Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-31
STREET" FILES
INDICATE Leak
ON PEACE NOTE
Hutton, Big New York Broker,
Brings Telegram Before
Committee Which Gives
Tip" on Message.
WIRED ALL OVER COUNTRY
Must Have Come From Some
one Who Had Seen Docu-
ment, it Is Believed.
PROBE IS TO BE SEARCHING


New York, Jan. 30.-From the files
of a Wall Street brokerage house,
congressional inquisitors today
brought light private and confidential
kilograms regarded in some quarters
as definitely indicating that there was
leak" on President Wilson's recent
peace note.
The most sensational telegram,
containing brief but remarkably ac-
curate forecast of the contents Of the
note, was sent by E. F. Hutton and
company, one OF the largest brokerage
houses in the street, over its private
wires to scores Of other brokers with
whom it did business throughout the
country, on the afternoon Of Decem-
ber 20, more than three hours be-
fore the first copies of the note were
handed to newspaper men by Sec
retary Lansing.
Previously Sent Abroad.
At the time the Hutton message
was sent, according to the testimony
of Secretary Lansing before the COM
mittee in Washington, no one in this
country save persons connected with
the preparation and dispatch OF the
note, had as much information re-
garding its contents as the message
revealed. The note previously had
been sent abroad in code. Publication
OF the note followed transmission OF
til Hutton message to various brok-
ers by more than ten hours.
Information on which the message
to brokers was based, Edward F. Hut
ton, head of the firm, testified, came
in another message, now missing,
from F. A. Connolly, Of F. A. Con-
nelly & Co., a Washington brokerage
house, in which r. W.. Boiling, a
brother-in-law of President Wilson, Is
a partner. Connolly was declared by
Hutton to be fastening to New York
tonight to appear before the commits
tee tomorrow.
Based on General Rumor.
Hutton testified his understanding
was that Connelly's information re-
garding. the note was based on gems
| eral runior. Indicative that other
brokerage concerns we're In possess
sion of similar information, Hutton
said, was another message he pro-
duced, which Clement, Curtis & Co.,
of Chicago, sent his house rpior to
Connelly's first message referring to
statement to be issued by the State
department, intended to promote
peace prospects" This message con-
tanned no details.
Certain members OF the committee,
however, privately expressed convic-
ton that the person who originally
supplied the information on which
Connelly's missing message was
based, either had read the presidents
note or obtained an excellent resume
Of it.
Some one read the note" Repre-
sentative Campbell of Kansas, ranking
republican member Of the committee,
declared after the close Of the hear
ing. Chairman Henry and Sherman
L. Whipple, counsel for the commit
tee, declined o express any views
on the situation.
| VIII Spare No Effort.
No effort will be spared, Mr..
Whipple announced, to throw the
fullest light on,the origin and trans
mission Of the Connolly information,
both in the message from Washington
to Z. F. Hutton & Co., and the SUBJ
sequent message sent by them to their
correspondents. The latter message,
according to Hutton, was prepared by
George S. Ellis, jr., member Of the
firm who is now i'll in Georgia. he
said Hutton also requested the com
mittee not to call Ellis if it can be
avoided.
Chairman Henry, determined to
have Ellis testify, said he probably
would be examined next week in
Washington. Telegraph operators and
others who had to do with the trans
mission of the message also are to be
interrogated. Other members Of the
Connolly firm also probably will be
called. Mr.. Boiling already has testi-
fed at a Washington hearing that he
had nothing to do with a "leak" Of
any kind.
Connolly Calls on Hutton.
Mr.. Bolling's connection with the
Connolly firm was the subject OF
much Interrogation by Mr.. NWhipplc
during the examination of Mr.. Hut
ton, when the broker first took the
stand. Hutton told of Cor. .elly CALI