New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20
Orders Executor to
Surrender Lanes
Papers nL'Deal
THOMPSON SENDS
MAN TO BOSTON
InterbOrO Head Declares
He Used Commitments
in Moral Sense Only.

After three hours OF raking fire yes
terday by the heavy guns of the
Thompson committee. the banner OF
Theodore L. Shonts was still futtering
bravely IN the breeze. with its legend,
"Obligations and Commitments are
Philosophical Terms"
And as proof that he did not fear
any backfre from Boston, where the
memorandum containing the Lane yer-
sion OF the alleged talk Of a s2,O0O.oOo
slush fund reposes among the papers
Of the late Gardiner NJ Lane. Mr..
Shouts wrote letter at Senator
Thompson's suggestion, TO the executor
asking for it's surrender.
Mr. Shonts insisted that he never
made any statement 20 Mr.. Lane which
could be interpreted that he had in
Cured certain commitments and obli-
cations" to bring about the signing OF
the dual subway contracts that would
take 100000 TO wipe out
Used Words in Moral Sense.
He swore there was nothing venal IN
the Stevens contract TO which Mr. Lane
and William A. Read. another Inter
borough director, objected. He re-
peated his declaration OF the day be
fore that he used the words only in a
moral sense, and that they had no finan-
cial significance.
Nj. Shonts also denied that there
WAS any collusion in the letting OF the
contract for thirdtracking the L
lines 10 Gillespie 8 Co. T. A. Gillespie,
who is now down South out Of reach
Of the Thompson committees subpoena,
he met but twice in his life, be said.
Senator Thompson sent one of his
aids to Boston last night with Mr..
Shonts's letter asking the counsel to
the Lane estate executor TO surrender
all letters and memoranda bearing on
Interborough matters that may be
found in Sir. Lanes effects.
Senator Thompson is hopeful that
these will DC on hand Monday. when
Mr.. Shonts resumes the stand
Seeks Shonts Letter.
MIR. Colby paved the way for securing
the letter Of Mr. Shonts 20 Charles II.
Tyler by introducing in evidence let
ter from the firm OF Tyler, Corneau &
Fames TO Mr.. Shonts. This letter, dated
October 10, 1915, read:
The inclosed copy Of summons was
served upon Mr. Cotting. executor oi
the will OF Gardner VI. Lane, to-day
This follows a demand which was made
upon US last week for the production
Of papers Of Mr.. Lane. As Mr.. Cotting
counsel, / have advised him that ne
should not give up Mr. Lanes papers a.
a volunteer. but only under en- order OF
a court having jurisdiction. ! am Wrlt-
ing you as matter OF courtesy, thinN-
ing that you might wish 70 make suB-
gestions in this matter.
Nlr. Colby then offered in evidence a
copv OF a letter Mr.. Shonts sent IN re-
ply. II ended with this paragraph;
.'Tncre is not the slightest objection
10 furnishing letters on any matter re-
latinp TO me or 10 the company. inns IS
known 10 Thompson. but he went TO
Boston, wanting newspaper notoriety.
Then Mr.. Colby took up ms eAamlha
zion of the witness with respect 10 the
Shonts reply.
"The permission in the last para
graDh Is not broad enough TO include
The memorandum, IS it?'
81 don't think intended any reser.
vation." replied Mr. Shonts. 81 meant
thev could give up everything under m
yestigation. : meant a general rcle% g.
Senator Thompson had not pai.d al
.cntion 20 the reading Of the Shonts
letter calling him seeker or news
naper notoriety. Senator James A.
Folev. who was chuckling over IT.
turned 10 the chairman and handed MIN
senator Thompson read it. Then he
looked ~ Mr.. Colby, who gave way 10
him
no vou think We went 70 Boston to
ret some letters. copies OF wnlcn We
found In your fles?' asked senator
Thompson. -. .;l
Nr. Shonts. NJ.
n seek now spaper notoriety!
The witness by this time lad regained
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