New Britain herald., 1923-11-14
FORBES. CONTINUES FORCEFUL DENIALS Openly Declares Mortimer Lied to
 Investigators VETERANS BUREAU PROBE
Absolutely Denies That He Ever A. ceptcd Penny of Graft or That He Showed Preference in Giving Out Contracts.

Contracts.
 Washington, Nov. 14.--Piecing out | details of his denial of the charges against him, former Director Charles I +. Forbes of the Veterans Bureau 1 put new thrills into the senate veter- | ans investigation today by flatly con- 1 tradicting the testimony of several previous witnesses.
 He passed the lie direct to Elias H
 Mortimer, of Philadelphia, who had told the Investigating committee that under Forbes administration, confl- dential information was furnished certain contractors regarding pro- posed hospital sites.
 If Mortimer states that" said the | former dictator, he states that as a l lie." Then he turned to Mortimer, who was seated at a table with the com mittee counsel, and exclaimed: You lie!"
 Chairman Reed of the committee interposed.
 Warned by Chairman. You are testifying to the commit tee" said the chairman, and it is not necessary for you to address other persons"
 The witness also contradicted di- rectly the testimony of Dr. Charles F. Sawyer, personal friend and physician of President Harding. Sawyer had told the committee that Forbes was dismissed by the president for not nharinO nrdaP Gtan RrAl1 III e property sales at Perryville, Mary land, but the former director declared today that MT. Harding had given him authority to release loaded cars at Perryville after the first stop order was issued.
 James F.. Easby-Smith, counsel for Forbes, read into the record requi- s!tion on the veterans bureau for sup plies for the soldiers home at Day. ton, Ohio, made by General Sawyer. It called for 20 barrels of whiskey, 20 barrels of alcohol, 100000 sheets, 100000 towels. 50.Ooo blankets, ioo,- 900 yards of gauge and 100000 yards of gauge bandage. This acquisition, Forbes said. he refused to All.
 Why" asked the committee chairman, Senator Reed. republican, Pennsylvania.
 ''rhe quantities were excessive, !" Forbes responded.
 Taking up the purchase of the Ex- celsidor Springs. Missouri, hospital site from F. D. OLiv) Morse, prom inent in Missouri republican politics, Forbes said there had been definite commitment by the treasury depart ment 10 purchase the property and es- tablish hospital.
 Representative in congress came to me and explained the situation" he continued. "I in turn discussed it at the White House"
 Absolutely False"
 The witness characterized as "ab- solutely false" the testimony of Morti- mer that the Thompson-Bla com pany of Chicago, which Mortimer said he represented, was furnished with a confidential list of proposed sites for hospitals so it could select the one on which it preferred to build.
 Questioned about his relations with Mir. and Mrs. Mortimer, Forbes said he met Mrs. Mortimer first at the Vet erans' bureau, and soon afterwards was introduced to Mortimer. He de- nied that Mrs. Mortimer was at the bureau Of soldier welfare work, say ing she was there to visit a woman employe.
 He said he became fairly intimate with the Mortimers and found them agreeable companions. Coming then to the Pacific coast trip with them in the summer of 1922, Forbes said it was Mortimer who suggested that he and Mrs. Mortimer accompany the Forbes party to the west, as Morii- mer never had been in that section
 'T stated that there would be lot Of men in the party" the witness but that did not see any objection to their going if they de- sired"
 Forbes said there had been no with Mortimer about ex- penses Of the trip.
 Why did you stop at Chicago?" 1 asked Mir. Essby- smith.
 TO inspect the speedway hospital and 10 visit patients in the Marine ! hospital" was the reply.
 Denies Any Plans
 The witness said he met ]. ". 1 at Chicago, but not by pre-arrangement. Before that he 1 had seen him in Washington, Thopip- 1 son having called on him in connec- l ton with claim against the govern l ment growing ont of seizure of a ship.
 Forbes testined as 10 the arrange l ment Of the rooms Of his official | party st the Drake hotel where ! Mortimer claims he loaned Forbes { i5. 0eg in the form Of ten $500 bnis. i
 ID Co that time. Forbes said. I Mortimer had been talking about I contracts. "But I never gave him any :. encouragement" he added.
 Asked about the testimony Of Nor I timer that Forbes had stated that while he was in an official capacity in I Hawaii he had fxad things so nobody osi money Forbes exclaimed:
 Again Mortimer Ules!"
 Try to restrain yourself" warned -asby-Smiih.
 T am restraining myself" returned Forbes.
 Questioned about Mortimer's claim hat he had paid Forbes' bir at the gitz-C Carlton hotel in Philadelphia. Forbes said the reverse vas the case; hat he paid s2T.56 for Mortimer. 5e explained that he was not well and lad asked Mortimer where he could .r,esYH Q f,fffns s7-ael fsryH Ma~f5r7r~