The sun., 1917-01-30
Former Says Bay State Man
. Should Be Put Behind
Bars for Perjury.
BOTH DENY BEING IN
ANY LEAK GAMBLING
Boston Operator Sought
But Failed to Get Intro
duction to Bernstorf.

IN Thomas w. Lawson's heareay testi-
mony about the Wall Street brokers
having been supplied with advance in
formation about the Presidents peace
note by Cabinet member and Senator
TO- and having profited In the bear mar
ket last December. received two en-
phatic and dramatic denials yesterday
before the Rules Committee of the House .
Of Representatives. ,
But Mr.. Lawson himself was injected
II Into the situation In a much different
u light BY the questions put to one Of the
VI witnesses it was clear that the COM
mttee is seeking information whether
Mr.. Lawson did not ask for and possi- .
bly, obtain an introduction to Count Won
Bernstorff. the German Ambassador.
with the hope of gaining information.
Whether Mr.. Lawson wished to use such
Information for stock dealing purposes
did not develop.
The two witnesses testified of their
own knowledge. One was Pliny Fisk Of
Harvey Fisk & Sons. who had been de-
scrbed in the picturesque language of
Mr. Lawson In his testimony before the
Rules Committee as the man who could
control a member of the Cabinet. namely.
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo, and
Who could pull him out of bed % the
long distance telephone at any hour of
the night. The other was Archibald S.
White. whom Mr. Lawson had quoted as
his authority for part Of his remarkably
vivid story.
Both Repudiate the story.
Both Mr.. Fisk and Mr.. White threw
down Mr. Lawson's story cold The
stage had been prepared for them by
Sherman L. Whipple, the soft spoken
but remarkably attite attorney from Bos-
ton Mr.. whipple, with keen appre-
claton for the dramatic. whether it be
in the way of revelation or denial, led
both witnesses through n maze OF testi
lnony which held specta tors keyed up
with interest to the proper climax. where
they made Mr.. Lawson out as teller of
untruths.
Mr.. Fisk called it perjury and wanted
Mr. Lawson put into Jail or otherwise
treated as having "dsordered mind"
Mr. White, his eyes twlnkling but his
voice firm, called it romance and denied
he ever had related such story as Mr..
Lawson had built up for the Rules Com
mitca
Mr. Fisk. who testified in the morning
before a throns of persons JammiEg the
inquiry room in the Custom House. de-
MED having any knowledge OF the Pres
dents note until 1t appeared in. the
newspapers. He described Secretary Nc
Adoo as friend of his and said that
when Mr.. McAdoo received the appoint
ment TO President Wilson's Cabinet
Harvey Fisk & Sons had gathered ,p
Mr. McAdooss notes outstanding in va
rious banks and amounting to s112, 900.
tad gradually sold the stock pledged to
secure those notes and had finally turned
AZ over the surplus OF the stocks to Mr..
McAdoo.
Mr., F1sk's renting of the lower floors
MS banking house to the Government
Tor the use OF the Federal Reserve Bank
also came under questioning. but it was
SHOWN that Mr. AIcAdoo never had been
appealed to and never had said a word
" support of Fisk & Sons. Mr. Fisk de-
hied as emphatically as possible that he
ever met Mr.. White in any club or
eoasied OF control Of a Cabinet member.
Fisk Produces Stock Record.
U He was the first broker to produce his
~ record OF stock transactions during De.
cember 10 to December 20 inclusive
but he explained that during that time
he made his purchases through othel
brokerage houses
Mr.. White, the reputed authority fo'
Lawson's use OF Pliny Fisk's name ant
the friend OF Count Won Bernstorff, wa,
called TO the witness stand In the after
4 noon. His testimony was awaited will
Keen interest because Of his reported as
sociation with Mr.. Lawson. But Mr.
Nhite. who spent an hour and hal
under the soul searching questions OF Mr.
Whipple knocked the props from unde
Mr. lawson's sensational testimony.
Then came another dramatic twist Il
the hearing. Just as II gradually becam
clear that Mr. White would not supper
Mr Lawson's story. so II became plail
That Mr.. Whipple had received a remark
able number OF suggestions as TO ques
tons that he should put to Mr., Whit
aSout his acduaintanceship with MI
lawson and his friendship for Coun
iii Won Bernstorff. The impression pre-
III vailed that Mr.. Lawson had furnishe
Mr. Whpple with questions to put to MI
~ White.
II was in the course OF this examina
ton and virtual cros s-eXamination tha
Nr. White said that Mr.. Lawson and h
TAXED about market conditions and th
war in Europe, but MIR. White denie
mat he ever discussed the plan OF mai
ing money In the stock market throug
advance Information. He said that VI
Lawson's confidential man. McSween.
had asked Mr. White TO Introduce Law
son TO Count Won Bernstorn and NJ
white had declined.
Wit and Courtesy Mixed.
While the examination or Nj. Els
was notable tpr the vehemence wit
which the bankAr denied any connectis
with any rool or any leak the question
inS OF Mr. White was an exchange OF "
- mat kept the audience. which Include
hrs- Jules s. Bache. constantly ante
,ained. 1t was a sort OF "sfter you, n
year Alphonse" affair, Mr.. Whipple al
mr. White trying to outdo the other
courtesy, Mr. Whipple was sorry to a
the quest ions and Mr.. white was equal
.ofry that he did not remember all tn
hr WhPple wished 10 know
B. Nj. White kept the Congress comm
~s waiting two hours. While he hi
Continued ON Fiffh Po0S