The sun., 1919-07-19
DENIES WILLIAMS
PURSUED BANKERS
Prosecutor Says Comptroller
Kept Hands Off in the
Riggs Case.
OTHERS DEFEND HIM
$400,000 Advanced to Union
town Institution Year Be-
fore 1t Failed.
OTHERS DEFEND HIM

WASHINGTON, July IS.-Testimony on
behalf of John Shelton Williams, Comp
troller Of the Currency. designed to re-
flute charges that he prosecuted officials
of the Riggs National Bank Of this city
and also mismanaged the affairs Of the
defunct First National Bank of Union
town, Pa, was presented to-day to the
Senate Banking Committee, which is
considering Mr.. williamss denomination.
John e. Laskey, Federal District At
torney in the District of Columbia, told
the committee that williams had not
used his influence to secure criminal In
dictments against officials of the Riggs
bank and had made no effort to control
the prosecution OF the indictments after
they had been brought.
These indictments. he said, grew out
of affidavits drawn by Frank j. Hogan,
attorney for the bank, purporting to
show that no stock brokerage transac-
tions had been made by the bank officials
as such. Mr.. Laskey said the affidavits
were purposely false" and he also testi-
fed that H. H. Father an official of the
banks, had made a profit out OF bank
transactions.
Questioned by Chairman Mclean and
Senator Gronna North Dakota) Laskey
said his statements to the committee
were based on evidence at the bank
officials trial. but admitted that the
court acquitted the bank officials.
John 8. wendt of Pittsburg, attorney
for John H. Strawn, receiver for the
Uniontown. Pa. bank. denied testimony
that the banks property had been sold
disadvantageously during Its liquidation
by the Comptroller's ONCE.
Walter p. Ramsey, counsel for the
Commercial National Bank Of Washing
ton, denied testimony OF John Poole.
president Of the Federal National Bank,
that assurances had been given by RAM
sey that IL the Federal Bank should open
an account with the Chatham Phoenix
National Bank Of New York. deposits OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation would
be received in return. Ramsey said that
during a conversation with Poole, the
latter asked how he could obtain such
deposits, and remarked that II was gen.
orally understood that such deposits
could be obtained by opening an account
with the New York bank.
Statements were submitted to the &C m
mittee showing that Comptroller Will
Jams advanced 100000 in emergency
currency to the Uniontown bank to as
slst IL III tlulIlB ONcT IL sIldi tdBo III iuius
This statement. coming after testimony
showing the banks financial condition
and the banking methods of ]. V.
Thompson. its president caused momber.
of the committee to question the Comp
troller closely. In reply to an inquiry
from Senator Gronna Mr.. Williams told
the committee that the funds were ad
vanced about year prior to the banks
failure in 1915.
Mr.. Williams replied to testimony
given by E. A. Jones. a representative
of the Uniontown Bank shareholders
who on the stand several days ago. was
charged with threatening to oppose his
nomination unless given a letter asking
the Federal District Court to issue an
order providing for the payment OF Mr.
ThOmpson's indirect Indebtedness. This
Mr.. Williams said, he declined to do.
The committee adjourned until next
Monday. when Mr.. Williams plans to
present additional witnesses in his be-
half.