New Britain herald., 1918-12-04
WILSON FORGIVES AIRCRAFT OFFICERS
Holds Mixter and Vincent Were
 Only Technically Guilty


 G. Vincent, whom the recent report submitted by Charles F. Hughes, af- ter his investigation of aircraft pro- ductlon, declared to be guilty of vio- i latlon of a section ot the criminal code which prohibits any person in tefested Tn profits or contracts of , corporation from acting as an officer or agent of the government for the transa ction of business with that cor poration.
 Attorney General Gregory agreed with MT. Hughes's conclusion that these two officers had violated this section of the code. but did not think the ends of justice required that eith- CT of the two officers be presented At the White House today it was an- nounced that the President had par doned both officers because he con- cured entirely in the views of the Attorney General.
 He (the President) believes" says the official announceme that the two gentlemen concerned were en- tirely innocent of any improper or selfish intention, that their guilt was only technical, and that their serv- ices to the government, which has been of the highest value and of most disinterested sort deserves the most cordial gnition.'
 No further statement was author ized by the President, but the letters written by the attorney general were made public. MT. Gregorys letter daling with the case of Lieut.. Col. Vincent follows:
 To the President,
 The White House
 My Dear MT, President:-In the re- port sum bitted to me by the Hon. Charles F. Hughes at the conclusion of the aircraft investigation, Lieut.. Col. J. P. Vincent was one of three officers found to have transacted business for the government contrary to the prohibition contained in Section 41 of the criminal code and against whom prosecutions were recommend ed. In transmitting the report to you l said:
 II agree with Judge Hughes's con- clusion that Lieut.. Col Vincent vio- lated Section fl of the criminal code which prohibits any person, directly or indirectly interested in the pecun- iary profits or contracts of a corpora ton, from acting as an officer or agent of the United States for the transa ction of business with such cor poration. I further agree with Judge Hughes that the evidence does not af- ford ground for the conclusion that the government was defrauded, or that there was any intent to defraud on the part of any of the parties concerned, or that the services ren- dered were not worth the amount paid therefor, or that the estim ates of the outlay of the Packard company were not fair estimates.
 While there was a violation of the statute, I do not think the ends of justice require that Colonel Vincent be prosecuted.
 Colonel Vincent was one of the de- signers of the Liberty motor. At that time he was not in the employ of the government, but was vice president of the Packard M otor Car company. When the motor had been designed the Packard company rendered MT. Vincent and it's engineering staff and facilities for such service as might be necessary to test ont and develop the design for production. The authori- ties authorized Mir. Vincent to build the required number of models and experimental motors, and he directed his company to do the work under his supervision. Later. during the progress of the work. he was com missioned in the Signal corps, resign ing as an officer of the Packard com pany. but retaining the ownership of his stock. His offense is that he acted for the government in connection with l settling the compensation to be paid l the Packard company for this work. 1 There is no evidence that he did not 1 act in entire good faith, or that any 1 advantage was taken of the govern l melt
 The production of the Liberty mo- tor was one of the great achievem ents ] in connection with the war. Colonel l Vincent rendered invaluable services 1 in designing and perfecting it.
 In view of all the circumstances I l recommend that a full and complete l pardon be granted for the offense, as l believe it was nwittingly commit !, ted. Respectfully
 T. W. GREGORY.
 Attorney General. [
 The text of the other letter is as l follows:
 "Dec. 3, 1918. ITO the Presid ent the White House. |
 My Dear MT. President: The re- 1 port made by the Hon. Charles E. l Hughes to me at the conclusion of l inc aircraft investiga tion shows that Lieut.. Col. George W. Ml&ter acted TOT the government in supervising inspec- tion and production at the CurtIss Airplane and Motor corporation while 1 he owned 25 shares of the preferred l stock of that company. of the par value of s25O0. I concurred with Judge Hughes that this was a viola tion of Section fl of the criminal code.
 Lieut.. Col. MKter testified that he l had formerly owned a small am ount of both common and preferred stock 1 in the company referred to; that at l the time he was commissioned he had l sold the common stock and over 1