New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-16
lawson Pleads With Committee
For Private Revelation of Names

IN reply 70 TINS question ~ t"o .i.,.s
If Congress. There are other duestlon'
10 follow You may answer inc quo'
ton. rt.,r,, ;s Tho
Mr.. Lawson Chairman Henry j. '"'
Congressman I refer to-. ..
The Chalrman-That IS your answ 80
Mr.. Lawson That IS my answer W
that frat question. ..,.ro,s.
The reply to the second interros"
tory. also very long and including ue
toiicd cxcerptq from previous ques
80 was thr same Congressman, MI
H. The information, Mr.. Lawson
said. that had been given to nm con
cerned apparently, another member OF
the Cabinet
Asked TO Name Triumyirate
The third intcrrogatory concerned
previous testimony, IN when La"sol'
pictured a nameless Cabinet o1lcel =
nameless banker and nameless Onltea
States Senator as partners IN a Jolhl
stock account which profited tremen-
dously By selling short on advance IN
formation that the President was 10
write peace note He had followed
that testimony with these words:
~ corroborated that. / had more
than that. / had a reputable banker a
friend Of the other banker ana a
friend OF mine, and ! said, What d.
YOU know about it?' and he said:
know the banker stated 10 mo that ne
not only had this account and othelS'
hut had such absolute control OF the
Cabinet member that ne could BRING
him from Washington to New YORK OF
on the telephone at any hour OF the
day OF night And he offered then and
there TO call him up at half-past ! III
the morning"
Chairman Henry to-day said. =
now ask you to give the name Of the
banker referred to-
Mr.. Lawson-The banker wh) SAID ne
had been told by the banker that ne
could call up the Cabinet member?
The Chairman-les.
Mr.. lawson "Mr Archibald >
White, Of II Pine Street
Interropatory No. 4 referred TO
members OF Congress who had specu-
lated in the stock market within the
knowledge Of Mr. Lawson. He said that
nc could not remember any such name
Mrs. Visconti's Letter
Interrogatory No. led to the pro-
duction of Mrs Visconti's letter.
There was five minutes of sparring be
tween witness and chairman, the result
OF which was that Mr.. Lawson made II
appear that the letter and the informa-
tion il contained were being dragged
from him by force. He said that he
was without legal advice" and would
have 10 take the orders OF the chair
man. lie then read the following let
ter:
"My Dear Mr.. Lawson:
ar the name of the man who was the
go-between in the present leak and the
amount OF money be Of assistance 20
YOU. | can supply the name and the
amount he received and give the name
of al least one associate AZ the White
House who participated in the haul
The letter went on TO offer 20 make
an appointment.
Mr.. LAWSON will say that upon
receiving this letter sent for and by
appointment had this lady come 10 my
apartment with her attorney. said
that regretted 10 take ~, but she said
II necessary ! could use her letter If /
was TO the last ditch. and that she
would stand by and 80 to the end in
proving the information which she gave
And now am / to give the informs-
tom
The chairman Yes, give the infor-
nation. Who signed the letter?
Mr. Lawson Mrs. Ruth Thomson
Viscont.. She appears in the city di-
rectory as a clerk living at 1921 Twen-
ty-frst Street, Washington, an apart
ment house
The chairman Now proceed with the
Information TO make your answer re-
sponsiye 20 The interrogatory.
Mr.. Lawson She stated 20 me in
substance that William ". Price. White
House correspondent Of the Washing
ton star" had acted O. go-between in
the leak affair between the Presidents
secretary, Mr.. Tumuty. and others,
and that he had received $4,000 cash
for IL, and that Mir. Tumulty had re.
ceived a much larger sum.