The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-12-15
KELLER DEFIES
COMMITTEE
Refused to Attend Hearing
He Himself Had
Instigated
FOR IMPEACHMENT
OF DAUGHERTY
House Judiciary Committee
Gives Him Until
Tomorrow

had refused to participate further IN
the presentation Of his impeachment
charges against Attorney General
DaUgherty.s
James II. yahey, an attorney Of
Boston, handed to Chairman Volstead
letter from Attorney Jackson II.
Ralston. announcing that Mr.. Ralston
had been retained as counsel by Mr..
Keller and asking postponement q1
further proceedings until tomorrow.
Chairman yoistead said the letter.
gave no excuse for non-appearance and
directed the sergeant-at- TO call
Mr.. Keller's name three times. This
was done, but without response and
there followed discussion as to what
should be done.
| Representative Graham, Pennsylva-
MIA. ranking Republican Of the COM
mittee. asked that it report to the
House with recommendation for ac-
tion against Mr.. Keller for contempt.
Other members, however, suggested
that the postponement asked for be
granted and Mr.. Graham said he would
not press his motion.
Attorney yahey, replying to COM
mitteemen said he could not say
| whether Mr.. Keller would appear to-
morrow: that this would depend upon
the advice given him by counsel.
Finally the committee voted to
grant Mr.. Keller's request for de-
| Law until 1890 a. m. tomorrow.
Representative Keller refused late
Yesterday to participate further in the
hearings. Characterizing the hearing
as f'cornic opera performance, he
declared he would be untrue to his re-
sponsibilitv as member Of the House
| II he assisted further in "a bare-faeed
attempt to whitewash Harry Nj.
Daugberty."
Immediately after he announced his
withdrawal, the committee in open
session and without leaving its place
voted to go on with the hearings; to
subpoena Mr.. Keller as witness, put
him under oath and question him as
to the basis for his charges Of high
crimes and misdemeanors against the
attorney general. Later he was sum
moned formally by the House SER
geant at arms to appear before the
committee at 1890 a. m. to-day.
This turn in the proceedings came
with dramatic suddenness and was at
tended by tumult and uproar seldom
Witnessed in a congressional commit
tee room. After absenting himself
much of the day Mr.. Keller appeared
with a typewriter statement in his
Aa ha Ane
to read it to the committed He was
refused the opportunity but later
made public the statement, which
dealt in detail with his reasons for
refusing to 60 on and embodied a
demand that the committee fayorably
report his resolution to the House so
that be might present his evidence to
IAN unbiased committee in the proper
way
@I reiterate now" the statement
said. "that / am in possession Of the
evidence ample to prove Harry n.
Daugherty guilty Of all the high
crimes and misdemeanors with which
I have charged him.
Mr.. Keller came into the committee
room after a brief suspension Of the
hearing. requested by Jackson S. Rail
ston. counsel for Mr.. Keller. so that
he might confer with the Minnesota
representative. When Mr.. Keller
asked to be heard, Paul Rowland,
counsel for Mr.. Daugherty. demanded
that the committee proceed with the
hearing in the regular order agreed
upon unless Mr.. Keller desired to give
4 testimony, in which event he should
be sworn.
Announcing that he did not have to
be sworn, Mr.. Keller said his state
ment had to do with the Conduct Of
this hearing an; he demanded the
/ right to read IL.
as it your object to lecture the
committeef" inquired Representative
lGoodvkoonfz. of West Virginia.
Il may was the response.
There followed a general hubbub,
into which Chairman Volstead broke
with a direction to Mr.. Keller to "sit
down"
Il refuse to sit down." shouted the
Minnesota member.
81 want TO read this letter and
submit Il 20 YOU now" he went on
as he strobe rapidly to Mr.. Volstead's
desk. upon which he laid the letter y
Look here" shouted the chairman
@you haven't any right to control this
proceedings; the committee controls
it,
As Mr.. Keller insisted upon being
, heard he again was ordered by Mr
voIstead 20 take his seat.
s.Do you refuse to hear me- shout.
ed Mr.. Keller.
~weil. We viii have you sworn,
the chairman returned
1T i improper for YOU 10 say that
YOU can't buiiy-rag this committee.
reioined Mr. Keller. II win say e
vou now that II I cannot b heard %
this statement refuse 70 proved ans
more In this hearing. Nor Do I eKPee'
10 present anv more evidence. | an
, through with you unless / can present
this statement."
That Is Just exactly what Ne ex
pected from sou from TIE start" d.
rlared Mr. Nolsfesd Mr. Clark. rirs
us . subpoena for Mr.. Keller and u
b ths ser<eanf -af-arns serve u - him
/, He j. inssitinr this carmittee an
p f~rinc - -an if fo suif himself.
Aticrnsy Ralston tbcn announcst