The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-17
ASK HUGHES FOR
EXPERT PROBER
INLEAK HEARING
House Consents to Hire COun-
sci and Accountants.
Can Garry Inquiry to Wall
Street if Desired.
MYSTERY WOMAN REkPPEARS
Crowd Disappointed Because
No Testimony Today.
j. p. Morgan and Mrs. ViscOnti
viii Star Tomorrow.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE house
this afternoon by unanimous consent
authorized the note leak committee to
employ counsel and accountants and
hold hearings here or elsewhere"
The elsewhere may be in Wall
street, New York.
After d preliminary delay in the
house, Representative Pou of the leak
committee, asked unanimous consent
to extend the life of the committee
thirty days. The request was granted.
Charles Evans Hughes, late Re-
publican party candidate, Samuel IN
termeyer and Frank W. Lehman are
among those suggested for the COM
mittees counsel
Todays developments foreshadow
extending the inquiry to its broadest
aspects Taking of testimony will be
resumed tomorrow probably with j. p
Morgan and other financiers in the
witness chair.
A sigh of real disappointment came
from the hearing room, packed with
sensation fans, mostly women, when
they found themselves robbed of their
prospective day Of thrills.
Mrs. Ruth Thomson Viscontl, mys-
FERROUS woman witness, missing until
last night, was booked to tell what, if
anything she knows about a leak and
a big clean up therefrom.
Officers of the sergeant at arms Of
flee had exacted a plea from her to
appear whenever the committee want
ed her. Meantime they proposed that
she should not escape their jurisdic-
ton.
Many witnesses were on hand ready
to testify.
The committee plans to call Mrs.
Visconti at an Early moment They
expect to ana1yze much of her life,
story while dragging out her alleged
story quoted by Lawson to the effect
that w. W. Price. newspaper man,
shared to the extent of $1,000 in leak
profits as a go-betWeen for secretary
Tumulty and others.
Mrs Visconti Comes Back.
Washington, Jan. 17-House note
leak probers expected to Lave Mrs
Ruth Thomson Visconti before them
tomorrow She was located at her
home over night
The mysterious missing woman
came back to her apartments, calmly,
and agreed that she would appear to
testify before the committee. From
her the committee expects notification
or denial of Thomas w. Lawson's
testimony that she Informed him w.
w Price, newspaper man, was a go
between in leak profits for Secretary
Tumulty and others and that 5000
was Prices share.
with questions to shoot at this woman
of mystery, in the hope that ner
knowledge of public men and news
paper men would lead to a real reve-
lation.
Tumulty and Price had been exon
Grated insofar as Lawson's actual
knowledge was concerned.
Information today indicated that
this little woman was acquainted with
politicians who might kn,w much
about news leaks and perhaps about
stock dabbling based on such leaks
Persons interested in what the wom-
an might know developed a lot of in
formation and near-information over
night about her.
Her History Spectacular.
Her friends say her life has been
one spectacula incident after an
other Included in the chain is work
! in secret service.
/ One story is that she had ro-
nance that concluded with wedding
an Italian count.
! In recent months, it is claimed, she
was in touch with second woman
who was close to newspapers and who
might know where the valua BILE stories
from Washington originated.
The committee expected to enlarge
its inquiry today. A resolution was
to be introduced extending the time
| of the hearings and it seemed likely
action would be taken to engage coun-
sci to conduct the further examina-
ton.
| Thomas w. Lawson's revelations
/ tho based on hearsay-have stirred
! up the committee and it probably will
go to the bottom of them, on the the
! DRY that where there is so much
smoke there must be some fire
Morgan's Appearance Not Set.
Lawson declares that the woman's
! information came to him voluntarily,
| that he never paid a cent for such
/ news In MS life and that she appeared
to be entirely rational and reputabI