepp produced bank records and
copies OF records relating to three ordi-
nary notes which had been negotiated
! between Judge Wright and the United
States Savings Bank. Indorsers appear
| ing on the notes were James l. Karrtck-
Charles o. Rice. Charles A. Douglas, NJ
A. Winter and James NJ. Baker He also
| produced a letter to ]. H. Baden, sec
rotary Of the United States Trust Com
pany, May Z, 1912, indicating a transact
| ton whereby the trust company took up
| two notes Of Judge Wright.
The business of the bureau OF national
literature and the bureau of national lit
| erature and art figured somewhat in the
opening testimony today. Mr.. Zepp said
that the names of George E Slabaugh
and James NJ. Barkus figure on con-
tract between the bureau and tho saw.
| ings bank
Approved After Going Through
Mr.. Zepp said all notes to Judge Wright
had been Endorsed regularly and approved
regularly by the full board of directors:
| that Judge Wright was a member Of the
executive board and that the banks
rules required the approval of the direc-
tors for any notes to members of the
| executive committee He said, however.
that two notes to Judge Wright had been
approved after they had gone through,
| who was president OF the bank tneh!
| asked Mr. Darlington.
| Wade H. Cooper"
| Mr. Zepp produced a resolution show
| ing that the board had ordered the pay
| ment to Judge Wright OF $500 tor atten
| zion given to the affairs between the bank
and the bureau of national literature ana
art and also produced a check Tor SSS
which. he said had been paid in puf-
suance of the resolution.
| He said the bank had advanced al
various times expense money to Judge
| Wright for trips to New York TO attend
directors meetings of the Nationai bu-
! reau of Literature. He testified that the
| hanl hold some of the bonds of the hG-
reau. Mr.. Darlington asked Mr.. Zepp
il he did not know that before the s,so
was paid advice had been received from
two attorneys that the TRANSACTION We
with propriety and legal. Mr. Zepp sara
1 he had no knowledge. Chairman Met o.
| told the witness to search the MES anu
| ha hack later this afternoon