The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-30
WITNESSES s.: 5 DECLARE
LAWSON IS MUCH
MISTAKEN
Vehement Denials by Those
Accused in Testimony
CT Financier.
HAD NO KNOWLEDGE
OF WILSON'S NOTE
Curtailment in Investigation
at New York Is One
Best Guess.

New York. Jan. -. Some OF the
most sensational charges Thomas W.
Lawson made in tcstifying recently in
the house rules committee leak" in
vcstigation We're vehemcatly denied
today BY P,iny Fisk and Archibald $.
White two widely known New York
financicrs. when they appeared here
before the congressional inquIsitors.
Fisk, named by Lawson as the bank
or member of an alleged trio composed
OF cabinet member. Secretary .ac-
.Adoo; a member of congress known as
Senator Q" and a banker, who had Il
joint account in Wall street. declared
emphatically that no such combination
ever existed.
Says Lawson "Romancire."
White. who was declared by Lawson
to have told him that Fisk had boast
ed to him that he controlled Secretary
.MeAdoo and had offered to call the
secretary from his bed by telephone
at 1880 O'Clock in the morning to prove
iio aoseftioIi, tlSiStcu liilt LAWSON was
romancing.''
As result of these denials. commit
teemen tonight expressed belief that
the length Of the hearings here had
been shortened materially. Some said
they probably would close within three
or four days
Examination of certain stock eX-
change records for IL days preceding
the sending of the presidents peace
note, of several bankers and brokers
regarding general financial conditions
during this period and further exam
lnatlon OF Earney Baruch a heavy
short" seller, and Il few minor wit
nesses is expected to bring the end
here. .....-.-
6ernstorff Again Mentioned.
The name of Count Won Bernstorff
was again brought into the inquiry to-
day in questions put to White. Sher-
man l.. Whipple, council for the COM
mittee, wanted TO know if just prior
to the publication of the presidents
note White had arranged a meeting
between the German amba ssa dor and
Lawson. White, after saying he had
frequently entertained Bernstorff at
his home here and that they were
friends of long standing. testified that
Lawson had sought to have him ar
range meeting with the ambassa
dor but that the request had been
made at least a year and IA half ago
lie said the request had come to him
through Lawson's confidential man
McSWeency,' and that he had told
AlcSWeeney TO arrange the meeting
himself White said he did not know
whether the meeting ever took place
Nhipp]c inquired closely into Whites
friendship With Lawson during the Pc
Rod prior TO the publication Of the
note. He developed that the two fire.
| auently met in New York, but Whit,
| would not admit they had discussed
| the effect that the war and peace sit =
nation would have on the stock mar
ket. except in general terms" White
said he had sought to interest Law
sob in the securities of the Federal
/ NhSititSai company, Nnltn NnItc was
promoting. and that Lawson had Of
fered to make a market for them
Whipple questioned White as to his
| various meetings with the Boston H.
| nancier and wanted to kCoW If on any
| occasion other persons were not pres
| ent. White finally admitted that about
the time the German peace offer was
published, he and Lawson mad Il meet :
ing with Harry Content Il stock bro
ker in the latter's office. He denied
| however that at that time they had
talked about tn" war situation or its
effect on the market
L never oreraed in the market with
Lawson nor participated in any Of his
deals" he said Neither did he know
of the presidents note until it was
| published. he asserted. Lawson had
| told him, he testified. that somebody
had rrofited by the leak, but it was
| only q ge4cral statement. He didn't
say who. ..
While Mr.. Fisk admitted close busi-
ness association with Mr. McAdoo priol
to the latter's entering the cabinet, tn,
banker insisted that since that tim,
their relations had been largely socia
ard that he had leaned backward in
sofar as seeking faNors from the sec
retary We're concerned.
| Whipple. however elected from tn
| banker "A statement that the federal re
serve bank of New York had taken
|
owned by the bankers firm. Mr. Els
admitted that he had suggested Il, tn
! secretary that the offices were we
J adapted to the use of the bank, bu
| said this suggestion had been mad