Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-28
Naval Court Inquiry 1. Session in Westerly
Editor Rathom Resents Query Reflecting Upon Anthem ticity of Providence Journal War Stories.

Westerly, R. l.. May 27.-The naval court of inquiry which for four months has been Investigating charges that the anti-vice squad operated by the navy at Newport in war time was guilty of vicious practices, came here today to hear testimony from Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt and John R. Rathom, editor of the Providence Jour nal.
 Ensign Henry I. Hyneman, judge advo- cate in the proceedings, said that this session would probably be the final one of the inquiry unless it should be decided to go to Boston to take the evidence of two naval officers there.
 Have you any proof that the. navy department with the full> knowledge, consent and guidance of Secretary Dan iels maintained a special branch of the department for the specific purpose of en- trapping innocent persons?" MT. Rathom was asked.
 Absolutely none"
 Claude R. Branch, counsel for the Min isters' union of Newport, who brought the complaint objected to the question on the ground that Mr Rathom acted solely as the editor of a newspaper with out claiming any first hand knowledge. The judge advocate said: If there is l any proof in the possession of this wit | ness that the secretary of the navy knew 1 of such a practice, I want it. Mir Rathom, can you of your personal know | ledge prove that the secretary of the navy permitted an organization to be carried on for the purpose of entrappine | innocent men 2"
 1 Absolutely not" MT. Rathom replied. | Asked whether he had any persona knowledge of facts which would help the | i,1J1rr ta fn tl1n oil irTls
 made Mir Rathom said he had not; tha
 he had tried to make his statement a! complete as possible and had given th'
 court all the information at his command l A letter written by MT. Rathom to tn, 1 attorney general of the United States ol Feb. 6, 1918, was introduced and tn judge advocate asked: 'Is it not a fac that many of the war stories in whicl the Providence Journal claimed credit fo
 unearthing German spy systems wer false?"
 Mir. Rathom replied That statemen is a deliberate, wilful and absolute false hood in all that it says and all that it i'm
 plies. I belieev it is a part of plot i which the secretary of the navy and tn
 assistant Secretary of the navy are in
 volved to injure and degrade me"
 Assistant Secretary Roosevelt requeste InaL the statement De SlIlCheil tut AHSold
 as it referred to any plot or referred
 the secretary or assistant secretary, an
 the court so ordered N, >t Reverting to the letter, a photostati
 copy of which had been introduced b
 the judge advocate with a request tha
 the witness say whether the signatur was his. Mir Rathom declared that tn letter was written by him at the reques of the attorney general. that it was mark ed confidential, that he understood pledge was made that the letter was nr to be used ard that the letter Was to h
 shown to only one other person.
 q decline to make any statement witt
 out getting a release from the attorne general. whose personal honor is boun
 up in this letter. MT. Rathom said. The judge advocate remarked that ! had not asked the witness for statemeI regarding the contents of the letter. an ! did not intend to do so, but only for h Identification of the signature.