The New York herald., 1921-02-13
BLACKMAL PLOT
CHARGED TO TWO
FEDERALPROBERS
Special Investigators of
Committee Delving Into
War Dept. Involved.
SCHEME TO BE AIRED
Alleged Attempt to Extort
Money by Use of Secret
Letter Revealed.
ANSELL'S NAME USED
Raid on Files Baked When
Officials Become Suspicious
of Mems Motives.
ANsELL's NAME
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C.. Feb lS

Special Despatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., Feb. 12.
An inquiry into charges that two
special investigators of the House
committee investigating War Depart
ment expenditures sought to carry out
a blackmail scheme by obtaining con-
fidential information under the guise
that ii was desired in Congress was
asked to-day in a resolution intro
duced by Representative Flood (Va.),
a member Of the committee.
The two employees Of the commit
tee. according to War Department in
formation, Mr. Flood said, sought ac-
cess to a secret letter involving set
tlement Of large war claim in which
certain business man was interested.
Their plan. according to Mr.. Flood
was to sell the letter to a newspaper
In the event that the business man
did not pay them a large sum for its
suppression. The scheme failed. Mr..
Flood said. because the War Depart
ment learned Of it.
Mr.. Flood named the two men as j.
resolution calls on the Secretary Of War
to inform Congress why their request
for the secret letter was refused by him
Representative Royal Johnson Is. d.
chairman of one of the sub-committees
Of the House War Department ex-
penditures committee. admitted to-day
that the two men were indirectly In the
employ of his committee. being assist
ants to another investigator, employed
directly by the committee. Mr.. johnson
said he desires complete Investigate
Of the charges. The vouchers of Hill
and Lindsey in payment for their work
have been held up by the House Ac-
Counts Committee.
AS basis for the resolution Mr..
Flood to-day made public q statement
he made In an executive session OF
the committee some time ago. This in
wolves Samuel T. Ansell. formerly at
torney for one of the investigator sub
committees and Acting Judge Advocate
General of the Army. Mr.. Flood as
serting that tne two employees were
sent to the War Department with a
letter from Mr.. Ansell.
Mr. Johnson said he did not believe
Mr.. Ansell knew anything about the
conspiracy. II one was formed.
1t is probable Mr. Floods resolution
will be followed by one asking COM
plete investigation of all the circum-
s.4a IN, ka letter
which Hill and Lindsey are alleged to
have desired.
Mr.. Floods statement on the case as
1t appears in the Official records of the
committee follows:
''The only instance in which the War
Department declined to honor investi-
cations made under authority from the
committee or It's attorney was that OF
Mr.. Hill and Mr. Lindsey. who went
TO the War Department with a letter
from Gen. S. T. Ansell. the $4,000 at
torncy requesting that these gentlemen
be given nccess TO certain secret records
containing the settlement OF certain con-
tracts.
Upon investigation the War Depart
ment authorities found that the real pur-
pose Of Mr. Hill and Mr.. Lindsey was to
obtain money from a newspaper for this
information In the event they were un-
able 70 obtain a large sum through
blackmail. The proper authorities In
the War Department very properly ro-
fused to honor Gen. Ansells request,
and the Secretary of War wrote letter
TO the chairman OF the select committee.
in which he set forth reasons for such
refusal Mr.. Graham, the chairman,
naturally agreed with the Secretary Of
Wars presentation OF the matter and
his refusal"