New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-25
Agent of "American' At
temptS to Prove Beach
wood a SWindle.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
WON'T TRY CASE
Hearst Sought Aid of Postofficc
Inspectors, Witness
Asserts.

The New York Tribune over the
shoulder OF United States District
Attorney II. Snowden Marshall in the
Impeachment hearings Of that official
before the House judiciary Commit
tee to-day, "The New York Ameri-
can" which has suffered from Samuel
Hopkins Adams's pure ad campaign, at
tempted 10 prove that The Tribune had
conducted land swindle in selling
lots in the Beechwood development.
Victor a. Watson, who said he was
connected with the investigation de-
partment of THE American" testified
virtually all day in an attempt to
prove that Marshall should be i'm
peached because he had failed 10
prosecute The Tribune for using the
mails TO defraud in connection with
this development.
Briefly. Mr.. Watson charged that The
Tribune had acquired a 1000 acre
tract in New Jersey, most of which,
except the leach front, was virtually
worthless, and had attempted to sell
1t by fraudulent representations at
prices which would have yielded a net
profit of more than 100000.
Inspectors Took Up Case.
After some investigation, he told the
committee, he had interested several
Postofice inspectors, who had worked
on the case with him. Later. all the
evidence was placed in the hands Of
Mr.. Marshall. After several confer
ences, the District Attorney told Mr..
Watson, so the latter testified, that
he had come 10 the conclusion the
best thing to do with the case was TO
wait for about six months before pro-
ceeding any further, because the case
would perhaps be much stronger then"
Following is a transcript of a por-
tion of the official stenographer's notes
of what Mr.. Watson testified on this
point: (Mr Watson is repeating what
he said to Mr. Marshall)
guilty of anything. and who is guilty?
"He wanted to know T. Mr.. Watson re-
suming his narrative) just how l
hooked this alleged fraud up with any
particular persons in The Tribune
office. ! told him that those were things
which the grand jury would have 10
learn: that there were things of that
sort that | could only explain to him by
having a grand jury proceeding OF
going over to The Tribune Office and
blowing up its safe, which | did no,
propose to do.
"He said: However, | have decided
that the best thing we can do is 10
delay the case, and have so written
Henry Wise
TO say that | was astonished is ex-
pressing it rather mildly. | said, MIR.
Marshall, isn't that rather unusual
Why a letter to Henry Wise" lie
smiled and said; We'll. want to let
Henry collect his fee and get away on
his vacation
Mr. Watson had previously ex-
planned that Mr.. Wise had been re-
tanned by The Tribune to defend it in
this action, after The Tribune learned
that the investigation was being con-
ducted)
Waited in Vain for Action.
"Mr. Stephenson, an assistant TO Mr..
Marshall, | thought, looked rather sur
prised. and. without commenting on the
matter of the fee, said, But, Mr.. Mar
shall. if you write them now that there
is going 10 be no prosecution, and we
attempt TO prosecute them In SIX
months from now, won't they bring
your letter in and say that we investi-
gated them and whitewashed them?
"Mr Marshall said: Il doubt if Henry
will let them have the letter. The let
ter will probably rest securely in
Henry Office
At which point Mr.. Watson testified
that he gave up the case, figuring he
was "in wrong" He said he had waited
the six months in vain, and some more
months besides, and had received no
summons TO the District Attorneys Of
fee
"Up to the present time" inquired
Representative Nelson, the only mem
Der Of the committee besides Repre-
sentative Carlin present, "has any news
paper printed anything with reference
to this ?"
NO" said Watson. "the investigation
has been conducted very secretly. My
position has been simply turning over
TO the government all the information
secured when helping the govern
ment."
"'The American has not published