The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-10-25
Forbes Led
Cay Life,
Is Claimed
Witness Says Former Head of
Soldiers Agency and Women
Jumped in Lake on
Dare.
Contract Rows Exposed
BY Associated Press.

Washington, Oct. 24.-Intrigue. de
lauchery and corruption in connec
ton with contracts for veterans bu
reau hospitals were charged today be
fore the senate committee investigat
ing the bureau.
Elias II. Mortimer OF Philadelphia
formerly a representative Of the
Thompson-Black company Of Chicago
was the witness. He testified tha'
while seeking a hospital contract ir
1922 he loaned $1,000 to Charles II
Forbes. then director Of the bureau
that on another occasion he advance
him an additional $1,000 or $500 and
that none OF the money had beer
repaid.
Moreover. the witness told the com.
mittee that James w. Black. a mem
her OF the Chicago firm, now dead,
had told him that he understood }.
". Thompson, the other partner. had
made advances to Forbes aggregating
s32 00o. Mortimer testified also that
he had paid Forbes expenses on var
ious trips about the country, official
and unofficial.
Jumps in Lake on Dare.
Nortimer's story. which required
four hours TO tell in a crowded com
mittee room, was interspersed with
incidents of what he described as
drinking parties at which were
present Forbes. Mrs. Mortimer, him
self and others. The trail Of these
parties, as he outlined IT, led from
Washington to Atlantic City. Phila-
delphia, New ork. thence to Chicago.
and san Francisco and up and down
the Pacific coast.
They eliminated. according 70 his
version. at Hayden lake. Wash.
where Forbes and some Of the WON
en- guests on a dare, jumped into the
/ lake with their clothes on.
Becoming "disgusted,n he said. af-
ter the Hayden lake affair. Morti-
mer returned 10 Spokane after a
| quarrel with Forbes. He explained
that it was baout a personal matter
and the committee did not press for
details.
Quarrel Over Business.
The row was renewed on the train
on the return trip east, the witness
continued. and again at the Waldorf
Astoria hotel. New York City. Both
personal and business matters enter
ed into tie last quarrel. he stated.
adding that Forbes had bee ntak'ng
up matters of money with Thomp-
son over my head"
After the break. Mortimer said he
/ wanted 10 see Forbes about a hos
pital contract for the Sutherland
Construction company. on which he
later received commission of 81
500. He found him in a Phiiadei-
phia hotel, he said, and Forbes not
only was surprised. but greatly en-
barrassed at meeting him there
| Questioned about papers in connec-
ton with matters 10 which he tesii-
fed, Mortimer said most OF them had
been stolen from his apartment IN
the Wardman Park inn, this city.
which had been entered three differ
ent times after the return from the
"trip TO the Pacific coast. He could
not say whether anyone connected
with the veterans bureau had had
hand In the matter.
Forbes 70 Testify.
Mr.. Forbes. who made a dramatic
appearance before the COMMITTEES a.
the opening Of the hearings Mondsy
was absent today as on yesterday.
John F. o'Ryan OF New York, general
counsel for the COMMITTEES, suggested,
however. that he be given an oppor'
,unity TO appear before the commit
tee next Tuesday or Wednesday after
the resumption OF the hearings Mon.
day. This finally was approved by
Il the committee.
The former director came from Z
Seattle hospital 10 attend the hear
ings, and is said TO be in serious
physical condition from a malady
which, his friends declare, he suf
tered before his departure for Eu'
rope early this year and before his
resignation from the bureau at =
time when his administration was un'
der sharp fire from senators. repse'
sentatives and members Of the Amer