Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-08
WRESTLING PROMOTER STATE
AGENT QUESTIONED ABOUT
LARGE BANK DEPOSIT.
SEVERAL THRILLS IN
CONCLUDING TESTIMONY
Thorson Attempts TO Account For $500
Payment to Witt, Private Secretary
OF Governor--Witt Refuses to Tell
Of His Private Financial Affairs Be.
Fore Whole Committee.

Dies Moines April S.-A deposit of
s2,475 in currency made by oscar
Thorson, former state secret agent and
political lieutenant of Governor w. L.
Harding, on Dec. It. 1918. was the
spotlight Of the Rathbun pardon in
qulry conducted by the house judicial
committee yesterday afternoon.
1t was the plan OF Chief Counsel W.
II. ByerS To formally end the investi
cation Friday afternoon, but the new
development caused the committee to
hold an extra session yesterday after
noon.
Mr.. Thorsou, when called TO the
stand could not remember making
large deposit during the month of
December. He said he had made some
deposits. but could not remember any
special deposit.
A. .. Hauge, president OF the Iowa
Trust and Savings Bank and a mem
Der of the legislature, when called to
the stand, testified:
"Thorson came into the bank with
the money aud came to my desk. He
asked me 10 go into a back room in
the rear of the bank. He said to me-
Do you need some money? I have a
little extra money I tod him we al
ways needed money. He turned over
the money to me. There were four
bundles of bills, $500 in each bundle.
The rest of the money was in gold"
Hauge testified that Thorson never
before had deposited money with him
but always with the teller at the win
dow and never had he ever been asked
10 go into the back room TO accept a
deposit.
Plenty Of Thrills.
Chief Counsel Byers, from his ex-
animation of both Thorson and Hauge,
showed that he had some information
in regard to where Thorson got the
money.
Did Thorson tell you where he got
the money" Byers asked Mr.. Hause.
He did not" replied Hauee. Il did
think It strange that he had so much
currency TO deposit"
There were plenty of thrills during
the investigation yesterday afternoon.
Thorson brought a card with him
when he came to testify which he
said was the account OF Charles Witt
secretary to the governor, in regard TO
money paid for doing publicity work
in connection with wrestling matches
held here.
At the bottom of the card in lead
pencil read.
"Ort. s. 1918 s5oO!-
This was the $500 Thorseu previous
&o.+;Sa,I =. Il 'EyJ-iYr ''fiDal
settlement for writing publicity.
Now, YOU are under OATH Byers
told Thorson. &Do, YOU mean TO tell
me that the data on that card was
written before Jan ~ Now, remem-
Der, you are under oath
Thorson Sweats-
Eyes. il was" replied Thorson. The
perspiration rolled in beads down both
sides OF his face.
'Now you are sure that you wrote
that data when you said you did,
again quizzed Byers.
II did" replied Thorson.
Witt. secretary to the governor
created a stir in the committee room
when he refused TO answer questions
put to him by Chief Counsel Byers in
regard TO certain financial affairs.
Witt contended that the investiga-
ton had nothing TO do with his per-
sonal affairs and that his rights were
being violated. He appealed to the
chairman, T. p, Harrington, Of Kos
suth county. Witt said:
"Mr. Chairman and members OF the
committee, as a courtesy l ask you to
permit me to explain my private finan-
cial affairs to the chairman OF this
committee I don't believe my affairs
ought to be heralded to the four cor
ners Of the earth. I will be willing to
tell the chairman OF this committee
my personal financial affairs and he
can tell you men If he thinks you
should know"
At another time during the investi-