Evening star., 1923-11-14
FORBES DENOUNCES
AS LIE CHARGE HE
AIDED CONTRACTORS
Continued from First PageD

denial that he had ever accepted "a
penny" from Mortimer.
THAT is absolutely a lie." he said
of Mortimer's story about the $500
bills in the Drake Hotel.
Its a le," Its false" It's alb
surd," the witness repeated time and
again as he was questioned about
other details of Mortimer's testimony.
Asked If Mortimer had loaned him
Forbes replied in the negative.
He never loaned me bean" he
repeated, NOR did 1 ash him for any"
Denies Drinking Parties.
What about drinking parties on the
l acif1c coast trip?' asked Easily
Smith.
II know Of no drunkenness on that
trip except Mr.. Mortimer" Forbes re-
piled. Il swear to God there was no
carousing or anything wrong on that
trip"
He also denied any knowledge Of a
code for use on the western trip In
which he was said by Mortimer to
Did you ever write a letter to
woman I'm Stockholm. Calf. thank
ing her for her hospitality% asked
Easby-Smith.
write the letter that has been put in
evidence here. That language is a
little bit too far uD the gulch for me"
The witness explained that 1t was
customary for his secretary, M. l..
Sweet. to write formal letters Of
the official party and that the letter
In evidence bore the initials of
Sweet.
Now. what about Mortimer's story
about you and lady friend jumping
into the lake at Hayden Lake?" asked
EaSby-Smith
How does he know: he wasn't
there?" Forbes answered.
Then he explained that he and some
friends went on a fishing trip in the
afternoon and that there was a sug-
gestion that the party go bathing.
Forbes said all were roughly dressed
and that he jumped into the water.
which was about three feet deep.
Calls Assertion Absurd.
Forbes then denied Mortimer's story
that the former dierctor had said on
the western trip that he was to sue
the Interior and thai I'VE all will
make a cleanup" on reclamation con-
tracts.
He characterized as absurd the
assertion of Mortimer that an agree
ment had been proposed by which the
Hurley Mason Company and the
Thompson Black Company of Chicago
were to divide the western territory
on hospital contracts with the profits
split three ways and with Forbes
sharing a third.
Why how could that have been
proposed" Forbes asked. when all
of these contracts were being ham
died by the War and Navy depart
ments at my request?"
Forbes said he met j W. Black on
the Pacific coast trip and also c. B.
Hurley of the Hurley Mason Com
pany, whom he had known for many
years.
Il telegraphed Hurley to meet me in
San Francisco" he said. "as l wanted
to discuss number of business mat
ters with him.A We did talk about
contracts for the hospitals, as we had
perfect right to do. l used to be
associated with his company, and
told him that before he could get any
contracts he must satisfy the govern
ment that / was no longer interested
directly or indirectly, in his company.
He did get contract for the
American Lake Hospital and / was
glad of it. He was a fine builder as
the Army well knew. and ALWAYS did
splendid work." Forbes responded.
Reverting to the stay in Chicago
Forbes fatty denied that there had
been any party in his suite at the
Drake. He said he left the hotel in
the early morning to inspect the
Speedway Hospital and the Marine
Hospital and did not return until late
in the day, because at the conclusion
of his inspection trip he had a con-
ference with officials of a Chicago
firm. who had made him an offer of
position at 100000 year.