The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-25
QUIZ WITNESS. SAYS HE MADE: [: FORBES LOANS
L. H. Mortimer Also InvloveS
 Heads Of Chicago Company
 In His Testimony Before
 Investigating Committee NAMES DEAD MAN AS AIDING S32,00O ADVANCE Wild "Drinking Parties" Are
 Described By Former Black
 Thompson Representative. Was On Stand Four Hours

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.-(By Asso- ciated Press.)-Intrlgue, debauchery and corruption in connection with contracts for veterans bureau hos pitals were charged today before the Senate committee investigating the bureau.
 l.. II. Mortimer of Philadelphia, formerly a representative of the Thompson- Black company Of Chica- go, was the witness. He testified that while seeking a hospital con- tract in 1922 he loaned $5,000 to Charles R. Forbes, then director of the bureau; that on another occasion he advanced him an additional $1,O00 or s1 ,500 and that none of the money has been repaid.
 Moreover, the witness told the committee that James w. Black, a member of the Chicago firm, now dead, had told him that he under stood J. w. Thompson, the other partner, had made advances to Forbes aggregating $S2,000. Morti- mer testified also that he had paid Forbes expenses on various trips official"
 Tells Of "Drinking Parties.''
 Mortimer's story, which required four hours for the telling, in q crowded committee room was inter- spersed with incidents of what he described as drinking parties" at which he said, were present, Forbes Mrs. Mortimer, himself and others. The trail of these parties. as he out lined it led from Washington to Att lantic City, Philadelphia. New York. thence to Chicago and to San Fran cisco and up and down the Pacific coast. They culminated, according to his version at Hayden Lake, Wash, where Forbes and some of the women guests, on dare, jumped into the lake with their clothes on.
 Becoming "disgusted" he said, after the Hayden Lake affair, Mort:- lner returned to Spokane after a quarrel with Forbes. He explained ter and the committee did not press for letails.
 After the break Mortimer said he wanted to see Forbes about a hos pital contract for the Sutherland Construction company on which he related he. received a commission of s25OO. He found him at a Phila- was surprised, but greatly embar- rassed at meeting him there.
 Declares Papers stolen.
 Questioned about papers in con- nection with matters to which he testified. Mortimer said most of them had been stolen from his apartment in the Wardman Park Inn. this city, which had been entered three different times after the re- turn from the trip to the Pacific coast He could not say whether any one connected with the vet erans bureau had had hand in the matter.
 Mir. Forbes, who made dramatic mn ae.at. ar1pA hnf s&4. at the opening of the hearings Monday, was absent today as on yesterday. Joan F. O'Ryan of New York, general counsel for the committee, suggested, however, that he be given an opportunity to appear before the committee next Tuesday or Wednesday after the resumption of the hearings, Monday. This finally was approved by the con- mittee.
 The former director came from a Seattle hospital to attend the hear lngs and is said to be in a serious physical condition from a malady, which his friends declare he suf- fered before his departure for Eu- rope early in this year and before his resignation.
 Tells Of Meeting Forbes.
 In opening his story of his rela- e
 
 was introduced to the former director at the veterans bureau offices here in February, 1922. by Mrs. Mortimer, who was interested in veteran well fare work. They soon were on friendly terms. he added, and Forbes had dinner several nights week and every Sunday at the Mortimer apartment.
 In the succeeding month, according to the witness, he and Mrs. Mortimer, Forbes and his secretary, NJ. l.. Sweet, and two other guests spen. four days at the Traymore hotel, At lantic City. Hospital contracts were discussed there and later after the return to Washington. Forbes, ac- cording to the witness, said he had absolute authority in letting con tracts and that there would be no question about "the Black Thompson outfit getting some work"
 Forbes had known Black for some time, Mortimer went on, but wanted to know more about Thompson. The witness added that Thompson had
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