Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-22
Legislative Committee Re-
cesses Until Transcript '
is Ready.
HARDING WILL
TESTIFY TUESDAY
Governor 10 Be Among First Witnesses
Examined Whom Rathbun Pardon In.
auiry is Rssumsd-oovsrnor Brands
as Propostsrous Bribery Charges
Contained in Rathbun Affidavit
Smell and Judge Kennedy Tsstifx.

u Des Moines March 22.-Governor w.
l.. Harding will be the first witness ex-
amined when hearings are resumed
next Tuesday in the Iowa house ju-
dietary committees investigation OF the
Rathbun pardon case, ii was an
nounced when adjournment until that
day was taken at noon today.
Two witnesses were examined today,
J. l.. Kennedy. of Sioux City, special
state prosecutor. completed his testi-
mony begun late yesterday, and Thad-
Gus Smell an Ida Grove attorney. testi-
flying briefly regarding his statements
before the Ida county grand jury.
Frequent references by witnesses to
the testimony before the grand jury
which Investigated the pardon case err
suited in the decision to, take the two
day yAecess in order to enable prepara-
tion Of full transcript Of the grand
jury testimony.
Kennedy testified 10 reference to
statements made by Governor Harding
before the grand jury in reference to
an alleged meeting in Chicago between
the goveror and several Ida Grove cit
liens, two days before the pardon was
granted, in November, 1918.
Harding Denied Chicago Conference.
The examination Of Smell was brief
and had not been completed when ad-
Journment was taken. 80 It is likely he
will be called again next week. Te de-
clared he was not examined before the
grand jury in reference to his alleged
Chicago meeting with the governor.
Examination Of Kennedy was COM
pfeted shortly before IL o'clock. He
said the grand jury, testimony showed
that in addition to Smell those present
were Ed Mentz. business man, and
Noah Williams. attorney. bot, Of Ida
Grove. and man from California
whose name Kennedy could not re-
member
IL was further testified by Kennedy
that before the grand jury Governor
Harding said his meeting with these
men IN Chicago was mot of sufficient
duration to be termed even a "conver-
satlon.'
Rathbun Family in ~ Reputs.
On cross examination, Judge Ken
nedy declared he had found the Rath =
bun family was Of ill repute and that
this reputation was SO well estab-
iished that any one would mmediately
learn 1t on inquiry.
The witness said he had found a
lack Of effort on the governors
part to make any inquiry as to Rath-
buns standing but had said before the
sronI jury he the governor) did not
consult any one, but relied on the evi-
idence.
When Kennedy referred again to the
alleged Chicago meeting he said the
governors grand jury testimony gave
the personnel Of the party in addition
| to the governor and the executive
as Ed MentZ. business partner OF A. c.
Johnson; Noah Williams, an Ida Grove
attorney, and man from California .
Special Counsel Byers declared to
! the committee that his information
was that the "man from California, .
| was A. c. Johnson. Ida Grove business
man and assistant attorney OF Ida
county in the first trial of Ernest
Rathbun for criminal assault.
! (lkennedy's testimony before the
cSmmittee late yesterday appears on
page OF this issue.-Editorl
Harding in Sharp Denial.
Governor Harding last night brand
ed as utterly preposterous'' any init
nations that he acted corrrptly in
granting the pardon.
, The governor said:
ANY intimations that I received
money for the pardon of Ernest Rath
bun or in any way acted corruptly in
| the matter are so utterly preposterous
| that do not consider 1t necessary to
dignity them with denials.
"The affidavit of William Rathbun
Sr was made after he had testified
before the Ida county grand jury. and
as Havner admitted to the committee,
his grand jury testimony was quite
contrary to &c that IN his affidavit in
| reference to me.
THE affidavit was merely a part OF
the bargain entered into by the 'Rath
bun family and Havner to save MEM
Der. Of the family other than Ernest
Rathbun from prosecution in connect
ion with the latters appeal for a par
DON"
Harding Raps Havner.
Governor Harding declared today
that Attorney General Havner has
grossly misrepresented" the gov
ernor's position in the Rathbun affair
and had used "only parts" Of the chief
executives statements in an attempt TO
show irregularities.
"All have in this world is involved
in this investigation" the governor
said II have nothing to conceal and
I have no fear Of the outcome. Facts
have been distorted thru quotations OF
only part OF what have said before
the grand jury and the legislature
In testimony yesterday Attorney
General Havner and Judge Kennedy
sought TO show the governor had not
been consistent In statements he made