New-York tribune., 1919-01-11

ator Reed asked how this article could
affect the morale of the French people
81 can show you the facts, and show
what lead up to it. and show what
believe 1T was intended for" persisted d
Becker, but Reed changed the subject
Senator King took up the question OF
the publication of un-American articles
in the Journal" Mr.. Becker stated
while he believed the publication of the
Hearst article was connected with car
absolute purpose" there was nothing
which, on its face, was disloyal Mr.
King persisted
newspaper" he said. 81 am interested
III seeing that no French newspaper
having no one to represent it, shall
have any unjust suspicion raised
against it,"
Now, please let us understand about
this said Mr., Becker, "The Journal, !,
that is, Senator Humbert, is under in
dlctment in a French court, and if you
will pardon me for saying so, for this
hearing to assume to pass in any way
upon or try the loyalty of Senator
humbert, that is, of the Journal,
would be in derogation of the exclusive
jurisdiction Of the French court"
Senator Reed-Were not the wires
MIR. Becker-But they were not open
between Berlin and France.
Senator Reed-No; they were not
open, of course. between Berlin and
France
Mr.. Becker But they might be-by
way of New York.
Senator Reed-Oh, they might be? Is
there any evidence, now while you are
throwing. out these insinuations so
gllbly, that they were through Mr..
Hearst?
Mr.. Becker-Mr. William Bayard
Hale went to Berlin. One of his pur-
poses was to try and arrive at a secret
method Of communication between the
Hearst papers and Berlin.
Reed Attacks Musica
The greater part of the session was
devoted to the attack on Musica, who.
Becker stated, was one of the detec-
tives who helped gather evidence in
the Hearst case. He has been acting as
an assistant to Becker. He uses the
name of Johnson. Mr.. Reed used as
the starting point for this attack a
statement given OUT by johnson in
Becker's name, in which were told the
lacts of William Bayard Hale's trip to
Rumania on behalf of the German gov
ernment, while he was Hearst's Berlin
correspondent. and of the Fourth of
july message from Bethmann- -Holl-
veg, which Hale wrote. as has been
testified to at these hearings. There
was no suggestion that the facts were
not correctly stated, but Senator Reed
went after Johnson, or Musica. Becker
defended him warmly
The tact that Philip NJ Musica is an
Investigator in the employ of the At
torney Generals Office, has never been
concealed" he said
Il was thrown into intimate contact
with Mr.. Musica. The first material
auestlon In the BaH murder cases was
whether Mr.. Musica had created a false
theory of the Batf murder cases. Mr.
Muslca is an Italian. He was charged
at that time with the duty of deter
mining which Of the two theories of
the Baf murder cases was correct, one
or which involved granting a new trial
10 man who was awaiting execution
IN the death house | spent something
over month in intimate association
win Mr. Musica watching him.
Musica's Theory Correct.
"As result Of that month of asso-
SO advised the Attorney General, that
the theory Of the facts advanced by
Mr.. Musica in the Baff murder cases
was correct. We adopted it, prose
cuted Joseph Cohen for the murder,
obtained a conviction, which has been
affirmed, away up to the United States
supreme Court. Mr.. Arichiello, as he
was known, who had been convicted,
was given new trial by order of the
court.
GAS result of my acquaintance with
Mr.. Musica | became convinced that he
had repented Of his sins, and there
spreng up between us friendship.
He Is, and for some time past has been,
the intimate associate Of my family,
who know his past history.
There is no man In the world to-
day whom | trust more than / trust
Philip Musica. He is one Of nv best
friends. | couple myself with him,
stand with him, | stand for him."
Musicals Conviction Recorded
Mr.. Reed put into the record tran
scripts from court records showing that
Musica had pleaded guilty to larceny in
the frst degree, and after three years
in Jail, during which he helped in clear
ing up. the damage done by his crime,
was released under suspended sentence.
There was also Il long discussion Of
the reasons for the destruction Of the
rough drafts Of the affldavits originally
taken in the Hearst case. Mr.. Becker
explained that this had taken place
when complete depositions were made
to take their places. Mr.. Reed brought
out that an error in one Of them, that
of Frederickson, had been corrected in
the deposition--an error respecting the
date at which a certain Arm went out
of business.
Frederickson had testified that he
had taken Bolo to Hearst's house in the
cold weather before this occurred. and
the change was from August ! to
April /.
Becker Denies Changing Statement
:. A sharp exchange took place when
Senator Reed accused Mr.. Becker Of
changing statement he had made at a
previous hearing. Becker denied it.
Possibly you have been reading a re-
port in the Hearst papers, and have pot
misconception Of it," he suggested.
NOW, am going to say to YOU" re-
plied Reed, that it 10 not necessary for
you to make any more sneering remarks
to me-" ''''
~ will be the judge of the necess;tv
OF that. depending on how am
treated" an
II will be the judge of how treat
you," almost shouted Reed.
i do not think you will be-" replied
Becker. "The comniittee viii be the
Judge. No threats or bullying are 20
ing to influence me-"
Mach accuses British
0f Trv;uD IN no<ocs