Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-24
Frank J. Hogan Tells of Con-
troversy Between Riggs
Bank and Controller.
CHARLES P. WILLIAMS
ALSO Is A WITNESS
Reveals Why Lewis johnson & Co.
Carried Name of Riggs Con-
Germ on Their Books.

An important development to-
day in the trial of past and pres
ent Riggs Bank officials on the
charge OF perjury was the placing
on the witness stand by the de-
tense of Frank ]. Hogan, coun-
sci for the defense, for the pur-
pose of getting before the jury
number OF facts in the case of
which he has personal knowledge,
some of which were ruled out by
the court and some of which
could not be brought out by the
defense while thev were eNaniu-
ing previous witnesses.
Mr.. Hogan told the jury in complete
details of the beginning of the contro-
versy between John Shelton Williams.
controller of the currency. and the
Riggs National Bank. we'll as the
events which led up to the filing of the
injunction suit against the Treasury
charged that Treasury officials were
trying to wreck the institution. He de-
scribed how he and former Senator
| Joseph Bailey had decided during the
trial of the injunction proceedings last
year without consulting any of the
Riggs Bank officials to draw the famous
affidavit under which the officials swore
| that the bank did not deal in stocks.
which affidavit had brought upon the
heads of the bank officials the govern.
! ment charge of perjury.
Cites Untermeyer Statements.
| He said that last year during the in
| junction proceedings Samuel Inter
meyer of counsel for the government at
| that time said during a morning ses-
! sion of the court, We do not claim
! that the bank. bank, has been
! specializing and in the afternoon fol-
| lowing the luncheon recess said. The
Riggs National Bank was active
| trader through the Lewis Johnson Com
| pany even to the extent of short sales"
| Mr.. Hogan testified that Justice Mccoy.
| who presided last year in the injunc-
i ton case, sat up alertly and asked for
repetition of that statement for veri-
ication purposes. and Untermeyer re-
| peated it.
II determined" Mr. Hogan said. ito
| file the affidavit after consultation only
with former Senator Bailey and with
| out consultation with the bank off1-
cialS.'
| He then described how he went to
| his Office and drew the affidavit. only
| his stenosra pher being present.
Good Humor Is Shown.
There was at first a disposition on
the part of the government to object
to Mr. Hogan's statements on the wit
ness stand. Mr.. Fits, assistant to the
Attorney General, declaring that much
of what Mr.. Hogan was saying was
"hearsay" but the taking of the evi-
dence proceeded with good humor on
both sides, general exchange of
amenities occurring when MIR. Archer
at one point said: Il like Mr.. Stanch-
field so much | withdraw my objec.
ton.
Whereupon MIR. Hogan proceeded to
talk directly to the jury. explaining
the ms and outs of the controversy be-
tween John Shelton Williams. the con-
troller OF the currency. and the bank.
Mr.. Hogan was examined by MIR.
Stanchfield. He said he was thirty
nine years old. had lived here for fif-
teen years and had been a member of
the bar since october, 1902. Mr..
Stanchfeld brought out that Mr. Hogan
occupies two chairs at Georgetown
University Law School. in one of which
he lectures to $50 students and in
another 300 students. He said he had
been retained in July, 1914. as counsel
for the Riggs National Bank and per-
sonal counsel for the defendants and
was familiar with the controversy be-
tween John Shelton Williams and the
bank in the most complete details long
before the details of the controversy
became publicly known.
Il was brought into the case" Mr..
Hogan said, by the late X. Ross Perry,
than whom the District of Columbia
bar never boasted a more eminent
member
Counsel Has Received No Fec.
Great surprise was occasioned in the
courtroom when Mr.. Hogan testified
that he had not received nor would he
receive 81 by way of retainer's fec
from the Riggs National Bank or Mr..
Glover or the Messrs. Flather for his
services as counsel in the case. He
swore that he knew he was obliged to
be a witness in the case because of his
intimate personal contact with it and
the details which led up to it. and
that it had not been his intention to
take any active part as counsel be-
cause of the fact that 1t would be
necessary for him to be a witness. He
testified. however. that Mr.. Darlington
and other counsel for the defense and
the bank officials had insisted that he
take leading part as counsel in the
conduct Of the case.
C. P. Williams Testifes.
Another very important develop.
ment of the day was the testimony of
Charles P. Williams. who was at one
time a member of the firm of Lewis
Johnson & Co.. and who was subpoe-
naed by tho government but never
nlaced on the witness stand by the
district attorney.
Called to the stand today. however.
nv the defense, he testified that the ac-
count on the books Of Lewis johnson &
co in the name Of the Riggs National
Rank. was conducted in the name of the
bank solely for the convenience Of
Lewis johnson & Co.. in the same way
as accounts were carried by the john
son firm with all the other national
hanks in Washington with which the
Arm did business, and that often the
johnson firm received from the bank
oficials tho names Of the customers for
whom stock transactions were made by
An interesting incident Of the day
was testimony to the effect that the
celebrated stock commission account Of
the bank was used for the purpose OF
making subscriptions to public money
raisin9 funds. It was brought out that
this stock commission account contrib.
uted the sum Of $1,000 toward the fund
raised here to pay the expenses OF In