The Washington times., 1922-05-29
LEGAL BATTLE
ON WAR FRAUD
CASES IS BEGUN
Two Special Assistant Attor-
neys General Named BY
Daugherty.

With the appointment of two
additional special assistant attor-
ney generals to participate In the
prosecution OF war frauds, the De-
partment Of Justice announced to-
day that the actual prosecution of
'he fraudulent claims, which are
expected to net the Government
nearly ssoo,O0O,0oo, will begin this
week.
In a statement on the appoint
ment OF the two special assistant
attorney generals, the department
announced that the best talent in
the United States would be EN-
ployed to defend the war graftcrs.
and therefore that the department.
in its selection, has chosen the
most competent lawyers possible
under the authorized $4,000 sala-
ries.
Former Senator Charles 8.
Thomas, of Colorado, a Democrat,
one of those secured by the de-
partment to aid in the prosecution.
will sit with Daugherty on a board
OF review, together with such
counsel as have been employed in
the working up of the different
cases.
G. p. Hoover to Serve.
George p. Hoover. one OF the most
prominent lawyers in Washington,
has been selected as the second mem
ber Of the Attorney Generals staff.
and will serve with United states
District Attorney Pc ton Gordon in
gathering the evidence on which the
Government will base its prosecu-
ton.
Where individual cases warrant
the Government has declared that
criminal as we'll as civil prosecution
will be made by the department. and
to this end Mr.. Hoover was appoint.
ed to serve with Gordon. Hoover. II
was stated, will handle the civil end
in such cases and Attorney Gordon
will prosecute the criminal charges.
In making known the preliminary
plans for the billion" -dollor war
fraud investigation, the department
announced that it would not proceed
in any prosecution, civil or criminal.
where there was any likelihood of
the Government losing its case.
1t will be the duty of the special
tribunal, constituted Of Attorney
General Daugherty and ex-senator
assigned Assistant Attorney General
working on the case, to sit in review
OF the cases to determine first
whether or not the Government has
civil action, and, second. whether or
not there is any criminal aspects.
In political quarters 1t was de-
Clared that the departments selcc-
ton OF the former Democratic mem
ber in the Senate, to sit with the
Republican Administratio was not
made without reason" The reason
assigned by those in the know"
i WAS declared, is for the purpose
of heading off some OF this deluge of
criticism now being heaped upon
Attorney General DaughCrty and the
department by Democratic Con.
gressmen.'
Favorable COmment.
There was favorable comment in
legal fraternities over the depart
ment's selection of Hoover, who has
for twenty-five years been engaged
in criminal and civil practice. Among
the major cases successfully won by
Hoover was the defense of Annie NJ.
Bradley. acquitted on the charge OF
killing former United States Sena-
tor Arthur Brown, in the Raleigh
Hotel in 1907.
He was the attorney for John HAYS
Hammond in the suit of Daniel Sui
ly. cotton king. for 81 100000. repre-
sented the American Ice Comany, in
antitrust prosecution; attorney for
Charles c. Glover, president of Riggs
National Bank, in the suit by John
Shelton Williams, former Comptrol-
Ter OF the Currency, and figured as
counsel for the defense in twelve
homicide cases.